2021 New Mexico Lobos football team explained

Year:	2021
Team:	New Mexico Lobos
Sport:	football
Conference:	Mountain West Conference
Division:	Mountain Division
Short Conf:	MW
Record:	3–9
Conf Record:	1–7
Head Coach:	Danny Gonzales
Hc Year:	2nd
Off Coach:	Derek Warehime
Oc Year:	2nd
Off Scheme:	No-huddle spread option
Def Coach:	Rocky Long
Dc Year:	2nd
Def Scheme:	3–3–5
Stadium:	University Stadium

The 2021 New Mexico Lobos football team represented the University of New Mexico in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Lobos played their home games at University Stadium as members of the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Danny Gonzales.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Jim Thorpe Award^[1]		S	SR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award^[2]	Terry Wilson Jr.	QB	SR

Mountain West media days

The Mountain West media days were held on July 21–22, 2021, at the Cosmopolitan in Paradise, Nevada.

Media poll

The preseason poll was released on July 21, 2021. The Lobos were predicted to finish in sixth place in the MW Mountain Division.^[3]

Mountain
1	Boise State	148 (23)
2	Wyoming	115 (2)
3	Air Force	104
4	Colorado State	72
5	Utah State	47
6	New Mexico	39

West
1	Nevada	141 (19)
2	San Jose State	121 (5)
3	San Diego State	96
4	Fresno State	85 (1)
5	Hawaii	56
6	UNLV	26

Preseason All-Mountain West Team

The Lobos had one player selected to the preseason All–Mountain West Team; one from the defense.^[4]

Defense

Jerrick Reed II – S

Schedule

Note: With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, opponents and dates are subject to change.^[5]

Personnel

Depth chart

†	As of August 19, 2021

Game summaries

Houston Baptist

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NM –25.5	66^[6]

Statistics	Houston Baptist	New Mexico
First downs	15	16
Total yards	187	308
Rushing yards	–9	129
Passing yards	196	179
Turnovers	3	3
Time of possession	26:47	33:13

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston Baptist	Passing	Blaise Bentsen	27/47, 196 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing	Dreshawn Minnieweather	5 carries, 21 yards
Receiving	Charles King	7 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD
New Mexico	Passing		20/26, 174 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing	Aaron Dumas	15 carries, 57 yards
Receiving	Keyonte Lanier	3 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD

New Mexico State

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NM –19.5	56^[7]

Statistics	New Mexico State	New Mexico
First downs	19	29
Total yards	345	559
Rushing yards	109	178
Passing yards	236	381
Turnovers	0	3
Time of possession	23:32	36:28

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico State	Passing	Dino Maldonado	13/34, 192 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing	Dino Maldonado	6 carries, 46 yards
Receiving	Isaiah Garcia–Castaneda	3 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD
New Mexico	Passing	Terry Wilson Jr.	26/37, 381 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing	Bobby Cole	20 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Emmanuel Logan–Greene	7 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TD

At No. 7 Texas A&M

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TAMU –30	49.5^[8]

Statistics	New Mexico	Texas A&M
First downs	9	22
Total yards	122	429
Rushing yards	89	154
Passing yards	33	275
Turnovers	0	0
Time of possession	29:01	30:59

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico	Passing	Terry Wilson Jr.	10/23, 33 yards, 1 INT
Rushing	Aaron Dumas	10 carries, 49 yards
Receiving	Emmanuel Logan–Greene	3 receptions, 16 yards
Texas A&M	Passing		19/33, 275 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing		15 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Demond Demas	2 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD

At UTEP

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NM –2.5	54^[9]

Statistics	New Mexico	UTEP
First downs	17	12
Total yards	288	344
Rushing yards	123	51
Passing yards	165	293
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	29:52	30:08

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico	Passing	Terry Wilson Jr.	16/38, 160 yards, INT
Rushing	Aaron Dumas	8 carries, 28 yards
Receiving	Kyle Jarvis	4 receptions, 59 yards
UTEP	Passing		15/29, 293 yards, TD, INT
Rushing	Ronald Awatt	12 carries, 34 yards
Receiving		7 receptions, 174 yards, TD

Air Force

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AF –11.5	45.5^[10]

Statistics	Air Force	New Mexico
First downs	24	14
Total yards	441	226
Rushing yards	408	47
Passing yards	33	179
Turnovers	0	3
Time of possession	41:53	18:07

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Air Force	Passing	Haaziq Daniels	1/2, 33 yards
Rushing		28 carries, 142 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Brandon Lewis	1 Reception, 33 yards
New Mexico	Passing	Terry Wilson Jr.	14/23, 179 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Aaron Dumas	3 carries, 15 yards
Receiving	Luke Wysong	3 receptions, 70 yards

At No. 25 San Diego State

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SDSU –19.5	42.5^[11]

Statistics	New Mexico	San Diego State
First downs	12	19
Total yards	193	336
Rushing yards	66	203
Passing yards	127	133
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	28:59	31:01

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico	Passing	Terry Wilson Jr.	13/25, 127 yards, INT
Rushing	Aaron Dumas	11 carries, 77 yards
Receiving	Luke Wysong	4 receptions, 51 yards
San Diego State	Passing	Jordon Brookshire	11/24, 130 yards
Rushing		21 carries, 111 yards, TD
Receiving		2 receptions, 39 yards

Colorado State

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CSU –10	43.5^[12]

Statistics	Colorado State	New Mexico
First downs	21	11
Total yards	452	69
Rushing yards	163	53
Passing yards	289	16
Turnovers	0	3
Time of possession	34:16	25:44

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Colorado State	Passing		16/25, 289 yards, TD
Rushing	David Bailey	21 carries, 58 yards, 2 TD
Receiving		7 receptions, 135 yards
New Mexico	Passing	C. J. Montes	3/19, 11 yards, 2 INT
Rushing	Aaron Dumas	14 carries, 68 yards
Receiving	Zarak Scruggs Jr.	3 receptions, 10 yards

At Wyoming

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WY –20.5	39.5^[13]

Statistics	New Mexico	Wyoming
First downs	12	16
Total yards	259	255
Rushing yards	147	108
Passing yards	112	147
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession	34:14	25:46

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico	Passing	Isaiah Chavez	10/11, 112 yards, TD
Rushing	Isaiah Chavez	16 carries, 49 yards
Receiving	Isaiah Chavez	2 receptions, 46 yards
Wyoming	Passing	Sean Chambers	11/23, 96 yards, INT
Rushing		14 carries, 41 yards
Receiving		2 receptions, 45 yards

UNLV

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NM –1	43.5^[14]

Statistics	UNLV	New Mexico
First downs	15	13
Total yards	304	296
Rushing yards	77	260
Passing yards	227	36
Turnovers	2	3
Time of possession	28:39	31:21

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UNLV	Passing		20/33, 227 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing	Charles Williams	22 carries, 74 yards, 2 TD
Receiving	Kyle Williams	7 receptions, 137 yards, TD
New Mexico	Passing	C. J. Montes	7/13, 28 yards
Rushing	Aaron Dumas	15 carries, 92 yards
Receiving	Elijah Queen	1 reception, 13 yards

At Fresno State

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FSU –24	50^[15]

Statistics	New Mexico	Fresno State
First downs	7	23
Total yards	196	399
Rushing yards	162	97
Passing yards	196	397
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	26:40	33:20

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico	Passing	Isaiah Chavez	2/7, 34 yards, INT
Rushing	Aaron Dumas	23 carries, 143 yards, TD
Receiving	Trace Bruckler	1 reception, 25 yards
Fresno State	Passing		24/31, 300 yards, 3 TD
Rushing		20 carries, 71 yards, TD
Receiving		4 receptions, 103 yards, TD

At Boise State

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BSU –27.5	46.5^[16]

Statistics	New Mexico	Boise State
First downs	9	23
Total yards	101	427
Rushing yards	83	239
Passing yards	18	188
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	29:24	30:36

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico	Passing	Connor Genal	1/5, 16 yards, INT
Rushing	Aaron Dumas	15 carries, 36 yards
Receiving	Trace Bruckler	1 reception, 16 yards
Boise State	Passing		11/22, 146 yards, TD, INT
Rushing		14 carries, 114 yards
Receiving		7 receptions, 116 yards, TD

Utah State

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USU –15.5	49.5^[17]

Statistics	Utah State	New Mexico
First downs	18	16
Total yards	440	186
Rushing yards	116	101
Passing yards	324	85
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession	24:41	35:19

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Utah State	Passing		16/23, 312 yards, 5 TD
Rushing	Calvin Tyler Jr.	10 carries, 37 yards
Receiving		5 receptions, 35 yards
New Mexico	Passing	Bryson Carroll	8/10, 57 yards, TD
Rushing	Peyton Dixon	23 carries, 95 yards
Receiving	Bobby Wooden	4 receptions, 16 yards

Notes and References

Web site: Reed II on Jim Thorpe Preseason Watch List. University of New Mexico Athletics. August 19, 2021.
Web site: Wilson on Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Preseason Watch List. University of New Mexico Athletics. August 22, 2021.
Web site: Boise State, Nevada Picked to Win 2021 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles. Mountain West Conference. August 19, 2021.
Web site: 2021 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team. Mountain West Conference. August 19, 2021.
Web site: 2021 Football Schedule. University of New Mexico Athletics. July 8, 2021.
Web site: Houston Baptist Huskies vs New Mexico Lobos. Odds Shark. August 19, 2021. en.
Web site: New Mexico State Aggies vs New Mexico Lobos. Odds Shark. September 8, 2021. en.
Web site: New Mexico Lobos vs Texas A&M Aggies. Odds Shark. September 13, 2021. en.
Web site: New Mexico Lobos vs UTEP Miners. Odds Shark. September 20, 2021. en.
Web site: Air Force Falcons vs New Mexico Lobos. Odds Shark. October 1, 2021. en.
Web site: New Mexico Lobos vs San Diego State Aztecs. Odds Shark. October 5, 2021. en.
Web site: Colorado State Rams vs New Mexico Lobos. Odds Shark. October 16, 2021. en.
Web site: New Mexico Lobos vs Wyoming Cowboys. Odds Shark. October 23, 2021. en.
Web site: UNLV Rebels vs New Mexico Lobos. Odds Shark. November 6, 2021. en.
Web site: New Mexico Lobos vs Fresno State Bulldogs. Odds Shark. November 13, 2021. en.
Web site: New Mexico Lobos vs Boise State Broncos. Odds Shark. November 20, 2021. en.
Web site: Utah State Aggies vs New Mexico Lobos. Odds Shark. November 26, 2021. en.