Nov. 27—Five Mountain West member schools — Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Colorado State and Utah State — are set to leave the conference after this season, ending multiple longstanding series with UNM until further notice.
In light of that change, the Journal is revisiting the top three games in the history of each series, from the Lobos' decades-long rivalries with Wyoming and Colorado State to a relatively new one with Boise State.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis week: New Mexico vs. San Diego State.
Oct. 18, 2008: New Mexico 70, San Diego State 7
Why it's here: Yes, San Diego State finished 2-10. And yes, UNM finished 9-4, so this game wasn't quite an even matchup. But few performances in Lobo history have been so dominant, with UNM racking up 565 total yards and 49 first half points.
What the Journal wrote: It wasn't a perfect day for the New Mexico football team.
Had San Diego State agreed to mimic Air Force's offense and defense in the second half to let Lobos prepare Thursday's game against the Falcons — then it would've been a perfect day.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Lobos (4-4, 2-2 Mountain West Conference) scored 49 points in the first half — a modern-day school record for points in a half — in a 70-7 pummeling of defenseless San Diego State (1-6, 0-3) before an announced crowd of 29,695 under clear blue skies Saturday at University Stadium.
The margin of victory was UNM's largest since it beat Texas State 72-8 in 2003.
"I've never been that far ahead before," Lobo coach Rocky Long said of the intermission score. "All we talked about at halftime was trying to keep your intensity for the start of the second half. We played pretty well, and they didn't play pretty well. And we got some big plays and some big breaks early, and the game got out of hand."
— Greg Archuleta, Journal staff writer
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOct. 11, 1997: New Mexico 36, San Diego State 21
Why it's here: UNM snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Aztecs in one of its best seasons in school history, a 9-4 campaign that resulted in a WAC Championship appearance in 1997.
What the Journal wrote: The University of New Mexico football team, led by quarterback Graham Leigh's three touchdown passes and two scoring runs, took the monkey that had been on its back, slammed it to the turf and then, for good measure, kicked it while it was down.
The result was a 36-21 victory Saturday night over San Diego State's Aztecs, a team that has owned the Lobos for 13 straight years, including piling up 86 points in the past two victories.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut this is a different UNM team, as the Aztecs and 28,732 fans — including an estimated 150 Lobos faithful — at Qualcomm Stadium learned.
The Lobos ran their record to 6-0, including three road victories, for the first three road victories, for the first time in school history. The program dates back to 1892 when UNM was 0-2 in two games against Albuquerque High.
After beating SDSU, the Lobos players went into the stands and sang the school fight song with their fans.
"It feels really good; I'm real happy for the players," said UNM head coach Dennis Franchione. "A lot of guys had to suck it up. We had a lot of guys banged up, but they kept going.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I'm really happy for the fans back in Albuquerque. This team is a part of history. I can't say how proud I am of them."
— Mike Hall, associate sports editor
Nov. 5, 2011: San Diego State 35, New Mexico 7
Why it's here: Rocky Long's first game against the Lobos as SDSU's head coach was the third in a nine-game winning streak over UNM spanning from 2009 to 2024.
What the Journal wrote: Bring on the Rebels.
Saturday night, the New Mexico Lobos played arguably their best game since their season opener. Yet, in the end, the result was all too familiar.
Overwhelmed statistically and hurting themselves with penalties and turnovers in a decisive third quarter, the Lobos fell 35-7 to San Diego State at Qualcomm Stadium.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNew Mexico (0-9 overall, 0-4 in Mountain West Conference play) next will face UNLV (2-5, pending the outcome of their game Saturday against fifth-ranked Boise State) in Albuquerque. The Rebels represent UNM's last realistic chance for a victory before this painful season comes to an end.
San Diego State, coached by former Lobos head coach Rocky Long, is 5-3 and 2-2. The Aztecs outgained UNM, 486 yards to 162, and benefited from Lobos penalties and turnovers.
— Rick Wright, Journal staff writer
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