With a share of the Mountain West Conference Mountain Division regular season title on the line, the University of New Mexico Lobos played host to the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday Night at University Stadium.
A win would give the Lobos a share of their first division title in 19 years and a chance to set a school record for consecutive wins in back to back seasons with 15.
With so much on the line, it would not be unheard of for the Lobos to come out tight and on edge. But that was anything but the case on Saturday night, as the Lobos crushed the Cowboys 56-35 in a history-setting night in Albuquerque.
The Lobos exploded on offense in the first quarter, rushing for an improbable 262 yards and three touchdowns in the first period to take a commanding 21-0 lead over Wyoming.
The UNM ground attack posted six runs of over 20 yards in the quarter, highlighted by a 53-yard td scamper by Richard McQuarely with 8:48 left in the period.
Fellow backfield mate Teriyon Gipson needed just eight rushing yards to reach the 1,000 yard mark on the season, marking the first time in school history that two UNM running backs topped 1,000 yards in the same season (Tyrone Owens also reached the center mark this year).
Gipson surpassed the eight yards on the first drive of the game in route to 113 yards on six carries in the first quarter alone.
The Lobos would finish the game with 568 yards rushing and 690 yards of total offense, the second most yards in both categories in school history.
Wyoming would mount a comeback in the second half, highlighted by touchdown runs by Brian Hill and Austin Conway. But it was too little too late, as the Lobos would not be denied a victory on this historic night.
Gipson would finish with a career-huh 217 rushing yards and to scores, while quarterback Lamar Jordan and fellow running back McQuarley would also top the 100-yard mark on the night.
Jordan also threw from 122 yards on the day, completing 4 of 5 passes for 122 yards and a score.
It wasn’t all bad news for the Cowboys, as Wyoming by virtue of a better division record will play San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference championship game.
Bowl eligible for the second straight year, the Lobos now await their fate on which bowl they will play in next month.