The University of New Mexico broke a 14-game losing streak and secured the first victory of the Danny Gonzales era of Lobo football with a 17-16 win over Wyoming on Saturday.
There were many impressive performances by the Lobos, including true freshman walk-on Isaiah Chavez throwing the eventual game-winning touchdown in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.
But no player was more impressive than linebacker Brandon Shook, who logged 13 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 forced fumble, and an interception.
Shook’s relentless play was a catalyst for the Lobos and a big reason why they finally logged a victory in 2020. For his effort, Shook was named Defensive Player of the Week by the Mountain West Conference.
He came up big when the Lobos needed it most, including a forced fumble on Wyoming running back Trey Smith with just over three minutes left in the game. Instead of the Cowboys taking the lead on the drive, Shook hit Smith behind the line of scrimmage and made the game-changing play.