Nov. 4, 2000
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Will Demps' 43-yard interception return sparked a second-half rally, and Nate Tandberg kicked the winning field goal as San Diego State beat New Mexico 17-16 on Saturday.
New Mexico had a final shot, but Vladimir Borombozin's 54-yard field-goal attempt on the last play of the game came up just short.
The Aztecs (3-6, 3-2) rallied from a 16-0 halftime deficit.
New Mexico (5-5, 3-2) dominated the Aztecs through the first two quarters, sacking Lon Sherriff five times and holding San Diego State to minus-17 yards of total offense.
A touchdown from Holman Wiggins and three field goals from Borombozin had the Lobos in control - until Demps picked off Rudy Caamano's pass near the sidelines and raced untouched into the end zone with 4:17 left in the third quarter.
On its next possession, New Mexico failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 at the Aztecs' 36 and San Diego State mounted a nine-play drive that Sheriff finished off with a 1-yard TD plunge with 13:10 remaining in the game.
New Mexico's offense again stalled and with third-string running back Garric Simmons finding holes in New Mexico's tired defense and Sherriff hitting J.R. Tolver with a 20-yard pass, the Aztecs drove to the New Mexico 1 to set up Tandberg's game-winner with 5:27 remaining.
New Mexico began its final possession at its 38 with less than a minute remaining and the Lobos out of time outs. Caamano completed three passes to get the Lobos to the San Diego State 37. But after three straight incomplete passes, Borombozin was called on to attempt a field goal from a distance 5 yards beyond his career best.
Sherriff was under constant pressure from the blitzing Lobos in the first half and fumbled twice in the second quarter while being sacked.
New Mexico converted Sherriff's fumbles into Wiggins' TD and a 25-yard field goal by Borombozin. Borombozin also had field goals of 49 and 38 yards in the first half.
Simmons, playing because of injuries to Larry Ned and James Truvillion, finished with 89 yards, on 28 carries. The Aztecs won despite getting just 35 yards rushing and 183 total yards.