Winless New Mexico loses 42-0 to Air Force

For the second straight game, New Mexico couldn't even score.

The winless Lobos lost 42-0 Saturday to Air Force, the fifth time this season New Mexico has lost by at least 40 points.

The Lobos (0-8, 0-3) have lost 11 straight loss, including all three under interim coach George Barlow, who replaced the fired Mike Locksley on Sept. 25.

''We went into the game thinking we'd like to have a lot better effort than we had last week,'' Barlow said. ''I thought the effort was better, but a lot of stuff that happened was self-inflicted with the penalties, the turnovers and I thought we needed to do a better job of getting off the field the times that we got them in third-down situations.''

Instead, it was just more of the same for New Mexico against the Falcons (4-4, 1-3).

''Everyone is mad,'' New Mexico running back Crusoe Gongbay, who led the team in rushing with 63 yards on 10 carries. ''Mad after every game.''

It's not the way the freshman envisioned his college career beginning.

''It's definitely different and frustrating,'' he said. ''I thought I was coming into something that was going to be on the uplift but that isn't the case.''

New Mexico linebacker Carmen Messina, who had season-high 15 tackles, said the team is struggling with its morale.

''It is definitely frustrating and a lot of heads are down,'' he said. ''But is the seniors' jobs to keep heads up and keep them focused.''

The Lobos did have two chances to score in the fourth quarter, but James Aho missed field goals from 30 and 40 yards.

Air Force, however, scored touchdowns the first two times it had the ball, and recovered a muffed punt on its next possession, leading to another score.

Mike DeWitt had a career-high four touchdowns for Air Force.

Backup quarterback Connor Dietz directed the offense in the absence of injured starter Tim Jefferson, finishing with a game-high 87 yards on six carries, including a 39-yard touchdown run just before halftime that gave Air Force a 35-0 lead.