Yardbarker
x
New Mexico upends No. 18 Washington St. in final minute
James Snook-Imagn Images

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.

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 nine yards per snap.

After Dampier initiated 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 out a half that saw Mateer account for 267 yards in the air on 15 of 17 accuracy.

This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!