The University of New Mexico football team fell to 0-2 on the season after a 61-39 loss to the University of Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Aug. 31. The Lobos kept it close through halftime but ultimately lost all momentum in the third quarter. There were some bright spots, especially on offense.
Quarterback Devon Dampier threw for 260 yards, going 24-41. He threw three touchdowns and ran two in himself. Dampier led the team in rushing with 130 yards.
Dampier also had a career first in throwing two interceptions. Through the first 10 games of his career, Dampier had yet to turn the ball over, but gave up two possessions for the Lobos.
After the game, Dampier was asked what Arizona’s defense did that allowed him to continue to rush in the game.
“They played a lot of man (coverage) against us. They thought they had the numbers to play man so you tend to send the pressure, and then gaps opened up, available lanes opened up for me. Just taking what the defense was giving me,” Dampier said.
Dampier’s favorite target in the game was Luke Wysong. Wysong led the team in yards with 129 on eight receptions. He also had a touchdown and an incredible catch in double coverage to keep the Lobos in the game early.
Christian Ellis and Bobby Arnold III led the defense with eight tackles in total. Ellis had an interception in the second quarter that eventually led to the Lobos taking a temporary lead.
UNM faced some former Lobos in the game — namely former coach Danny Gonzales and Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Last season, Gonzales was let go from UNM and was quickly hired by the Arizona Wildcats. His official title there is special teams coordinator/linebackers coach.
Croskey-Merritt transferred to Arizona after leading the Lobos in rushing last season. Against the Lobos, he led his team in rushing with 106 yards on 13 carries.
The Lobo defense had trouble stopping Arizona’s quarterback/receiver connection. Quarterback Noah Fifita threw for 422 yards and four touchdowns; he also gave up an interception. Tetairoa McMillan had 304 yards and four touchdowns on 10 receptions.
Arizona wasted no time scoring on its first drive. With McMillan catching the ball at UNM’s 35 yard line and running it in for a 69-yard touchdown, it was the Wildcats' third play of the game. The Lobos quickly tied it up with a 16-yard reception to Wysong to tie the game 7-7.
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At the start of the second quarter, the Lobos were pinned against their endzone and a 38-yard punt was returned to put the Wildcats at UNM’s 38 yard line. UNM's defense only gave up 2 yards on the drive and held Arizona to a field goal. On offense, the Lobos went 72 yards for a field goal.
On the Wildcat’s 38 yard line, Ellis lunged for a tipped ball that he caught for an interception. On the 13 yard line, Dampier kept the ball himself and ran between defenders to give the Lobos the lead with 4:31 left in the half. But the Wildcats ended the second quarter with a 24-second touchdown drive, Dampier’s first career interception and a field goal.
UNM was down 27-24 at the half.
On the first drive of the second half, Arizona’s Quali Conley rushed 51 yards for a touchdown. Then, the Lobos had their second interception of the day that was immediately followed by a short pass to McMillan that was in for a 40-yard touchdown. The Wildcats were up 40-24 with 12:26 remaining in the first quarter.
UNM put together two more scoring drives in the game but Arizona was able to move down the field at will. The Lobos lost 61-39.
Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall knew that the Fifita/McMillan painting would give them trouble. He shared the plan to slow them down going into the game.
“Variety (was the plan) at first zone (defense), then man, then man with help, then zone pressures, so about every chance. They did a really nice job moving him around, we didn’t have answers — not effective answers — and when we did we didn’t execute them well enough,” Mendenhall said.
After a bye week, the Lobos will go to Alabama to face Auburn University on Sept. 14.
Thomas Bulger is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @thomasbulger10
Thomas Bulger is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @thomasbulger10
