Lobos vs. Rams: The three best games between New Mexico and Colorado State

Five Mountain West member schools — Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Colorado State and Utah State — are set to leave the conference after this season, ending multiple longstanding series with UNM until further notice.

In light of that change, the Journal is revisiting the top three games in the history of each series, from the Lobos’ decades-long rivalries with Wyoming and Colorado State to a relatively new one with Boise State.

This week: New Mexico vs. Colorado State

Nov. 7, 2003: New Mexico 37, Colorado State 34

Why it’s here: A fan favorite, UNM kicker Wes Zunker’s last second field goal snapped a five-game losing streak to the Rams — one dating back to Colorado State’s only win on this list. 37,133 fans were also in attendance at University Stadium, setting up an atmosphere just as memorable as the game’s finish.

What the Journal wrote: In a game of survival, one play saved the Lobos’ skin.

Colorado State quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt’s fumble on a mishandled snap led to junior kicker Wes Zunker’s 33-yard field goal as time expired. The kick lifted the University of New Mexico to a heart-stopping 37-34 victory over the Rams in front of 37,133 fans at University Stadium on Friday night.

Sophomore tailback DonTrell Moore ran wild, netting a career-high 242 yards and three first-half touchdowns. As a result, the Lobos (6-4, 3-2) kept their postseason and Mountain West Conference championship hopes alive — despite blowing a 17-point second-half lead.

Colorado State (5-5, 2-3) , the preseason conference favorite, watched its postseason and conference title hopes all but disappear in front of a nationally televised audience.

“That was a bunch of guys hanging in there even though things looked terrible,” Lobos coach Rocky Long said. “At the end, we couldn’t protect the lead, and their quarterback was making great plays, especially on fourth down.”

— Greg Archuleta, Journal staff writer

Nov. 13, 1982: New Mexico 29, Colorado State 24

Why it’s here: UNM snapped back to life in the fourth quarter to secure its ninth win in head coach Joe Morrison’s third season, one of the few 10-win campaigns in program history. Was it the prettiest contest? No. But it elevated a really good season into a great one, and that counts for something.

What the Journal wrote: Never has one man done so much for so many in such a short a time.

Two great defensive plays by linebacker Johnny Jackson in the span of 20 seconds led to touchdowns as New Mexico scored a thrilling 29-24 victory over Colorado State at University Stadium on Saturday before a disappointing, but vocal crowd of 19,937.

The first of Jackson’s defensive gems came less than two minutes after the Lobos had scored seven points to draw within two points of the aroused Rams with 9:34 left in the game. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound sophomore, who blitzed most of the afternoon, dropped back into the short zone expecting a pass. And a pass it was, but before it could get to its intended receiver, Jackson reached up and tipped the ball right into free safety Steve Sauter’s hands.

Sauter, in the game only because regular Ray Hornfeck was out with an injury and starter Nick Johnson had been burned on a long pass, gathered the ball in at the CSU 29 and made a couple of fine moves and took it all the way for the score.

… “That was my best big-play game of the season,” said Jackson as he tried to catch his breath. “I’ll tell you what, this is as tired as I’ve been all season.”

— Frank Maestas, Journal sports writer

Dec. 6, 1997: Colorado State 41, New Mexico 13

Why it’s here: Championships matter, and the Rams scored one with a blistering finish over UNM in head coach Dennis Franchione’s final season with the program. The Lobos have not appeared in a conference championship since.

What the Journal wrote: The Lobos are “coming” to Tucson.

New Mexico couldn’t overcome a first-half injury to quarterback Graham Leigh nor Colorado State’s quick-strike running game as the Rams won the Western Athletic Conference championship with a 41-13 victory Saturday in a half-empty Sam Body Stadium.

With the win, Colorado State locked up a Holiday Bowl bid in San Diego on Dec. 29. UNM is headed to the Insight.com Bowl in Tucson on Dec. 27.

“I think it’s great that we’re doing to Tucson, and I am absolutely going,” said Lobos fan Scott Peterson of Albuquerque, who was among a sparse crowd of 12,706. “They deserve to go to a bowl.”

Because of mistimed blitzes on defense and fate on offense, that bowl won’t be the Holiday.

— Greg Archuleta, Journal staff writer