Wyoming Takes Out New Mexico in the Cold

The New Mexico Lobos look to be on their way to an 0-12 recordwith their sixth loss of the year, and their tenth straight loss.  The first half was fairly close with Wyoming leading in the cold and snow 17-13, but it was the second half that the Wyoming defense stepped it up and shut out the Lobos.

New Mexico QB Donovan Porteriewas not terrible with 26/40 for 252 yards, a score, and two picks.  The two picks occured during the terretrious second half where New Mexico went: punt, interception, punt, turnover on downs, punt, and interception.

The turnovers and the running game are what hurt New Mexico.  They were only able to rush for 47 yards or 80 in true rushing yards once sack yards are removed.  The top rusher was James Wright and was only able to manage 33 yards, and was tackled in the endzone for a safety. The Lobo offense is just a plain mess they managed to have seven drives that were four plays or less, one other that was eight, and then only five that were more then eight plays.  All of those short live drives can be lead fro only converting three of fourteen on third downs.  One odd offensive stat for New Mexico is that they had 23 first downs compared to 22 to Wyoming.

Wyoming had a good game plan and was able to have a balanced offensive attack. QB Austyn Carta-Samuels had a good day with three touchdown passed, 232 yards in the air, and then another 54 on the ground. The running game for Wyoming had no real star, but three players had fifty or more yards with a decent combined of 179 yards.

The receing game was similar to the running game that there was no real star with eight receivers getting the ball and the leader was David Leonard who had four catches.  For a freshman quarterback it is very good for him to spread the ball to that many receivers and not lock on to a single receiver.

The key to this game going in favor of Wyoming was two third quarter drives that allowed Wyoming to get two quick scores:

New Mexico

Wyoming

Those two drives in the third quarter for the Lobos where short lived which then lead to two Wyoming scores.  Both of Wyoming drives were quick strikes and after the second touchdown late in the third sealed the deal for a Wyoming win.

This gives Wyoming four wins and a real chance to get to their first bowl berth since the Las Vegas Bowl win over UCLA in 2004. The most likeable wins are all on the road against Colorado State, San Diego State, and Air Force.  Those are three tough wins and on the road with San Diego State looks to be a game where Wyoming is favored, but the other two would be an upset.