College Journeyman Too Much for Lobos

For the University of New Mexico, a game on the road, against a team on the cusp of the Top 25, with a head coach trying to establish himself in his third game, is not a game they expect to win at the beginning of the season. Coach Tomlinson preached execution throughout the week leading up to the game. If the team “executes the game plan we will be right in the game at the end.”

On a stormy day in Pittsburgh, the Lobos started the game off with strong running and receiving plays by RB Kasey Carrier on offense. HB Crusoe Gongbay had two great kick returns after Pittsburgh Panther scores. The Panthers offense moved swiftly down the field to begin the game with QB Tom Savage at the helm. Their first drive capped with a RB Isaac Bennett rush for the first touchdown of the game. DE David Durham put Pittsburgh up 14 to 0 with a scoop and score off a bad option pitch by QB Cole Gautsche.

The second quarter opened with a Panther field goal putting the team up 17 to 3. The Lobos, showing heart, moved the ball into the redzone. On 3rd and goal WR Ridge Jones caught a slant and out route and broke for the sideline, diving for the pylon, but being ruled out at the 1 yard line. RB Carrier pounded the ball into the endzone on 4th down to put the Lobos within a score; 17 to 10.

After a hold on the ensuing kickoff, Pittsburgh started at their own 9 yard line. After a first down pass that was off target, the Panthers setup a screen pass. The ball tipped off the tailbacks outstretched hand to CB Cranston Jones for a walk in score. The Lobos tied the game at 17 with Jones’ third interception of the year and second defensive touchdown.

Pittsburgh showed their superior talent with scores on the next two drives starting with a beautiful over the top throw by Savage to WR Devin Street for a 49 yard touchdown. Followed by an interception by CB K’Waun Williams to allow Savage to connect to TE JP Holtz repeatedly down the field to set up a field goal with the clock dwindling down to the end of the half.

The University of New Mexico, not wanting to play it safe moving into halftime, heaved the ball down field on first down. Gautsche connected with WR Marquise Bundy on a 36 yard post route. After a timeout call from the sideline the Lobos had 4 seconds left and were just out of field goal range. Gautsche snapped the ball was pressured to the right, as he left the pocket he hurled the ball back to the left side of the field. WR Cameron DeBesse found his way behind the defense and was wide open for the score, Panthers hold a slim 3 point lead at the half 27 to 24.

After the heroics of the Lobos in the first half to bring the game within a score to start the second half, the third quarter was dominated by the Panthers. Holtz and WR Ronald Jones caught touchdown passes from Savage and OLB Eric Williams picked off Gautsche’s pass for a score, putting the Panthers ahead 48 to 24.

In the first UNM drive of the fourth quarter, Gautsche had his fourth pass of the day deflected, this one by DT Aaron Donald, falling into the hands of MLB Shane Gordon for Gautsche’s third interception of the game. With the Lobo defense forcing 4th and short at the Lobo 27 yard line, the Panthers brought their offense back on to the field. Savage faked the hand off to the tailback and threw the ball deep over the head of the Lobo’s corner to WR Tyler Boyd for the 27 yard score. Savage’s fourth touchdown of the game extended the lead even more; 55 to 24.

With 6:18 left in the game back up QB Quinton McCown entered the game at quarterback. McCown looked good with short passes to TE Andrew Aho and Jones. After a SS Dante Caro interception McCown was able to score on a read option play to end the game with a score of 55 to 31 Panthers.

“We saw a lot of good things from the team today in the first half, it’s on us coaches to make better halftime adjustments” Tomlinson said after the game. New Mexico will host New Mexico State University Aggies on October 5th in the Battle of I-25 . The Aggies held on to defeat San Diego State at home 21 to 20 back on September 9th.

Player of the Game: Tom Savage 26/37 392 yards 4 TDs

Around the Country Updates:
– #5 Oregon went to Knoxville and returned home with a loss from unranked Tennessee 27 to 24.
– #2 Alabama upset #1 Texas A&M in overtime; 42 to 39.
– QB Jordan Lynch lead NIU to a road victory over Idaho, 42 to 10, with 255 yards passing and 105 yards rushing scoring 5 total TDs.

Mountain West Top 25 Update:
– Boise State returns to the Top 25, at #24, with a 38 to 9 victory over Air Force in Colorado Springs.