What Bronco Mendenhall said after New Mexico football's win over Utah State – Deseret News

The chants echoed throughout the Jim and Carol Laub Athletics-Academic Complex and emanated from the visitors' locker room at Maverik Stadium, loud enough that Utah State players and coaches could almost certainly and painfully hear them.

“Bronco! Bronco! Bronco! Bronco!”

New Mexico had just defeated Utah State 50-45, snapping a seven-game losing streak against USU. The win also gave the Lobos a 3-4 record on the season and a 2-1 record in Mountain West Conference play.

Cheering is an apt description of the scene – at least for the Lobos.

After a thrilling back-and-forth with Utah State on Saturday afternoon in Logan, New Mexico's players were understandably overjoyed and much of their praise went to their new head coach.

Bronco Mendenhall took over the New Mexico football program last winter, and while he promised “continued excellence,” few believed it would happen quickly.

Now, however, Mendenhall's team is just one win away from matching last year's win total, and with the win over the Aggies, a bowl game is also a possibility for UNM.

That hasn't happened in the Lobos program since the 2016 season. Since that nine-win season, there have been many two- or three-win seasons.

The Lobos triumphed over USU in impressive fashion, outscoring Utah State 21-7 in the fourth quarter and scoring two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the game to cap the game.

Afterwards, Mendenhall was understandably happy for his team.

“It's hard to come up with a single word, but the most honest word is probably relief, and that turned into elation pretty quickly,” he said. “If it were a word, it would be relief.”

The victory was remarkable, Mendenhall added. On the road against a conference opponent, New Mexico had to overcome deficits of 17-0, 31-15 and 38-23, with the last two coming in the second half.

It was a game-changing win for the Lobos, or at least there's a chance of it being. It was an unforgettable victory.

“I wanted to win,” Mendenhall said. “I wanted our players to have the chance to come back and actually seal a game like this away from home with a deficit like that and see what that feels like.

“That we had a shot at winning the game, relief, but then the flood of all the other emotions that had more substance, that's something that will stay with me forever.”

Utah State interim coach Nate Dreiling praised the Lobos' performance. Utah State wanted, even needed, the win, but the Lobos made plays when they needed to, especially offensively in the third period.

“UNM was 10 of 15 on third down,” Dreiling said. “You stayed on the field long enough. … The game only lasted three or four plays, and we didn't finish those games. We’re getting better, but the problem is it’s taking us so long to catch up with everyone else.”

This now includes New Mexico. Reconstruction under Mendenhall occurred more quickly than many would have expected.