New Mexico beats Wyoming 38-28
LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Lamar Jordan rushed and passed for 254 yards and two touchdowns as New Mexico snapped a two-game losing streak with a 3828 win over Wyoming on Saturday.
Averaging 7.4 yards per play for the game, including 10.3 in the first half, the Lobos (22, 1-0 Mountain West) reeled off three scoring plays of 40 yards or longer against the Cowboys (0-4, 0-1).
Jordan, who had gained a total of 100 yards during the first three games of the season, gained 147 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown. He also completed 5 of 7 passes for 107 yards and a score.
New Mexico rushed for 302 yards with Jhurell Pressley gaining 103 yards and scoring a touchdown and Richard McQuarley 55 yards and two scores.
Wyoming, which has lost its last seven games dating back to last season, was led by quarterback Cameron Coffman, who completed 30 of 42 passes for 366 yards and four TDs.
But New Mexico’s defense limited Wyoming to just 42 yards on the ground. Wyoming running back Brian Hill, who entered the game leading the Mountain West with an average of 137.3 yards a game, was limited to 49 yards on 18 attempts.
The Cowboys also hurt themselves with 10 penalties for 98 yards.
New Mexico didn’t waste any time getting in the end zone. On the second play of the game, Jordan kept the ball on an option play and sprinted untouched 56 yards for a touchdown.
On their third possession of the game, the Lobos went up by two scores on Pressley’s 19-yard run, capping a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
The Cowboys answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive of their own, ending with a 13-yard TD pass from Coffman to Shaun Wick.
However, after both teams each punted on their next possessions, Jordan hit Carlos Wiggins with a deep pass down the middle on the first snap for a 64-yard TD pass. Wiggins dragged a Wyoming defender the last 5 yards across the goal line.
New Mexico built a 35-14 lead on TD runs of 3 and 46 yards by McQuarley, sandwiched around Coffman’s second scoring pass of the day, a 14-yard strike to Jacob Hollister.
Jason Sanders finished off New Mexico’s day with a 22-yard field goal, while Coffman connected with Tanner Gentry on an 11-yard TD pass late the third quarter and with Josh Harshman on a 26-yard score with 43 seconds remaining in the game for Wyoming.