Boise State vs University of New Mexico

 

***SENIOR NIGHT EDITION***

Boise State University (-27.5) vs University of New Mexico 

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2021

Time: 7:00pm MT

Stadium: Albertsons “Broncos” Stadium (36,387))

TV:FS1

TV Commentators: Alex Foust and Petros Papadakis

Radio: KBOI 670 AM

Commentators: Bob Behler and Pete Cavender

 Know Thy Enemy

The headline of the October 1st, 1920 issue of the New Mexico student newspaper read: “The Lobo is respected for his cunning, feared for this power, and is the leader of the pack.”  Based on that, Lobo Louie looks more like the runt than the alpha as the Lobos of New Mexico limp their way to Boise in hopes of putting up a fight on Senior Night. 

The cherry and silver are looking for a silver lining to the 2021 season because you aren’t going to find much success in the W/L column. New Mexico started off the season 2-0 with wins of Houston Baptist and arch enemy New Mexico State, their best start since 2005. Since then, the Lobos have lost 7 of their last 8 games. The lone win in that stretch came three weeks ago when they beat Wyoming 14-3 in Laramie.

The Lobos offense has really struggled to find their way this season. The offense has only scored over 17 points just three times this season and have scored seven or fewer in four of their games this year. New Mexico has had all sorts of issues in their quarterback room this season with four different quarterbacks seeing action this year. Things have been so bad that last week due to injuries the Lobos had to dress a graduate manager, who played for UNM from 2017-2020, as their emergency quarterback.  

The Lobos offense has a very unique style, running a triple option scheme like Air Force, but out of the shotgun with more passing elements than Air Force. On paper the offense seems like it could be very dynamic and explosive, but the Lobos don’t seem to have the firepower to make things go. New Mexico has turned to Rs.Freshman Isaiah Chavez to run the offense the last four games, starting in place of Senior quarterback Terry Wilson.The Lobos have two running backs that will tote the rock in Aaron Dumas and Bobby Cole. The two backs have combined for 1,000 yards and four touchdowns on the season. 

The circle of life is complete for one Rocky Long, as the former New Mexico grad and San Diego State head coach, has returned to the Land of Enchantment as defensive coordinator for his former DC and the Lobos. Long brings with him his famous 3-3-5 defense that features three down lineman, three linebackers and five defensive backs. The 3-3-5 defense allows for unique blitzing schemes and exotic pressures. The Lobos statistically are in the middle of the pack in the Mountain West, ranking sixth in total defense. The thing that is troubling is the fact that they are being outscored by their opponent by almost double this season. 

The New Mexico Lobos are coached by Danny Gonzales. Gonzales, like Avalos, is coaching at his Alma Mater. Gonzales played Safety and Punter at UNM from 1994-1998. Gonzales is in his second season as head coach of the Lobos and has an overall record of 5-12. Prior to coaching at New Mexico, Gaonzales was the Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach at Arizona State. He also spent time with Rocky Long at San Diego State, serving as safety’s coach and Defensive coordinator. 

Boise State and New Mexico have met 11 times on the gridiron since 1999. The two teams had a home-and-home series in ‘99 and 2000 before they started meeting annually from 2011-2019, but didn’t play last season due to the COVID shortened season. Boise State leads the all-time series 10-1 with the lone loss coming in 2015, when the Lobos forced four turnovers and knocked off the Broncos on “The Blue” marking arguably the biggest win in school history for the Lobos. Boise State has won four straight since 2015. 

What Happened Last Time

On Senior Night in 2019 Jaylon Hderson made his first start as a Bronco and threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Sonatane Lui added two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown, and No. 19 Boise State defeated New Mexico 42-9.

On the first play from scrimmage, Lui collected a fumble and returned it 24 yards for a Boise State touchdown to set the tone of the evening. Boise State raced out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter on Lui’s rumble, a run by Octavious Evans, and catches by Kahlil Shakir and John Hightower,  and was never seriously challenged. Boise State would score two touchdowns in the third quarter and their final score of the night would come on a 1-yard shovel pass from Kahlil Shakir to tight end Garrett Cunningham.  Six different Broncos scored a touchdown in the blowout.

Boise State held New Mexico off the scoreboard until midway through the third quarter when the Lobos Andrew Shelly connected on a 40-yard field goal. New Mexico would add a mop-up time touchdown on a 1-yard run by Micah Gray.  

Players to Watch 

NEW MEXICO

            SR., JOEY NOBLE, DE #98

Noble, from Lakewood, CA is utilizing his super senior season for one last year with the Lobos football program. As one of the bright spots on the New Mexico defense, Noble leads the team in tackles for loss with 16.5 which is good for second best in the Mountain West. Noble also leads the team in sacks with 4.5. Noble has also had multiple tackles for loss in all but two games this season. Boise State will have to pay special attention to the senior and not allow him to blow up plays in the backfield. 

            SR., JERRICK REED II, S, #9

Much like JL Skinner for the Broncos, Jerrick Reed is the heart and soul of this Lobos defense. Reed leads the team in tackles with 73. You don’t always want someone in your secondary to lead the team in tackles, but Reed flies to the football on every play. The senior from Olive Branch, MS has recorded double digit tackes in three games this season and has only one game this year where he didn’t record at least 5 tackles. To go along with that Reed has one interception and 8 pass deflections. 

            FR., AARON DUMAS, RB #22

Aaron Dumas is the new BMOC for the Lobos. The freshman out of El Paso, TX was a three sport letterman out of America High School and was named to the 2019 Mr. Texas Super Team. Dumas has had quite a good season all considered. Dumas leads the team in all rushing categories and is tied for the team lead in scores. If Dumas chooses to stick around, New Mexico has a bright young running back to build around and he could be a thorn in the Broncos side for years to come. 

BOISE STATE 

In this week’s Players to Watch section we will highlight senior players for the Broncos. Saturday night will be the last regular season game that these seniors will play on “The Blue.” . We say, “thank you” for their dedication to Boise State and their desire to see her flourish.

 

            Rs.SR., EZEKIEL NOA, MLB #7 

“Zeke” has been a mainstay in the middle of the Broncos defense for the last four seasons. As a freshman Zeke made his collegiate debut against Air Force in 2018 where he had a tackle-for-loss and made four tackles. Zeke played in 10 games that year, starting four. As a sophomore Noa started the first four games before suffering a season ending injury. Noa started all seven games last season as a Junior. This season Noa has played in all 10 games racking up 60 tackles and one sack. 

            Rs.SR., SHANE IRWIN, DE #55

Shane Irwin out of Palos Verdes Estates, CA came to Boise State as a Junior College transfer during the 2020 season. Before coming to Boise, Irwin was a menace for the Long Beach City College team registering 47 tackles, including 8.5 sacks. Last year as a Junior Irwin appeared in all seven games starting the last five. He registered 30 tackles and 6 sacks in his first season as a Bronco. This season Shane has appeared in 9 games registering 27 tackles and three sacks. Irwin also has an envious head of lettuce. 

Rs.SR., DANIEL CANTRELL, LS #42

Long Snappers don’t usually get any credit and only get shame. Daniel Cantrell has been “Steddy Eddy” this season for the Broncos as he handles the snapping duties on all punts and field goal attempts. If you listen to a football broadcast you will most likely hear the announcer say, “The snap, the hold, the kick...” The snap part is just as vital and important as the hold and the kick. Cantrell has done his part of this equation phenomenally during his playing career. You might also see Cantrell running down the field on punts because he is the first person to the ball carrier most every time. Lastly, you might not know that Daniel and his dad hand made the Dan Paul Hammer that is carried out by a selected Bronco player each game as the team runs on the field.  

The Rest of the Boise State Senior Class: 

CB., Caleb Biggers #26

CB., Damon Cole #24

WR., Octavius Evans #1

OL., Will Farrar #75

RB., Cyrus Habibi-Likio #4

OL., Donte Harrington, #71

S., Tyreque Jones #21

CB., Kekaula Kaniho #28

DE., Aisa Kelemete #19

WR., Davis Koetter #17

DT., Divine Obichere #95

OL., John Ojukwu #70

OL., Uzo Osuji #77

TE., Kurt Rafdal #87

QB., Jack Sears #16

OL., Jake Stetz #68

RB., Andrew Van Buren #21

P., Joel Velazquez #46

LB., Tyler Visser #32

LB., Riley Whimpey #44

Focus Position Group: Underclassmen

This week’s focus position group spans the entire football team, but specifically the underclassman. This will be the last time this senior class is guaranteed to run out on “The Blue” in front of a home crowd and you know they will be ready. It will be up to the rest of the team to do their part in sending these seniors out right, just as they will want the rest of the team to play their best when it is their senior night. 

Rev's Route to a Bronco Win

1. “I Understood the Assignment” 

Facing the triple-option is never an easy task. Trying to prepare for it is even harder. If the Broncos are going to win this game, the defense must play their “assignment” all game long and not get sucked into watching the ball. Triple-option assignment football is not glamorous and can get downright mundane at times. The assignments are: 1) Play the Dive 2) Set the edge 3) Play the QB 4) Play the pitch. One player is responsible for one of these assignments. If they don’t do their assignment or try to do someone else’s assignment bad things can happen and by bad things I mean HUGE gains by the offense. Let’s see how disciplined this Boise State D can be. 

2. Cash In 

Last week Hank Bachmeier told the media that he loves Jonah Dalmas, after his 5-for-5 performance, but he doesn’t want him to kick so many field goals. Hank is right, this season Boise State’s Red Zone percentages are really good as the Broncos are scoring on 93.6% for their possessions inside the 20-yard line. However, in their 47 opportunities, the Broncos have only come away with 26 touchdowns. So if you took away the field goal attempts Boise State is only scoring touchdowns 55% of the time. This number has to get better as the Broncos finish out the season. 

3. It’s a Trap! 

Every year fans look at the season schedule and look for the “trap games.” Games that their team should win, but for some reason come out flat and have the potential to lose. Boise State has a huge match up looming on the day after Thanksgiving next week against a potential top-25 team in San Diego State. Boise State hasn’t played as well at home this season as it has on the road.  Saturday is National Absurdity Day, so if Boise State doesn’t want to fall victim to the absurd they have to stay focused on taking care of business this week and leave next week for later. 

Editor Note:

“Slimy yet Satisfying” 

In the words of Timon, last week’s win against Wyoming was “Slimy, yet satisfying.” The Broncos won the game, but didn’t cover, and weren't as dominant as I would have hoped. Yes the final score “could have” been 23-7 if it weren’t for a last second mental lapse that allowed the Cowboys receiver to go 74-yards untouched for the last second touchdown. But yet again Boise State settled for Red Zone field goals twice last week. A win is a win and getting to 6-4 means the Broncos are bowl eligible for the 24th straight season.  

Help I need somebody

Boise State still has a slim chance at making the Mountain West title game, but will need some help from their latest victim in the process. Utah State needs to lose one more game to force a tie-breaker scenario in the Mountain Division standings. In the case of a tie, Boise State would hold the head-to-head tie-breaker and would be the division representative in the championship. Utah State plays Wyoming and New Mexico in their final two games. If they are going to lose it more than likely going to be this week because I don’t see them losing to the Lobos. Hopefully the Wyoming defense will be stingy enough to keep the Aggies in check. Side Note: Air Force would also have to lose, but they play Nevada this week so there’s that. 

Senior Day Statement

Saturday is senior day and defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson was asked what these seniors meant to him, “I love these kids dearly and they've impacted my life in so many ways, way more than on the football field...I can't be more proud of them, what they've done for this place, I think, is second to none.” Boise State has only lost one Senior Day game since 2000. Boise State has played New Mexico  three other times on Senior Day since joining the Mountain West in 2011 with Boise State winning all three of those games. 

I don’t think Boise State lets this one get away and wins easily. Broncos continue to show improvement in their run game and will control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Broncos run for 200 yards and force three turnovers. 

Boise State 38, New Mexico 13