The last time New Mexico won a game outside of its home state, Hawaii played in the Sugar Bowl that season.
Oh, how the times are quickly changing.
While the Warriors’ season quickly spirals out of control, the Lobos are enjoying newfound success under first-year head coach Bob Davie.
The former Notre Dame coach and ESPN analyst has already won more games this year than UNM had in its previous three seasons combined after a 35-23 win over Hawaii on Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.
Running back Kasey Carrier and quarterback Cole Gautsche surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark as New Mexico racked up 332 yards on the ground to end an 18-game road losing streak in Mountain West play.
The victory was also New Mexico’s first outside of its home state since a 20-17 win over San Diego State on Oct. 20, 2007.
"We’ve kind of notched some things (this year)," Davie said. "This is the kind of thing we’re trying to overcome so you don’t talk about us and those statistics anymore."
The Lobos eventually wore Hawaii down with their relentless option offense, but put UH on its heels early by coming out throwing.
Starter B.R. Holbrook threw more passes on New Mexico’s first five plays than all of last game, completing four for 60 yards to set up a 23-yard touchdown by Carrier on the first designed run.
Davie said he was interested how Hawaii’s man-to-man defense would stack up against UNM’s tricky option look.
"We were kind of curious ourselves to see how they played some things out of man-to-man," Davie said. "We threw the ball early in the game more than we normally throw it."
Once they established the pass, it was back to the Lobos’ bread-and-butter as they sliced through the Warriors defense for 162 yards in the first quarter.
New Mexico ran 26 plays to Hawaii’s six in the opening 15 minutes and scored touchdowns on its first three drives to build a 21-0 lead.
"It’s kind of like (how) we’ve started the last couple of weeks," Davie said. "We’re the kind of team that has to be ahead or even in the game with our offense and I felt pretty good starting out."
Davie, who has made trips to Hawaii both at Notre Dame and as defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, understood the logistics that come with the nearly six-hour plane ride.
So, after Hawaii cut the lead to 28-23, he was relieved when Holbrook scored on a third and goal from the 5 on an option keeper to make it a two-score game with 3:49 remaining.
"I’ve been over here enough times to know it’s 1:30 or 2 in the morning back in Albuquerque, so I knew this would drain on us," Davie said.
"Our offense has responded all year and it’s kind of impressive when you think about coming in and putting in that offense from scratch what these kids have been able to do."
UNM needs two wins in its final five games to become bowl eligible.
The Lobos haven’t made it to a bowl in five years.
