New Mexico stuns Boise State 31-24

New Mexico is now bowl eligible but is also in position to make an appearance in the Mountain West Conference Championship if the Lobos win their remaining two home games. Three plays later, Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien fired a strike off the body of freshman wide receiver Sean Modster.

If you didn’t already know Boise State had lost this game, the box score would prove confusing. Quarterback Austin Apodoca threw an 81-yard pass to Delane Hart-Johnson and Richard McQuarley followed with a 1-yard touchdown run for a 24-17 Lobos lead with 13:44 left in the game. If the Lobos lose a game, Boise State (7-3, 4-2) still can win the Mountain by beating Air Force and San Jose State.

Boise State’s last play ended at UNM’s 3-yard line, with safety Markel Byrd making a touchdown-saving tackle. Sperbeck faked a pitch and eventually lateraled to sophomore Austin Cottrell at the Lobos’ 44.

On Boise State’s next possession, Cranston Jones intercepted Rypien’s pass after it deflected off Chaz Anderson’s hands at the Broncos 30. The Lobos scored three plays later for a 31-17 lead.

Rypien set school records with 40 completions on 74 attempts and threw for 503 yards, fourth-most in Boise State history. The play was upheld after a lengthy review in which it appeared Pressley stepped out of bounds after 53 of those yards. A Pressley 40-yard run on the second play of the drive got the Lobos into Bronco territory. McNichols rushed for 134 yards on 25 carries. Boise State Broncos rank at 77 for 223.0 road passing yards where as New Mexico Lobos rank at 80 for allowing 257.5 passing yards at home.

Boise State ran 114 offensive plays to New Mexico’s 53.

Another tough matchup awaits the Broncos on the blue – Air Force visits Friday.