The University of Wyoming football team dropped a 17-16 contest to New Mexico on Saturday evening in Las Vegas. The Lobos snapped a 14-game losing streak by upsetting the Cowboys.

“New Mexico dialed up some big plays on defense tonight,” said UW head coach Craig Bohl. “Our guys played hard tonight; we just left too many points in the redzone.”

Wyoming had a chance to take the lead late in the contest, but a pair of late turnovers inside New Mexico territory dropped the Cowboys to 2-3 on the season, as New Mexico moved to 1-5.

“We certainly have to play smarter and have to capitalize on some things,” Bohl said.

Wyoming recorded 374 yards of total offense, rushing for 283 yards. New Mexico recorded 315 yards, rushing for 223.

Wyoming was paced offensively by senior running back Trey Smith, who had 154 rushing yards and one touchdown. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry, including a 58-yard score. Wide receiver Isaiah Neyor had a 54-yard reception and a 58-yard rush.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Levi Williams was 4-of-12 passing for 73 yards while rushing for 29 yards.

The Cowboy defense got Wyoming off to a fast start with a fumble recovery on New Mexico’s opening drive, as linebacker Charles Hicks scooped up the ball and returned it inside UNM territory. John Hoyland booted a 29-yard field goal for a 3-0 UW lead.

The Lobos opened the second quarter with a 21-yard touchdown run from Nathaniel Jones to make it 7-3. But the Pokes took the lead back, 10-7, on a 58-yard rush from Smith.

The Lobos took the ensuing kickoff 75 yards, deep into Wyoming territory, but the Pokes defense held strong, forcing a 40-yard field goal.

Hoyland then knocked in a field goal from 26 yards for a 13-10 UW advantage the Pokes took into halftime. The drive was setup by a 54-yard play action toss from Williams to Neyor.

Both teams got off to a slow start in the second half. Late in the third quarter, the Lobos drove deep into Wyoming territory, but were stopped at the 5-yard line.

Wyoming then added a 25-yard field goal from Hoyland to make it 16-10 early in the fourth quarter. The field goal was set up by a Neyor 58-yard run.

However, New Mexico took back the lead with 6:22 left in the game, when Isaiah Chavez found Bobbi Cole for a 44-yard touchdown pass to make it 17-16.

After Williams left the contest with an injury, true freshman UW quarterback Gavin Beerup found Ayden Eberhardt on an 18-yard reception and then rushed for 38 yards to the UNM 7-yard line. But the Lobos forced a fumble to halt the Cowboy drive.

Wyoming got the ball back at the New Mexico 44, but the Lobo defense held and snapped Wyoming’s three-game winning streak in the series.

The Cowboys return to action on Saturday, hosting Boise State in War Memorial Stadium at 4 p.m. in the regular season finale.