Lobos flattened by Fresno State
UNM loses 38-0 as running game stalls
FRESNO, Calif. — Marcus McMaryion passed three touchdowns and 299 yards to lead Fresno State a 38-0 rout of The University of New Mexico in Mountain West Conference play Saturday night.
The Lobos (3-3, 1-2) punted the ball on seven of their first eight possessions and missed a 44-yard field goal on the other, setting up a trio of Bulldogs touchdown drives to open a comfortable lead at halftime.
McMaryion connected on scoring passes of 70 yards to Jamire Jordan and 12 to Keesea Johnson in the first quarter, then had a 57-yard run to set up a short touchdown run by Ronnie Rivers early in the second. It was 21-0 at halftime before Fresno State (4-2, 3-0) added 10 more points in the third quarter to put it away.
New Mexico had gone 66 straight games without being shut out.
The Lobos’ best chance at points came in the final five minutes of the game when a drive stalled at the Fresno State 3-yard line. They had four plays inside the 10 and failed to convert on a pass into the end zone on fourth down with 4:25 remaining.
It was another tough night for UNM’s triple option, which was forced to abandon the run as it fell behind by double digits so early. The offense generated just 91 rushing yards on 32 carries through the first three quarters and the Lobos had a season-low 109 yards on the ground for the entire game.
It’s the fourth time in six games the Lobos have failed to reach 300 yards.
Freshman Tevaka Tuioti got the majority of the snaps at quarterback and struggled to move the ball with consistency. The offense failed to convert on its first eight tries on third down and was 1-for-11 to start the game.
Tuioti was 13-for-24 passing for 200 yards and an interception. Senior Lamar Jordan played sparingly, passing for just 13 yards on six throws.
The Lobos did turn the ball over twice in the third quarter but by then the outcome was already decided. The second miscue was a deflating interception in which Tuioti connected with his receiver near the Fresno State 10 but a strong hit jarred the ball loose and it was picked off by Bulldogs defensive back Mike Bell.
UNM returns home next week to face Colorado State. The game will be Friday night on ESPN2 at Dreamstyle Stadium.