New Mexico Lobos vs Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners Box Score on Dec 17, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Dec 17, 2016

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The New Mexico Lobos used their punishing ground game and an inspired defensive effort to defeat the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners 23-20 in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl on Saturday afternoon.

Richard McQuarley ran for 68 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, while Teriyon Gipson added 60 yards and one score. Quarterback Lamar Jordan picked up 81 yards on the ground and 77 through the air.

After the Roadrunners (6-7) scored to pull within 16-13 in the fourth quarter, the Lobos (9-4) drove down to the 2-yard line and elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 with 3:08 remaining. After a timeout and a replay review, McQuarley was able to get the yard right up the middle.

Another 1-yard run put McQuarley in the end zone and sewed up the victory for New Mexico. UTSA picked up a touchdown with 25 seconds left but failed to recover the ensuing onside kick.

The Roadrunners had put together their first touchdown drive starting with 24 seconds left in the third quarter. They drove down to the 35, only to seemingly stall out after Dalton Sturm was stuffed on a run on third-and-15. UTSA elected to go for it and Sturm found Brady Jones for a 19-yard completion.

Two plays later, Sturm found Trevor Stevens and he did the rest, scampering for a 16-yard touchdown, the first of his career. The extra point pulled the Roadrunners within 16-13.

New Mexico started the third quarter with a 10-play, 75-yard drive, capped by Gipson's 10-yard touchdown run.

The next two drives for the Lobos, sandwiched around an unsuccessful drive by the Roadrunners, amounted to nothing.

The first half was surprisingly dominated by the defenses. Both teams showed the ability to move the ball through the middle of the field, but would then stall out inside the 40.

The Lobos led 7-3 at the end of the first quarter after McQuarley scored on a 1-yard run with four seconds left, capping a nine-play, 66-yard drive. It was the only touchdown of the half.

UTSA was able to drive down for a 28-yard field goal with 1:32 left in the second quarter to cut the New Mexico lead to 7-6. That still left the Lobos enough time to drive down to the 35 with four seconds remaining.

Jason Sanders booted a 52-yard field goal into the swirling wind to make it 10-6.

NOTES: The Lobos' duo of Gipson and Tyrone Owens each rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season, the first time that has happened in New Mexico history. Gipson had 1,209 yards, while Owens added 1,084. ... The Roadrunners matched the fastest run to a bowl game for a startup program. UTSA is in its sixth season, the same mark that South Alabama reached in 2014. ... The Lobos entered the game leading the nation in rushing with 360.9 yards per game. They needed to run the ball as they were 1-12 under coach Bob Davie when attempting 20 or more passes in a game.