Minnesota receiver Jalen Smith makes the game-winning catch to end the game (PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA).

PHOENIX, ARIZONA- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-5) faced off against the New Mexico Lobos (9-4) at Chase Field Dec. 26 for the rights to hoist the Rate Bowl trophy. In the end, it was the Golden Gophers who edged the red-hot Lobos in overtime.

The final: UNM 17, Minnesota 20.

“Coach Eck has a heck of a ball club…This is one of the hotter teams in the country if you look at what they’ve done,” Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck said. “We found a way to be 1-0. That was the mission.”

PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA

Fan bases from both sides packed Chase Field with the Lobo fans generating a ton of noise, and made their presence known early. The attendance for the game was 27, 439.

“We have never seen anything like this before, they are loud” said one Fiesta Foundation volunteer commenting on the Lobo fans. The Fiesta Sports Foundation is a non-profit organization who organizes the Rate Bowl. 

“What a world class environment they create. for a whole week… they do it above and beyond. Bowl games are about the people,” Coach Fleck said of the Fiesta Sports Foundation.

Nonetheless, a loud group of Lobo fans could not help the team’s offensive struggles.

Minnesota defensive end Anthony Smith feasted, and wreaked havoc in the trenches. He recorded two sacks and four tackles for loss.

“It was one of the greatest individual performances I’ve ever seen,” Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck said of his star EDGE rusher.

UNM quarterback Jack Layne looked uncomfortable all game, and the constant pressure forced some errant throws. Layne finished the game with 88 passing yards.

Minnesota ballhawk defensive back John Nestor also continued his stellar season by snagging his sixth interception of the season.

UNM’s power quarterback James Laubstein provided some juice on the ground, and racked up 63 rushing yards. He also had an explosive run of 30-plus yards that was called back due to offensive holding.

Now, the Lobos defense held their own, and held the Golden Gophers to less than 150 passing yards. 

UNM EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby recorded a sack along with two tackles for loss while linebacker Dmitri Johnson, EDGE Brett Karhu, and defensive lineman Brian Booker all were able to record sacks as well. The Lobos finished with seven tackles for loss and sacks.

Linebacker Mercury Swaim also stepped up as the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, Jaxton Eck, left the game early with an injury and did not return. Swaim finished the game with six total tackles.

The Lobos led 6-0 after a couple of Luke Drzewiecki field goals but as the game raged on, Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey began to settle in.

Though he did not put up astronomical numbers, the freshman signal caller was able to make some crucial throws.

Fellow freshman receiver Jalen Smith was his favorite target of the day, and  they connected on a 10-yard touchdown with the first half coming to an end. J. Smith would finish with six catches, 64 yards, and two touchdowns.

Minnesota running back Darius Taylor was another catalyst who averaged 4.8 yards a tote. Taylor finished the game with 116 rushing yards, and a five-yard rushing touchdown that came in the early fourth quarter. He also had four catches for 23 yards.

Just when Lobo spirits were dying down, UNM’s dynamic playmaker Damon Bankston changed the momentum, and took a kickoff 100 yards for a score. It was the longest play in Rate Bowl history.

Bankston, an all-purpose monster, had 83 scrimmage yards as well.

The Lobos would go for two points, and on a “razzle dazzle” play, Layne was able to connect with receiver Keagan Johnson for the conversion.

With the game tied, both defenses stalled the offensive units, and the game went into overtime.

The Lobos got the first crack, and they could only muster a field goal, going three-and-out. UNM Lobo head coach Jason Eck opted to put the game in the hands of his stellar defensive unit.

However, Lindsey was able to thread a pass in a soft spot around three Lobo defenders, connecting with J. Smith who dove, and made the game-winning acrobatic catch.

“Just appreciative of my coaching staff for putting me in positions to make plays, and appreciative of my quarterback’s trust in me,” J.Smith said .

At the end of the game, Swaim and safety Tavian Combs consulted a distraught Austin Brawley who was the closest Lobo defender to Smith on the final play.

“I told him this loss is not on you. It’s on me as much as it’s on you,” Swaim said.

Even though Brawley has missed most of the season due to injury, he was the team leader in interceptions (3) and a hero in the Lobos big win against the San Diego State Aztecs Nov. 28.

Despite the loss, Eck’s first season with the Lobos will go down as one of the best seasons in UNM history while Fleck has won his seventh straight bowl game in nine seasons with Minnesota.

“Very proud of our team for this season. I thought we fought our tail off today,” Coach Eck said.