SDSU Mountain West
Gabriel Plascencia with his third field goal of the night, gave SDSU a brief 16-14 lead. Photo credit: @AztecFB via X

Devon Dampier had a go-ahead touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to lead New Mexico to a 21-16 victory over San Diego State on Friday at Snapdragon Stadium.

Eli Sanders had two long touchdown runs in the first quarter, including a score on a 51-yard run to cap a four-play 99-yard drive for New Mexico (4-6, 3-3 Mountain West) had the ball.

He also raced 68 yards for a touchdown on the Lobos’ second possession for a 14-3 lead.

The Aztecs, though, didn’t give up (3-6, 2-2 MW), scoring 13 unanswered points.

Gabriel Plascencia’s second field goal and Danny O’Neil’s 5-yard touchdown toss to Marquez Cooper pulled them to within 14-13 at halftime.

And they 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.

But three times, including their score in the first quarter, they found themselves in the red zone, yet three times they had to settle for a field goal. Plascencia also was on target from 22 and 31 yards.

That left the door open for Dampier, who found Ryan Davis for an 8-yard touchdown with 13:07 left to play. SDSU’s two final drives stalled and the Lobos held on for the victory.

Sanders carried 16 times for 173 yards for New Mexico. Dampier completed 16 of 24 passes for 175 yards and rushed 16 times for 120 more.

Cooper totaled 129 yards and, as a receiver, scored the Aztecs’ lone touchdown. O’Neil had 195 yards on 26-for-41 passing.

New Mexico had lost nine in a row to the Aztecs going into Friday’s game.

San Diego State still has its eyes on a bowl game berth, but the team must win its final three games to be eligible. “We have zero margin for error,” head coach Sean Lewis told San Diego Sports 760.

SDSU plays two of those final three games on the road, starting at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 in Las Vegas. UNLV (6-2, 2-1 MW) plays Hawaii (4-5, 2-2 MW) Saturday.