We are back for the Regular Season Finale, Senior Day, and possible birth for the Mountain West Championship Game for the Lobos (8-3, 5-2) in the first season of the Coach Jason Eck Era, as they host conference leading SDSU (9-2, 6-1). The quickest and least messy way for the Lobos to make the Mountain West Championship game is to win this game, and have former Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall’s Utah State team to beat the Broncos. If that happens the Lobos would be hosting the Mountain West Championship game against either SDSU or UNLV (who would have to beat Nevada). There should be around 30,000 people in the stadium today, which is probably 10 fold of what some of the last home games have had over the last decade. I will be updating this as the game goes along, and also be updating on Twitter and Bluesky. Also, keeping an eye on the Utah State vs. Boise State Game. Could be a fun day in Albuquerque. Lobos just need to take care of what they can control, winning the game in head of them. Both of these teams have made a statement with their defenses this year, and the difference in the game will likely be who takes care of the ball.
SDSU wins the toss and will defer to the second half. Lobos will get the first shot to get their teams offense going today.
The Lobos first drive of the day will start at their own 25. Layne finds Johnson for the big gain on 2nd and 10. Layne to Thomas for the first down, first two throws for Layne have been on the money. First good run of the game for Bankston. James Laubstein with his first run of the game for a first down. Lobos are on the move. Lobos had a first and 10 from the 20, but SDSU blew up the first down play for an 11 yard loss. Layne gets back to the 20, and the Lobos will be attempting the Field Goal. The Field Goal is good from 37 yards.
7:25 1Q: Lobos 3 SDSU 0. Good first drive for the Lobos, got cute with that first down play at the 20, which stalled the drive, but you’ll take the progress made on the first drive and the 3 points that came with it. First drive for SDSU will start at their 25 after a holding penalty on the kick return. Lobos defense has a 3rd and 6 coming up. Lobos get the stop and SDSU will have to punt. Booming punt by SDSU, but it ends up in the end zone for a touch back. Lobos will start their next drive at the 20.
5:41 1Q: Lobos 3 SDSU 0. Big throw by Layne to Miller for the first down on 3rd and 7. Also, it was a smart play by Layne to pick up the 3 yards on the 2nd down play. Lobos drive stalls and they will punt from their 37. SDSU will take over at their own 28.
2:57 1Q: Lobos 3 SDSU 0. Big hit on the first play of the drive, but SDSU will gladly take the 12 yard gain. SDSU moves the ball, but a fumble on the play recovered by the Lobos, gives them the ball back.
:10 1Q: Lobos 3 SDSU 0. Lobos will take over at their 35. Layne to KJ for the big gain to end the first quarter.
End of 1Q: Lobos 3 SDSU 0. Lobos have the ball at the +48. 4th and 2 coming up for the Lobos. Laubstein breaks on the play for a touchdown, his first career touchdown.
13:15 2Q: Lobos 10 SDSU 0. Kick goes out of bounds, so SDSU will start their drive at their own 35. Lobos gets SDSU into a 3rd and 5, great pass by SDSU QB is dropped by the WR. SDSU will have to punt. Lobos will start their next drive at their own 16.
12:11 2Q: Lobos 10 SDSU 0. Holding on the first play of the drive, sets the Lobos back. Lobos have a 3rd and 17 coming up. Nothing doing for the Lobos, and they will be punting.
10:41 2Q: Lobos 10 SDSU 0. SDSU will start their drive at their 45. Former Lobo Christian Washington with the big run to set SDSU up inside the 10. Holding on SDSU backs them up to the 15. SDSU scores their first TD of the game.
7:25 2Q: Lobos 10 SDSU 7. Nothing doing for the Lobos on that drive, and they will be punting on a 4th and 1 from their 27. The punt will have SDSU starting their next drive at their own 30.
A short pass, and a short run has SDSU with a 3rd and 5. Lobos get the stop on 3rd down, but SDSU goes for it on 4th down and picks up the first down. Touchdown SDSU on a 46 yard pass play.
:59 2Q: SDSU 14 Lobos 10. Lobos have all 3 TOs, and SDSU will be receiving the second half kickoff. Need to find a way to come away with some points here. A couple of sacks ends the half.
Halftime: SDSU 14 Lobos 10. SDSU will receive the second half kickoff. Update in Logan, USU leads Boise State 14-10.
Kickoff goes into the end zone, so SDSU will start their drive at their 25. Not the start to the drive the Lobos wanted, a couple of nice runs by SDSU has them in the + side of the field. Massive 3rd and 6 coming up for the Lobos. Lobos get the stop and SDSU will punt. The ball goes into the end zone so the Lobos will be starting their first drive of the half at their own 20.
11:08 3Q: SDSU 14 Lobos 10.
Bankston with a 17 yard rush to get the Lobos drive started. Layne to Thomas for the 8 yard pick up. Lobos go for it on 4th and a long yard, McKinney breaks one for a long touchdown. Lobos take the lead back.
8:59 3Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 14. Lobos have 99 yards and 2 TDs on 4th downs today.
Kickoff goes into the end zone for a touch back, SDSU will start their drive at their 25. Big pass play has SDSU in Lobos territory. 3rd and 4 coming up for SDSU. TE was covered up on that play, leading to a 5 yard penalty and loss of down. SDSU missed the Field Goal.
5:47 3Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 14. Lobos will be starting their drive at their 34. SDSU’s line won that drive, nothing doing for the Lobos and they will be punting. SDSU will take over at their 30.
3:25 3Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 14. A couple of first downs, and a 15 yard penalty has SDSU in a good position. Lobos stuffed that play and SDSU has a 3rd and 10. Great play by the Lobos. Field Goal Attempt coming up for SDSU. It’s good.
:51 3Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 17. Lobos will look to get a good drive going. Kickoff goes into the end zone, so the Lobos will be starting their drive at the 25. Got there before the ball, DPI called. Lobos will have a new set of downs.
End of 3Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 17. Laubstein picks up a couple of yards on the first down play. Another sack for the SDSU defense, they are destroying the Lobos line right now. So you can hit a QB after they blow the play dead? Lobos will have to punt.
12:10 4Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 17. SDSU will start their drive at the 30. Lobos get the sack to set up a 3rd and 16 for SDSU. Can’t let that happen. 35 yard gain on 3rd and 16. BLEW that play up. and another 3rd and 16. SDSU will punt the ball away. SDSU gunner just ran into the returner, 15 yard penalty.
8:33 4Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 17. The officials are setting the ball wrong, so it was an 11 yard penalty. Drive will start at the 21. Lobos missed an opportunity for a massive pass play, and were forced to punt. SDSU will take over at their 35.
7:26 4Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 17. First down pass on their first play of the drive. SDSU has another 3rd and 5 coming up. Surprised SDSU went for a deep ball there. SDSU punts and the Lobos will take over at their 11.
5:01 4Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 17. Nothing doing for the Lobos on that drive. A big punt coming up here.
3:22 4Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 17. SDSU will have the ball at their 36. Each team has 3 TOs remaining. A couple of good runs for SDSU has them in Lobos territory.
2:00 4Q; Lobos 17 SDSU 17. SDSU will have a 1st and 10 from the +46. 3rd and 6 coming up. SACK!!! What a play by the Lobos. SDSU will be punting.
:41 4Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 17. Lobos will have the ball at their 10. Lobos have the ball up to their 37 with 18 seconds left and 1 TO. We are going to OT.
End of 4Q: Lobos 17 SDSU 17.
SDSU will start the OT with the ball at the 25. PICK on the first play of OT. Lobos only need a point to win the game.
A couple of Laubstein runs has the ball inside the 5. Laubstein fumbles the ball and SDSU recovers. Lobos should have kicked the ball after the first run.
End of 1OT: Lobos 17 SDSU 17.
TOUCHDOWN Lobos, Layne to Keith for the 25 yard TD. Lobos will have their 2 point try. Holding sets the Lobos back on the 2 point try. Lobos 23 SDSU 17. SDSU will have the ball at the 25. All four down territory. 3rd and 10 coming up for SDSU. Lobos need to more stops. SDSU picks up a first down and will have a first and goal. Back to the 15 after a false start. Another false start has it as a first and goal from the 20. IT IS LOWD. First and goal from the 25. KJN with a strip sack, but SDSU does recover. 4th and goal from the 31 coming up after this time out.
LOBOS WIN!!!!
Final 2OT: Lobos 23 SDSU 17. Lobos move to 9-3 and 6-2 in MW Play. Lobos are waiting on the result in Logan. INCREDIBLE.
Update: Bronco Mendenhall didn’t want to kick a chip shot Field Goal to go up 8, and USU lost by 1. Sending everything to the computers, which likely doesn’t favor UNM. It’ll be weird that UNLV who went 0-2 against tied teams will likely be in with those two teams both out of the Championship game.