Former Rio Rancho QB throws game-winning TD in Lobos’ first win

After throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushing for over 1,400 yards as a senior at Rio Rancho in 2019, former Rams quarterback Isaiah Chavez decided to walk-on at New Mexico. The Lobos are glad he did. Chavez, who began the season as UNM’s fifth-string quarterback, was thrust into action Saturday night against Wyoming as the Lobos’ last available quarterback when starter – and fourth stringer - Connor Genal was knocked out of the game with an injury. What followed next is the kind of stuff you see exclusively in a Hollywood movie. Chavez, making his collegiate debut, threw a 44-yard touchdown pass with 6:22 left as the shorthanded Lobos stunned Wyoming, 17-16, in Las Vegas, NV for UNM’s first win of the season and the first of the Danny Gonzales Era. “It’s crazy. I never thought I would have this moment, especially my freshman year,” Chavez told reporters after the game. “I never thought I would get in and see the field. It hasn’t sunk in. The guys are celebrating in the locker room. It’s still crazy to me. Living the dream right now.” The emotional win ended UNM’s 14-game losing streak, and the Lobos did it in the face of long odds. Because of the governor's restrictive health orders, UNM was forced to relocate to an abandoned hotel in Las Vegas and that's where they've set up team operations for the past several weeks. Trailing 16-10 in the fourth quarter, UNM caught a break when Emmanuel Logan-Greene, who had a 72-yard kickoff return earlier in the half fumbled a fair catch. But Patrick Peek alertly recovered for UNM. Beginning at the Wyoming 47, Bobby Cole ran for three yards and then found daylight on a seam route.  Chavez hit him in stride for a 44-yard touchdown to tie the game. The  extra point gave UNM the lead at 17-16. From there the Lobos defense took over. A fourth-down interception on Wyoming’s final possession sealed the deal for UNM. https://twitter.com/UNMLoboFB/status/1335731325458771969 https://twitter.com/UNMLOBOS/status/1335615997944819712 https://twitter.com/UNMLoboFB/status/1335732388328947713