The Nevada Wolf Pack football team took a disappointing loss, 31-3, against the No. 23 New Mexico Lobos at Mackay Stadium on Friday, Nov. 6.
Nevada came into the game off a disappointing 27-0 road loss against the No. 5 UCLA Bruins, while New Mexico had won five games in a row and were ranked in the AP poll for the first time in program history.
Things wouldn’t get easier for the Nevada offense, as New Mexico took the field as the nation’s best defense, having only allowed 11.9 points per game this season.
New Mexico received the kickoff, and started off quickly with a 38-yard kickoff return by freshman safety Marco Beltran Jr.
The Pack’s defense was able to force a third down in the Lobos’ half, but a 28-yard outburst over three plays from senior running back Scottre Humphrey put New Mexico on the board with less than four minutes gone.
The next three drives were three-and-outs, before New Mexico got the ball back with 6:23 in the first quarter. Humphrey was able to extend their drive on third down, and junior running back Keifer Sibley broke off a 31-yard run to give them a 14-0 lead.
On the following drive, fifth-year Nevada quarterback AJ Bianco connected with fifth-year wide receiver Damien Morgan to give the Pack their first first-down of the game. However, the drive stalled, and freshman punter Ewan Baulch came out to punt for the third time in the quarter.
Both teams continued punting back and forth, including another four-and-out by Nevada which was capped off by a booming sack by Lobos sophomore safety CJ McBean.
Nevada’s defense allowed the Pack to stay in the game, as a combination of plays by senior EDGE Dylan LaBarbera and junior nose tackle David Paine Jr. forced a third consecutive Lobos punt.
The Pack got their first points in just under six quarters through a field goal by freshman kicker Jacob Fernandez. The score at the half was 14-3, UNM.
The second half had an energetic start, as the second play from scrimmage was intercepted by Lobos fifth-year linebacker Mercury Swaim. However, a roughing the passer penalty negated the offensive play, giving the Pack the ball back.
Nevada’s drive stalled, and Baulch came out to punt. After an unsuccessful New Mexico drive, the Wolf Pack got the ball back, allowing the Pack a chance to cut the lead to a single score.
But Bianco was hit hard in the backfield by fifth-year defensive end Brett Karhu, resulting in a fumble and field position within the 5-yard line.
The Lobos were able to take advantage of the turnover, and Humphrey found the endzone for the second time today, extending their lead to 21-3.
After a series of punts to close out the third quarter, New Mexico scored for the fourth time, as sophomore quarterback Toa Fa’avae connected with junior tight end Cade Keith on a 25-yard pass.
After another Nevada punt, sophomore kicker Nicholas Romero sank one through uprights, extending the Lobos’ lead to 31-3.
Every Nevada drive of the second half was unsuccessful, ending the game at 31-3 with a victory for the Lobos.
The Pack’s next challenge is when they take on the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m. in DeKalb, Illinois.
