By Ryan Barry
NEFJ Correspondent

AMHERST – In their farthest ever trip east New Mexico outlasted UMass 34-31 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium Saturday afternoon in a game the Minutemen were favored to win.

Another disappointing day, but the luck at quarterback also continues to bury UMass.

The Lobos (2-2) led 28-14 going into halftime but didn’t register a single point in the second half, allowing the Minutemen (1-4) to chip away and force overtime in the dying minutes of the fourth quarter.

With Carlos Davis (11/20, 196 YDS, 1 TD; 6 CAR, 42 YDS) exiting from an undisclosed injury, true freshman quarterback Ahmad Haston (5/5, 102 YDS, 1 TD; 10 CAR, 25 YDS) stepped in and dazzled with his first extended snaps of the season.

Trailing 28-20 with 45 seconds to play in the game, Haston hit wide receiver Anthony Simpson (5 REC, 104 YDS, 1 TD) with a 65-yard pass to put the game at 28-26. Haston then found tight end Gino Campiott (1 REC, 16 yds) to even the score at 28-28 to force overtime.

The Minutemen took the lead on a 34-yard Cameron Carson field goal in the first possession of overtime, but the Lobos responded with a Jacory Croskey-Merritt (9 CAR, 33 YDS, 2 TDS) touchdown to win the game on their next and only overtime possession.

The UMass defense appeared to have forced a fourth down which would have resulted in a Lobos field goal attempt, but a questionable pass interference call and a subsequent delay of game call on the Minutemen put New Mexico within a few yards of the goaline to punch the ball in.

The specific delay of game call was particularly frustrating for UMass Head Coach Don Brown who felt that they didn’t do anything wrong in that moment.

“Our offense has faced that (kind of play) for five games at least 20 times,” Brown said. “So why can’t I question it? We don’t do things that are unethical, you’re left to the subjectivity bit, and I’ve never been called for a penalty when I’ve used the move ice call.”

Despite the frustrating nature of the loss, Brown was impressed with the way Haston carried himself, being thrust into the game.

“This young man is special,” Brown noted. “Forget the football, we were recruiting him no matter what. He’s an outstanding football player with a tremendous future ahead of him.”

UMass won the toss and deferred to the second half to start the game and forced an encouraging three and out from the Lobos.

With good field position the Minutemen moved the ball to the New Mexico 21-yard line but were stopped on a third and one. Cameron Carson’s 39-yard field goal missed wide and the game remained scoreless early on.

Already facing injuries to the secondary, Minutemen safety Tyler Bradley would not return after a knock suffered on the first drive, allowing the Lobos to open up their passing game. On the first play from scrimmage Lobos quarterback Dylan Hopkins (9/17, 192 YDS, 1 TD; 8 CAR, 19 YDS, 1 TD) connected with Caleb Medford (3 REC, 82 YDS, 1 TD) for a 55-yard gain into Minutemen territory, taking advantage right away of the injury.

Hopkins found Medford again for a 12-yard touchdown pass to give the Lobos an early 7-0 lead. On their next drive the Minutemen attempted a fourth and one try from their own 40-yard line but were stuffed, gifting the Lobos with great field position and a quick 21-yard score from Croskey-Merritt to push the lead to 14-0.

The Minutemen finally responded with a nine play, 68-yard drive that saw running back Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams (26 CAR, 97 YDS, 1 TD) punch it in from four yards out to cut the Lobos lead to 14-7. Another bruising drive from the Lobos added to their lead on a four yard Hopkins quarterback keeper to extend the lead to 21-7. Giving more carries to Carlos Davis, the Minutemen moved the ball well and answered with a Christian Wells (2 REC, 31 YDS, 1 TD) 24-yard touchdown catch to cut the lead to 21-14.

The Lobos answered right away again with a Sherod White (14 CAR, 69 YDS, 1 TD) seven yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 28-14 with 35 seconds left in the first half. The Minutemen opened the third quarter with an eight play drive ending in a 32-yard Carson field goal to cut the lead to 28-17.

Subsequent stops from the defense continued to give UMass a chance in the game, setting up another Carson field goal from 28 yards to cut the lead to 28-20.

Haston’s late game heroics forced the game to overtime before eventually falling 34-31. The familiar slow start for UMass ended up doing in the Minutemen once again, and while there were plenty of positives to take from the game, it’s one the team would want to have back.