Peerman's Power Rankings: 5 moments that defined New Mexico football's remarkable season

Most prognosticators believed New Mexico football would win no more than three games in head coach Bronco Mendenhall’s first year. But the Lobos exceeded all expectations, winning three games just on the road, as well as home victories over Air Force and then-No. 19 Washington State to end the year 5-7.

Saturday’s 38-30 loss at Hawaii put to bed any bowl dreams the team may have had, but, the team’s gradual improvement throughout the season earns them top billing in this week’s Peerman’s Power Rankings.

On Monday morning, Mendenhall appeared on “The Opening Drive” radio show on 95.9 FM/610 AM and was asked how he’d sum up the season for fans.

“Progress, optimism, hope abounds, one play short, one drive short from postseason, but the best is yet to come,” he answered.

It’s not farfetched to say if one bounce in either the season-opening 35-31 home loss to Montana State or the 49-45 home loss to Wyoming goes the Lobos’ way, the fan base is gearing up for UNM’s first bowl appearance since 2016.

Here are five moments that helped define UNM football’s relatively phenomenal season:

NAKED BOOT: Up three points late in the second quarter against Montana State, the Lobos lined up in a power formation on 2nd-and-4 at the Bobcats’ 25-yard-line. Quarterback Devon Dampier took the snap and acted like he put the ball in the arms of running back Javen Jacobs for a run up the middle.

Dampier, however, never did let go of the ball. He sold it, though, by not taking off and running immediately after the fake handoff. His back still turned to the play, the Bobcats secondary sold out on the run. Dampier darted to his left and took off unencumbered to the end zone — no defender within 10 yards of him the entire run.

Again and again, the naked boot play call worked; Dampier scoring at least three times on it throughout the season.

It’s a play that somewhat defined the team’s offensive mindset — let Dampier work his magic.

The sophomore quarterback set all sorts of team records, was named AP National Player of the Week after the win over Washington State and was in the conversation for best signal-caller in the Mountain West.

Dampier is that guy and has answered every question but one — can UNM afford him in the NIL era?

NEXT MAN UP: The Lobos were up 43-33 at New Mexico State with 1:54 in the game, when running back NaQuari Rogers took a handoff, evaded a couple tackles up the middle, bounced to the sideline and ran in 29 yards to score the Lobos’ seventh rushing touchdown of the game.

The score effectively put the game on ice, handing UNM its first win of the Mendenhall era after starting the season 0-4.

Coming into the game, Rogers was the team’s second or third option at running back, having amassed 52 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. He finished the day in Las Cruces with 122 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.

It was representative of how any of the team’s running backs or receivers were capable of having a big day.

RB Eli Sanders went for 205 yards and two scores in a loss to Wyoming; Luke Wysong caught 10 balls for 120-plus yards in a home loss to Fresno State and a win at Utah State; and when Wysong went out after the first series in a loss at Colorado State, receivers Ryan Davis and Michael Buckley combined for 16 catches and 236 yards.

This was a team of players that stepped up and delivered when their number was called.

WHOSE LINE IS THIS, ANYWAY? On their fourth drive of the game against Air Force, the Lobos were lined up on their 36-yard-line. Dampier took the snap and faded to his right, looking for an open receiver downfield. Nothing developed. With the defense closing in, Dampier scampered out of bounds and took a 1-yard loss with 1:58 to go in the first half. Linebacker Osaro Aihie was credited with the sack even though he never took down the quarterback. Dampier threw a 15-yard strike to receiver Caleb Medford on the next play and the Lobos would eventually score (on a Dampier naked boot) to take a 28-17 lead into halftime.

What’s so special about a 1-yard loss early in a scoring drive in the seventh week of the season? It was the first credited sack given up by UNM on the year.

The Lobos were the last team in FBS to give up a sack, and with only five sacks on the year, UNM led the nation in that statistic.

Not bad for an offensive line cobbled together from transfers that hadn’t played one snap together heading into the season. In fact, just minutes before the team’s first game, projected starting center Jawaun Singletary was ruled out, replaced by RT McKenzie Agnello, who had never played center in a game before.

Though Dampier’s escapability was a huge reason why opposing teams recorded so few sacks, this offensive line, despite several more shuffles throughout the year, held up admirably.

UNM also led the nation in rushing yards per attempt, thanks in no small part to the line.

THERE IS CRYING IN FOOTBALL: Following New Mexico’s come-from-behind 50-45 victory at Utah State, TNT sports interviewed Mendenhall on the field after the game. He wiped away tears while trying to convey on live TV his affection for the squad and what they had accomplished in coming back from down 17-0 (and down 38-23 in the second half) to win.

With the victory, New Mexico football had won its third straight game in a single season for the first time in eight years and scored 50 points in three straight games for the first time in 108 years — and for fans, it was proof that these Lobos were different. These Lobos played with a belief that they were never quite out of it.

During Monday’s interview on “The Opening Drive,” Mendenhall pointed to the Utah State game as a turning point in the season.

“I think they understood what they had been doing, how they had been doing it was going to allow them to do things that hadn’t been done in a while,” Mendenhall said. “I’m talking about road wins, significant deficits they come back from, hostile environments and a team that just keep playing. You can’t blow this team out, right?”

Knowing they can mount a comeback was a huge part of these Lobos’ identity.

FANS ON THE FIELD: “I think we oughta just pause for a second,” Mendenhall said in a postgame press conference after UNM’s 38-35 win over No. 19 Washington State. “The field got stormed at the University of New Mexico.”

Dampier’s keeper into the end zone with 21 seconds to go cemented the comeback win over the Cougars and gave the Lobos their first win over a ranked team at home in 30 years.

And, yes, the fans ran onto the field at University Stadium to celebrate with the team after its improbable victory.

How improbable? Washington State quarterback John Mateer completed his first 11 passes for 221 yards and the Cougars took a 28-14 after the second quarter. Mateer and the Cougars were every bit as impressive as their No. 19 ranking in that first half.

But, this Lobos team came out of the locker room undeterred. UNM’s defense — much maligned throughout the year — held Washington State to three straight punts after halftime and Dampier, yet again, worked his magic on offense.

Are these new-look Lobos a passing fad or a trend-setter? Only time will tell. But know this: It’s December and it’s fashionable to be talking Lobo football.

Honorable mention

Congrats to Cleveland, Roswell, Bloomfield, St. Michael’s and Texico, champions of their respective 11-Man football classes on Saturday. Refer to prep sports editor James Yodice’s column wrapping up the fall sports season for all the moments worth remembering … The New Mexico Junior College men’s basketball team was 10-0 and ranked No. 2 nationally heading into Monday’s game at Dallas College Richland. The Eagles have won every game by at least 13 points. The NMJC women’s team is also 10-0 and was ranked No. 3 in the nation heading into Monday’s home game against Cisco College. The women’s Eagles squad is even more dominant than the men’s — its closest game was an 18-point victory. … The UNM men’s basketball team (6-2) and its players are ranked among the top 10 nationally in a couple of statistics — the team is tied for seventh in turnovers forced per game (18); Donovan Dent is fifth in assists per game (8.2); and Tru Washington is tied for 10th in steals per game (2.88)

Meet the editor

Lucas Peerman, Albuquerque Journal assistant managing editor for sports and features, will visit with the public from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Little Bear Coffee, 2632 Pennsylvania St NE. This is an opportunity to discuss in person what you’d like to see in a sports section, or to just talk sports. Longtime Journal writer and columnist Rick Wright will attend. This will be the final coffee meet-up of the year.