LAS CRUCES — One by one the dour faces in shoulder pads filed out of the visitor's locker room at Aggie Memorial Stadium, and into the training room.

New Mexico football assistant coaches and administrators stood almost silent outside the door.

It was quiet enough to hear a bubbling New Mexico State fan, as he bounded toward the parking lot.

" ... But tonight, we are victorious!"

It might have been the Pillow Fight of the Week, as deemed by many national media. It might have been a game only a diehard fan could love. The equally gripping and ugly 16-14 win might be the Aggies' only victory of the season.

But, as the fan said, at least NMSU and its fans can claim one.

Embattled Lobos head coach Mike Locksley is 0-for-2 against New Mexico State.

These losses, plus a mountain of others and numerous off-field problems, can make you forget that only a few short years ago people wondered if the Lobos-Aggies football series was really a rivalry anymore. The Lobos owned the series, it was regarded as the one sure-win on the schedule.

Now, you wonder, is this the lowest point in the history of Lobo football?

"I don't know," said Locksley, upon being asked that question. "I only know about Lobo football for for the past two years. It's obviously the lowest point for me in my regime."

That's saying something.

It wasn't just that the Lobos lost. It was how they fell. The Lobos had eight possessions in the second half, seven of those with a 14-13 lead. Four of those seven drives ended with a punt.

Three ended with a turnover.

Twice it was starting quarterback Brad Gruner that fumbled. The tough runner consistently fought for helmet-rattling yards, but he could not hold on to the ball.

Said a visibly disgusted Gruner: "I should be the least likely to turn it over."

He called the fumbles, "unacceptable."

"We killed ourselves more than anything," UNM defensive end Jaymar Latchison said.

With 7 minutes, 51 seconds to play it looked like the Lobos might get payback on the Aggies, a sliver of redemption after losing at home to NMSU last season.

UNM had the ball. A couple first downs likely would have set the game out of reach for plodding New Mexico State.

The drive started off promising. On third-and-5 from the UNM 49-yard line, freshman quarterback Stump Godfrey hit Chis Hernandez on a crossing pattern for a first down. Godfrey, who had his redshirt removed for this game because UNM was without two quarterbacks, showed he could make plays with his nimble feet earlier. With this clutch (at the time) first-down throw, maybe the future would be bright at UNM.

Two plays later, Godfrey fumbled after being leveled by NMSU linebacker Donte Savage. The Aggies recovered.

Said Locksley: "It gave a team on the verge of letting up the shot of momentum they needed."

It was also UNM's fifth turnover of the night.

Led by their own freshman quarterback, Andrew Manley, who lost his redshirt Saturday night too, the Aggies drove 39 yards to set up a game-winning 22-yard field goal by Tyler Stampler. Manley completed both of his passes for 32 yards, all for a team that mustered six passing yards till that point.

It was enough to draw a touch of sympathy from NMSU coach DeWayne Walker, in his second year like Locksley.

"We talked before the game a little bit," Walker said. " ... I'm pulling for him and I'm sure he's pulling for me. It's unfortunate, but he has a job to do and I have a job to do. I just know he's going through some stuff ... And one way or another, he'll get through it."

UNM's postgame media notes package leads off with, "New Mexico still leads the all-time series with New Mexico State 66-30-5."

Still.

That might be the only source of pride dangling for the Lobos loyal followers.