ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Austin Brawley returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter and New Mexico held on to beat North Dakota State 21-16 on Saturday night.
Brawley's pick-6 gave the first-place Lobos (6-1, 3-0 Mountain West Conference) a 21-9 lead early in the fouth quarter. The senior safety had a 65-yard pick-6 in the previous home game — a 61-7 romp over UTEP.
New Mexico marched 75 yards in six plays to start the game, scoring on Kiefer Sibley's 29-yard run for a 7-0 lead it never relinquished. Sibley finished with 91 yards on 13 carries.
Scottre Humphrey scored on a 2-yard run with 10 seconds left in the first half for a 14-3 advantage.
North Dakota State (6-2, 3-2) managed only 74 yards of offense and Drew Klein's 27-yard first-quarter field goal before halftime.
Nathan Hayes finished off a 63-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Reis Kessell, but Klein's extra-point kick was blocked and the Bison trailed 14-9.
Brawley picked Hayes off and returned it for a touchdown and a 12-point lead.
New Mexico has forced at least two turnovers in every game this season and leads the nation with 23.
Hayes answered with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Mekhi Collins 10 plays later to cut it to 21-16 with 6:44 left, but New Mexico prevailed. Hayes had 198 yards on 17-for-33 passing but threw two interceptions.
The Lobos have won four in a row following their only loss — a 14-6 setback to then-No. 24 Oklahoma on the road.
Up next
North Dakota State: Hosts UTEP on Saturday.
New Mexico: At San Jose State on Saturday.
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