New Mexico
Eli Sanders, Devon Dampier lead New Mexico to 21-16 victory over San Diego State
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Eli Sanders had two long touchdown runs in the first quarter and Devon Dampier had a go-ahead touchdown pass in the fourth to lead New Mexico to a 21-16 victory over San Diego State on Friday night.
Sanders scored on a 51-yard run to cap a four-play 99-yard drive the second time New Mexico (4-6, 3-3 Mountain West Conference) had the ball. He raced 68 yards for a touchdown on the Lobos’ second play from scrimmage on their second possession for a 14-3 lead after one quarter.
San Diego State (3-6, 2-2) scored 13 unanswered points to take a 16-14 lead into the final quarter, but Dampier found Ryan Davis for an 8-yard touchdown with 13:07 left to play and the Lobos held on for the victory.
Sanders carried 16 times for 173 yards for the Lobos. Dampier completed 16 of 24 passes for 175 yards and rushed 16 times for 120 more.
Marquez Cooper totaled 123 yards on 35 carries for the Aztecs. O’Neil had 195 yards on 26-for-41 passing.
Gabriel Plascencia’s second field goal and Danny O’Neil’s 5-yard touchdown toss to Cooper pulled San Diego State within 14-13 at halftime.
The Aztecs moved in front 16-14 after three quarters when Plascencia ended a 16-play, 80-yard drive with a 28-yard field goal with 1:39 remaining.
New Mexico had lost nine in a row to the Aztecs coming in.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A successful University of New Mexico Lobo athletics season and the athletics director’s departure has culminated in players and coaches making moves.
The moves follow a successful 2025 season and the departure of athletics director Fernando Lovo.
Running back coach John Johnson, special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato and wide receiver coach Colin Lockett are all leaving the Lobos after just one season. Johnson is headed to Iowa State while Da Prato is expected to join Minnesota and Lockett is headed to UCLA, all for the same jobs.
Johnson’s Lobo running backs ran for more than 1,400 yards. Da Prato’s special teams finished top-five nationally in kickoff returns.
Running back D.J. McKinney entered the portal, he confirmed on social media the day the portal officially opened. McKinney rushed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns with the Lobos.
Two players who received all-Mountain West Conference recognition also made moves. All-Mountain West tight-end Dorian Thomas, who caught for touchdowns for the Lobos, entered the portal. Meanwhile, all-Mountain West honorable mention punter Daniel Hughes is set to leave.
Others set to leave include:
- Cole Welliver, backup quarterback who played in one game
- Landon Williams, defensive end who graduated from La Cueva High School
- Randolph Kpai, senior linebacker who is at the end of his college football career without a waiver
After Lance St. Louis served as the starting long snapper for the Texas Longhorns for four seasons, special teams coordinator Jeff Banks landed an experienced replacement when New Mexico Lobos transfer Trey Dubuc pledged while on a visit to the Forty Acres.
The pledge from Dubuc ensures that Texas has experienced replacements for three specialists despite signing high school prospects at each position — with the SEC expanding to 105 scholarships in 2026, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian can afford to develop high school recruits at those positions behind experienced transfers like Dubuc.
The Fort Lauderdale product started his career at USF after playing on two state championship teams at Cardinal Gibbons. A 6’1, 209-pounder, Dubuc redshirted during his freshman season in 2023 before appearing in one game as the backup long snapper the following year.
After transferring to New Mexico, Dubuc served as the starting long snapper while making two tackles for the Lobos.
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