ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – HBU recovered from a slow first-quarter start to get within a score in the fourth quarter before falling to New Mexico, 27-17, in the non-conference football season opener Thursday night at University Stadium.
 
Sophomore quarterback Blaise Bentsen made his first career start for the Huskies (0-1), completing 27-of-47 passes for 196 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Freshman wide receiver Charles King debuted with seven catches for 64 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore Branden Walker had seven receptions for 55 yards and sophomore Tyson Thompson had six catches for 44 yards. Senior running back Dreshawn Minnieweather rushed five times for 21 yards.
 
Senior linebacker Brennan Young led HBU with 10 tackles and sophomore safety Isaiah Cash made nine stops. Freshman linebacker Peyton Kennedy added seven stops and freshman safety Xavier Toliver forced a fumble.
 
Thompson had three punt returns for 69 yards, including a touchdown and junior kicker Gino Garcia hit his lone field-goal attempt. Junior punter Brady Buell was outstanding, punting nine times for an average of 50.9 yards, with two of 59 yards, four inside the 20, including two inside the two yard line.
 
Terry Wilson Jr. completed 20-of-26 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns and rushed nine times for 49 yards for the Lobos (1-0). Keyonte Lanier made five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown and Luke Wysong had six catches for 48 yards.
 
Tavian Combs made 12 tackles and an interception, while Reco Hannah had six tackles for UNM. Ray Leutele also had an interception and broke up a pair of passes. Andrew Shelley went 2-for-3 on field goals.
 
UNM recorded 308 yards of total offense, while HBU had 187. The Lobos rushed for 129 yards and held the Huskies to minus-9 on the ground. UNM edged HBU in first downs, 16-15. Each team recovered a fumble, but the Lobos had two interceptions and registered five sacks to the Huskies' two. HBU was penalized three times for 36 yards and UNM was penalized three times for 16 yards.
 
UNM got off to a fast start, forcing an interception on HBU's opening drive deep in Husky territory and Wilson finding Jarvis for an 11-yard touchdown reception. The Lobos again quickly got the ball back and Wilson hit Bruckler for a four-yard score and a 14-0 lead with 8:56 left in the opening quarter.
 
Buell had a 59-yard punt go out of bounds inside the one and HBU forced a three-and-out. Thompson then returned the ensuing punt 44 yards for a touchdown to make the score, 14-7.
 
After forcing another punt, Bentsen led a drive down to the 3-yard line, but an offensive pass interference penalty and a sack had the Huskies settle for Garcia's 45-yard field goal to cut the Lobos' lead to 14-10.
 
The Lobos answered with Wilson completing a 47-yard touchdown pass to Lanier with 2:40 remaining to extend the lead to 21-10 heading into halftime.
 
UNM had the only score of the third quarter on Shelley's 30-yard field goal with 6:22 to go.
 
Another good punt return by Thompson set the Huskies up at the UNM 40, then Bentsen engineered a seven-play drive, capped by a six-yard touchdown pass to King with just over four minutes remaining to make the score 24-17.
 
HBU came up with a big stop and took over at its own 17 with 3:03 left on the clock, but fumbled the ball away to UNM on the first play of the drive. Shelley tacked on a 37-yard field goal for the final score of the game.
 
The Huskies host their home opener against FBS Big Sky foe Northern Colorado Saturday, Sept. 11 at Husky Stadium. HBU will be holding Military Appreciation Day and the first 150 HBU students will receive a free t-shirt.