The streak is finally over.
Saturday the UNM football team beat Brigham Young University 20-16, winning in Provo, Utah for the first time in 31 years.
The Lobos used a combination of stingy defense and timely offense to snap the program's 14-game losing streak at the Cougars' LaVelle Edwards Stadium.
It didn't look good for the Lobos early in the game when junior quarterback Casey Kelly was picked off by Cougar safety Jon Burbidge, who took the interception all the way to the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown and an early 7-0 BYU lead.
The Cougars added to their lead after another UNM miscue. This time Kelly rolled out on an option play and pitched the ball to freshman running back DonTrell Moore who couldn't handle the pass and fumbled.
BYU picked up the loose ball deep in Lobo territory and converted its scoring opportunity with a field goal for a 10-0 lead.
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UNM desperately needed a big play and got one when junior safety Brandon Ratcliff stepped in front of BYU quarterback Matt Berry's pass and ran it back all the way to the Cougar two-yard line. Moore hammered his way into the end zone two plays later for a touchdown, making the score 10-7.
UNM appeared to gain confidence after the touchdown and on its next possession put together an impressive 17-play drive that finished with a perfectly placed touch pass from Kelly to junior receiver Dwight Counter in the corner of the end zone.
The Lobos came up big in key situations throughout the drive. Faced with a fourth and one near midfield UNM was able to pull BYU off sides with a hard snap count by Kelly moving the chains for a crucial first down.
The Lobos were successful again on fourth down when Kelly took a keeper past the first down marker. The drive was also instrumental in chewing up the clock, spanning eight minutes and two seconds.
It looked like UNM would go into halftime with a 14-10 lead but the Cougars had other ideas. On fourth down, BYU dug into its bag of tricks, calling a fake punt.
Cougar punter Matt Payne took the snap and rushed through a huge hole in the middle for a big gain all the way to the Lobos 37-yard line. Payne stepped up again nailing a 52-yard field goal to pull BYU within one 14-13.
In the second half, the Cougars came out with a new quarterback, sophomore Todd Mortensen. He completed his first pass attempt but was ineffective throughout most of the rest of game.
BYU was able to regain the lead though converting a field goal when Kelly was intercepted inside the UNM 30-yard line. The kick put the Cougars up 16-14.
The Lobos did not give up. They put together another impressive drive that started at their own 23.
Receiver Adrian Boyd, who also played as a running back, started the drive with an 11-yard gain on an end around play to the left side. Boyd stepped up again two plays later, creating separation from a BYU defender and hauling in a big 33-yard reception.
After a two-yard loss, Kelly called an audible at the line. He rolled out to the left and pitched the ball to Moore at the last possible instant before getting hit. Moore broke to the sideline and found lots of room all the way down to the two-yard line.
Moore would finish the job piling his way in for a Lobo freshman-record ninth touchdown of the season and a 20-16 lead. UNM went for a two-point conversion but failed as Moore was stuffed at the goal line.
BYU had a chance to go for the win late in the game but Mortensen was intercepted by Lobo linebacker Charles Moss on fourth down with less than two minutes left in the game.
UNM was able to run out the clock from there and seal the much-needed victory.
Statistically, the Lobos dominated the gridiron. UNM had 300 total yards to the Cougars 188. Boyd and Moore led the way. Boyd had 156 total yards picking up 99 of them on four catches and 57 yards on just eight running plays.
Moore was workhouse rushing for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Kelly completed 11 of 22 passes for 155 yards and two interceptions.
The win raises the Lobos' record to 6-5 overall and 4-1 in the Mountain West Conference. BYU dropped to 5-6 and a dismal 2-4 in the MWC.
The victory sets up a matchup with Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo. Saturday. The 20th-ranked Rams stand alone in first place with a 5-0 in the MWC. The game will be broadcast live on KKOB, 770 AM at 4 p.m. It will also be broadcast on KRQE-TV, Ch. 13.
If UNM wins beats CSU, it could could win the conference title outright with a win over the University of Wyoming the following week.
