SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State rallied from an early 14-3 deficit but was unable to hold on in a 21-16 loss to New Mexico Friday night at Snapdragon Stadium.
Eli Sanders had two long touchdown runs in the first quarter and Devon Dampier had a go-ahead touchdown pass in the fourth as the Lobos (3-6, 3-3 MW) beat the Aztecs (3-6, 2-2 MW) for the first time since 2008, snapping SDSU’s nine-game winning streak in the series.
Sanders scored on a 51-yard run to cap a four-play 99-yard drive the second time UNM had the ball.
San Diego State got deep into New Mexico territory on its ensuing drive and almost scored on a tricky reverse, but wide receiver Jordan Napier’s pass just missed a wide-open quarterback Danny O’Neil end the end zone on third-and-goal. The Aztecs had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Gabe Plascencia, finishing up a 13-play, 71-yard drive.
Sanders raced 68 yards for a touchdown on the Lobos' second play from scrimmage on their third possession for a 14-3 lead after one quarter.
Napier set SDSU up in good field position with a career-long 61-yard kickoff return. San Diego State got to the UNM 7-yard line, but consecutive TFLs by New Mexico and an incomplete pass by O’Neil made the Aztecs take the three points on a 31-yard field goal.
Late in the half, Marquez Cooper caught a 5-yard pass from O’Neil and ran into the end zone untouched to close the Lobo lead to 14-13 at intermission.
After the teams traded punts coming out of the locker room, San Diego State went 80 yards on 16 plays before Plascencia connected on his third field goal of the game, this time from 28 yards and giving the Aztecs their first lead of the game at 16-14 with 1:39 to play in the third quarter.
UNM answered with a 9-play, 65-yard drive, culminating with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Dampier to Ryan Davis, making it 21-16 New Mexico with 13:07 left to play.
SDSU got all the way to the Lobo 35-yard line on its next drive, but Cam Davis was stuffed on a third-and-1 situation with a 4-yard loss. San Diego State head coach Sean Lewis elected to punt and Tyler Pastula pinned UNM at its own 2.
New Mexico made it to the Aztec 34, using up 3:46 of the clock before Aaron Rodriguez punted to the SDSU 4.
San Diego State managed only 13 yards on five plays and would have to rely on its defense to get the ball back following another Pastula punt.
The Lobos, however, ran out the clock, including converting a third-and-6 with a 7-yard Dampier run. Dampier then kneeled to give UNM the 21-16 victory.
Sanders carried 16 times for 173 yards for the Lobos. Dampier completed 16 of 24 passes for 175 yards and rushed 16 times for 120 more.
Marquez Cooper totaled 123 yards on 35 carries for the Aztecs for his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season and 21st of his career.
O'Neil had 195 yards on 26-for-41 passing, targeting Napier 16 times. Napier finished with nine catches for 63 yards.
Chris Johnson led the SDSU defense with six tackles, keeping a team that came into the game averaging just under 35 points to 21 points, including seven in the second half.
San Diego State fell to 2-3 on the season in one-score games (all happening over its last six), decided by a total of 15 points.
The Aztecs had their most first downs (26) since the 2021 Frisco Bowl vs. No. 24 UTSA and ran their most plays (88) since running 99 against Eastern Illinois on Aug. 28, 2013.
San Diego State’s 11 third-down conversions (11) were its most since having 11 at San Jose State on Nov. 4, 2017, while its 55.0 third-down percentage was its highest since having a 55.8 mark at No. 14 Brigham Young on Dec. 12, 2020.