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Kode Lowe INT
7
UTEP TEP 1-4 , 0-1
61
Winner New Mexico UNM 4-1 , 1-0
UTEP TEP
1-4 , 0-1
7
Final
61
New Mexico UNM
4-1 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
TEP UTEP 0 0 0 7 7
UNM New Mexico 14 7 16 24 61

Game Recap: Football |

New Mexico Races Past UTEP in Mountain West Football Opener


GAME BOOK | POSTGAME NOTES

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Toa Fa'avae was a picture of efficiency to lead a balanced New Mexico offense as the Lobos beat UTEP, 61-7, in the Mountain West football opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon at University Stadium.  
 
Fa'avae finished 15-of-19 passing for 249 yards and three touchdowns with a 230.6 rating for New Mexico (4-1, 1-0 MW). The Lobos passed for 262 yards and rushed for 231. They also limited UTEP (1-4, 0-1 MW) to 271 yards and scored 31 points off five Miner turnovers.
 
Fa'avae completed 11-of-14 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, directing the Lobos to a 21-0 lead. The Miners had a touchdown called back on their first offensive series due to an illegal touch pass. The UTEP defense had opened the game by stuffing UNM on fourth down at the Miner 35-yard line.
 
The Lobos took control after that, generating touchdowns on three consecutive drives. Backup QB James Laubstein came in and rushed for a 14-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Later, Fa'avae connected with Cade Keith (12 yards) and Bailen George (52 yards) for TD's.
 
A pick-six by Lobo safety Austin Brawley early in the third quarter extended the lead to 28-0. Brawley struck again later in the period when he blocked Brady Braun's punt and New Mexico scored a safety.  
 
"I'm embarrassed and sorry to the fans that made the trip. El Paso deserves better and we have to fight to give it to them," third-year UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said. "I told the team at the end there will be no excuses, no deflection; it's going to be all ownership. We got beat in every phase. It was a total team loss. We knew New Mexico is a really good team, but we gave them a lot. At the end of the day we have to be ready to play." 
 
The Lobos added a couple more touchdowns before the Miners got on the board with Raymond Moore III's 86-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. It was the sixth-longest rushing play in school history and the longest by a UTEP quarterback.  
 
With 135 yards on the ground (11 carries), Moore became the first quarterback to rush for 100+ yards since Calvin Brownholtz had 114 against North Texas in the final game of the 2020 season. It was the top rushing performance by a UTEP signal-caller since James Thomas II had 142 yards versus NM State in 2008.
 
EJ Colson finished 6-of-12 passing for 45 yards and rushed for 24 yards before exiting the game early in the third quarter. Moore took over, and third-stringer Braesen Leon saw brief action later in the game.
 
For the Lobos, Cameron Mathews had 108 yards rushing on six carries, including a 54-yard TD in the fourth quarter. The UNM defense produced four sacks, 10 tackles for losses, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
 
UP NEXT
The Miners will take on Nevada in their inaugural Mountain West home game next Saturday (Oct. 10) at 5 p.m., sponsored by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). The first 20,000 fans will receive a UTEP vs. Nevada MW home opener commemorative coin. Paydirt Pete's Pregame Party Zone Presented by Bud Light offers a premier tailgating experience on Glory Field beginning at 2 p.m.
 
Fans can purchase the "Mountain West Two-Step" package and receive tickets to UTEP's first two league home games for the price of one (starting at $20). A four-game Mountain West package is also available.  Visit www.utepminers.com/tickets, call 915.747.UTEP, email tickets@utep.edu or visit the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office (500 W. University Ave., 79968) for Mountain West bundles or single-game tickets. Next week's game will be nationally televised on FS1 and can also be heard on 600 AM ESPN.  
 
 
For complete coverage of UTEP Football, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPFB (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.
 
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