The University of New Mexico football team saw its chances of making a bowl game this year all but slip away with a 45-44 loss to Utah State University on Saturday.
A combination of mental and physical errors doomed the Lobos in what might be the most disappointing loss of the season.
The errors finally did-in UNM (3-5, 1-1 MWC) when freshman kicker Kenny Byrd missed an extra point in overtime that would have sent the game into double overtime.
Byrd cannot take the blame alone for this loss though because the game should never have gone into overtime.
The Lobos battled back from a 31-24 deficit and knotted the game up on freshman Hank Baskett's touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone with under two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
It was Baskett's first play as a Lobo, coming back from a neck injury in preseason that put his career in jeopardy.
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The Aggies got the ball on the ensuing kick and hastily tried to move up the field to get in field goal range.
In their haste, quarterback Jose Fuentes attempted a dangerous cross-field pass. UNM safety Terell Golden stepped in front of the receiver and tipped the ball to himself.
Golden went untouched the rest of the way for a seemingly game-winning 59-yard touchdown interception.
The extra point was good, giving the Lobos 38-31 lead with just 25 seconds left.
However, the fun was just getting started. UNM decided to go with a squib kick on the kickoff and the Aggies got decent field position.
Fuentes still had something left up his sleeve surprising the Lobo defense by taking off and running for a long gain to the UNM 32-yard line with only nine seconds left on the clock.
Fuentes attempted a pass to the end zone but it was knocked down with just three ticks left in the game. The Aggies were down to their last play.
Fuentes dropped back giving his receivers time to get down field and then aired out a mile-high pass to the right side of the end zone.
Several Lobo defenders were in the vicinity but none of them seemed to attempt a play on the ball as it landed in the hands of USU receiver Chris Stallworth for a game-tying touchdown as the clock expired.
In overtime the Aggies started with the ball and promptly put it into the end zone on a James Samuel touchdown run from eight yards out to put them up 45-38.
On the Lobos possession, Kelly hit Baskett in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Byrd, who recently joined the team, lined up for the kick and missed it well wide right, giving USU a 45-44 homecoming victory.
Freshman running back DonTrell Moore had an exceptional game running for 166 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries.
Kelly also performed well completing 18 of 25 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Manning led Lobo receivers with six catches for 104 yards.
UNM returns home next week for its homecoming game against the University of Utah.
The Utes have lost five games in a row including a 28-20 loss to Colorado State in Salt Lake City Saturday. The defeat dropped their record to 2-5.
The game starts at 1 p.m. at University Stadium and will be broadcast on 770 KKOB-AM and televised on KRQE-TV, Ch. 13.
In other MWC games this weekend, the University of Nevada at Las Vegas defeated Brigham Young University 24-3 in Provo, Utah - the Rebels' first win there since 1981 - and San Diego State Unviersity beat the University of Wyoming 24-20.
