Quarterback Devon Dampier rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 21 seconds left Saturday night and New Mexico rallied from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to upset No. 18 Washington State 38-35 in Albuquerque, N.M.
Dampier gained 193 yards on 28 carries and scored three times as the Lobos improved to 5-6 and stayed alive for a bowl bid. He also completed 11 of 25 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown as New Mexico finished with 534 total yards.
John Mateer hit 25 of 36 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns for the Cougars (8-2). His 37-yard strike to Kyle Williams, the wide receiver’s third touchdown catch of the night, gave Washington State a 35-31 edge with 3:12 left. Williams finished with nine catches for 181 yards.
But the Lobos responded with the game-winning drive, which was keyed by Eli Sanders’ 33-yard run to the Cougars’ 34. He finished with 108 yards on 13 attempts as the Lobos piled up 360 yards on the ground.
The Cougars saw their four-game winning streak come to an end, as well as their long-shot chances of earning a bid to the College Football Playoff.
Mateer and Washington State’s offense controlled the first half. The Cougars rolled to a 28-14 lead and carved up New Mexico for 357 total yards, averaging more than 9 yards per snap.
After Dampier initiated the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run on the game’s first drive, the Cougars rattled off 21 straight points. Mateer found Carlos Hernandez for a 28-yard strike and then ran for a 5-yard touchdown that made it 14-7.
Mateer upped the lead to 21-7 at the 10:21 mark of the second quarter with a 20-yard strike to Williams. Dampier responded, hitting Caleb Medford for a 42-yard touchdown.
However, Mateer and Williams got together again for a 29-yard score with 1:10 remaining, closing a half that saw Mateer account for 267 yards in the air on 15-of-17 accuracy.
–Field Level Media
