ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- San Diego State was edged, 23-17, in a double-overtime thriller at New Mexico in the regular-season finale Friday in Albuquerque.
The Aztecs (9-3, 6-2 MW), who trailed, 10-0, early, tied the game at 17-17 on a 44-yard field goal by Gabe Plascencia with 51 seconds left in the third quarter.
The teams traded punts the rest of regulation, forcing overtime for the first time in a SDSU game since Nov. 4, 2023 against Utah State.
The Aztecs started with the ball in the first overtime session, but Jayden Denegal was picked off by Austin Brawley on the first play.
Lobo (9-3, 6-2 MW) quarterback James Laubstein had consecutive runs to get to the San Diego State 4-yard line, but safety Dwayne McDougle forced a fumble on Laubstein’s next attempt and Owen Chambliss pounced on the loose ball, giving the Aztecs life.
UNM started with the ball in the second overtime and starting quarterback Jack Layne found a streaking Cade Keith, who made a one-handed catch and ran it into the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown. The mandatory 2-point conversion attempt failed, giving SDSU the chance to win the game with a touchdown and successful 2-point attempt.
Denegal came up with a 15-yard run on a third-and-10 to get the visitors to the New Mexico 10. San Diego State, however, quickly got into a fourth-and-30 situation thanks to three pre-snap penalties and two sacks. Denegal’s desperate passing attempt then sailed past wide receiver Jaylon Hawkins, ending the game.
The loss put the Aztecs into a three-way tie with the Lobos and Boise State at 6-2 in Mountain West play. UNLV could make it four teams with a victory at Nevada on Saturday night, which means the championship game will come down to computer rankings.
UNM got on the scoreboard on a 37-yard field goal by Luke Drzewiecki, capping a 12-play, 55-yard drive that opened the game and took 7:35 off the clock.
New Mexico made it 10-0 when Laubstein got out of a tackle on a fourth-and-2, and ran it 40 yards for the score with 13:15 left in the second quarter.
After each team traded punts, SDSU got on the scoreboard, going 55 yards on six plays, ending with a 1-yard touchdown run by Lucky Sutton with 7:26 left in the half.
San Diego State forced a three-and-out, and then went 70 yards on eight plays before Denegal found a streaking Donovan Brown down the right side for a 46-yard strike with 59 seconds left in the half, making it 14-10 Aztecs.
SDSU got to the Lobo 40 on its first drive of the second half but was forced to punt.
UNM went for it on fourth-and-1 again, and this time D.J. McKinney ran it 54 yards for the touchdown and putting New Mexico back on top at 17-14. Both the 40 and 54-yard touchdown were the longest rushing plays against San Diego State this season, as the Lobos miraculously finished 2-for-2 on fourth down for a total of 94 yards gained.
The Aztecs got into UNM territory on their ensuing drive, but Plascencia’s 52-yard field goal attempt missed.
SDSU forced a three-and-out, and Plascencia was good this time from 44 yards out to tie the game at 17-17 for the final points of regulation.
Sutton ran for 110 yards and a touchdown to lead San Diego State. It was his sixth 100-yard game of the season (and career).
Denegal was 14-for-24 for 162 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Brown had a career-high 91 receiving yards and matched a career best with five catches.
Chambliss had seven tackles to lead the Aztec defense, which had a season-high seven sacks, including 2 ½ by Niles King and 1 ½ by Sam Benjamin.
SDSU fell to 10-6 all-time in overtime games and lost at New Mexico for the first time since 2008, snapping a four-game road winning streak in the series.
Aztecs Fall in Double Overtime Thriller at New Mexico, 23-17
