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New Mexico falters late in shootout loss to Wyoming

Wyoming wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. (15) makes an astonishing one-handed catch in front of UNM defender Bryson Taylor during Saturday’s game at University Stadium.

UNM’s Devon Dampier had one of the most successful quarterback campaigns in program history in the 2024 season.

UNM head coach Bronco Mendenhall, center right, watches from the sideline during the Nov. 2 game against Wyoming at University Stadium.

Sean Reider Sean Reider Sean Reider Journal Staff Writer

Published November 2, 2024 - 4:47 p.m. Modified November 2, 2024 - 10:02 p.m.

As he talked in the postgame press conference, Bronco Mendenhall kept glancing at the scoreboard. For all the points scored, yards accumulated and career-bests set on Saturday University Stadium, there was one number, one reality he kept coming back to.

“It’s 45 points,” New Mexico’s head coach said. “Bottom line is, that’s plenty to win.”

On Saturday, it wasn’t.

Despite a pair of career performances from quarterback Devon Dampier and running back Eli Sanders, Wyoming rode two late touchdowns to deal New Mexico a 49-45 shootout loss.

The teams combined for a staggering 1,180 yards of total offense, but defense — or a lack thereof — defined the Lobos’ (3-6, 2-3 MW) second straight loss. UNM struggled to limit Wyoming quarterback Kaden Anderson (20-for-29, 342 yards, three touchdowns, one interception) in his first career start, and the Cowboys came up with the defensive plays needed to win late.

“Too many mistakes on our part for sure,” Mendenhall said. “And not making enough critical plays at the right time — even though there (were) lots of plays made and lots of points scored, ultimately it comes down to executing when you need to in the critical moments.”

Dampier completed 16 of 31 passes for 164 yards and threw one touchdown, but truly shined on the ground with a career-high 207 rushing yards and three scores — including an 85-yard breakaway to put UNM up 10 entering the fourth quarter — for his third game with 100-plus rushing yards this season.

But Dampier’s one interception couldn’t have been more costly. Leading 45-35 with 12:55 remaining, Dampier threw a 29-yard pick-six to nickelback Wrook Brown to give the Cowboys (2-7, 1-3) life.

Wide receiver Justin Stevenson’s 27-yard receiving touchdown put Wyoming ahead with 4:44 left before defensive end Tyce Westland’s strip sack on Dampier effectively sealed the game.

“Hard to say that erases everything else he did,” Mendenhall said of Dampier’s turnovers. “We can’t say that, nor is that fair. Wyoming (made) a nice play at the end, stripping him. But those two turnovers certainly influenced outcome — if (they) didn’t determine outcome.”

Sanders rushed for a career-high 205 yards, scoring both of his touchdowns in the first half, including a 75-yard breakaway that set up a halftime score of 35-35. The junior Iowa State transfer tied his career-high in carries (17) on his way to {span}recording the 17th performance with 200 or more yards from a running back in program history.{/span}

Wide receiver Ryan Davis led the Lobos with six receptions for 74 yards and one touchdown while Caleb Medford added four catches for 46 yards. Luke Wysong, UNM’s leading receiver, missed Saturday’s game with an undisclosed injury after going through pregame warmups.

“But after warming up again, (Wysong’s) just not enough along,” Mendenhall said.

Davis’ 10-yard receiving touchdown opened the scoring in a dizzying first half that saw the teams combine for 70 points and 717 yards of offense. After the Lobos took a 6-0 lead, UNM and Wyoming had six touchdowns over the next seven drives, with the Cowboys taking a 21-13 lead off Anderson’s seven-yard rushing score at the start of the second quarter.

UNM answered with Dampier’s 18-yard naked boot touchdown run and tight end Trace Bruckler’s (four receptions, 25 yards) two-point conversion to even it at 21. A handful of plays later, Anderson took the top off UNM’s defense and hit Sargent for a 68-yard touchdown down the sideline to give Wyoming a 28-21 lead.

Once again, Dampier came up with the answer, uncorking a 40-yard rushing score up the middle to tie it before Wyoming running back Harrison Waylee surged in from six yards out to push the Cowboys ahead. Sanders’ subsequent touchdown closed a first half that saw UNM’s defense give up 35 points and 334 yards of total offense.

“Mindset, effort, execution was really poor (in) the first half,” Mendenhall said of the defense. “And as a result, the points, they were matching score-for-score with our offense.”

That changed in the second half: The Lobos allowed only seven offensive points in the second half, a performance highlighted by safety Noah Avinger’s (a team-high 15 total tackles) third-quarter interception. In turn, Luke Drzewiecki’s 30-yard field goal and Dampier’s long touchdown run pushed UNM to a 45-35 lead, its largest of the game.

Then, one turnover changed everything.

“We’re understand that we’re doing it to ourselves,” Avinger said. “I mean, we’re hurting ourselves on both sides of the ball … capitalizing on those moments is what we need to fix.”

UNM has a short week, traveling to San Diego State (3-5, 2-1) for a Friday night tilt.