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Isaiah Chavez, the walk-on fifth-string true freshman quarterback out of Rio Rancho High School who guided the University of New Mexico to two straight wins to end the season, said the past two weeks have been a dream come true.
Some noteworthy honors came on Monday to add to that dream.
Chavez, believed to be the first walk-on true freshman to start at quarterback in UNM program history, was named the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Lobos (2-5) past Fresno State, 49-39, on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Chavez was also one of eight quarterbacks that the Allstate Sugar Bowl selected as nominees for the Manning Award Stars of the Week. Fans have the opportunity to vote on Facebook until Thursday for the overall Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.
Isaiah Chavez Named MW Player of the Week & Manning Star
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. In the COVID-crazy 2020 season that was FBS College Football, no true freshman walk-on quarterback had to start a game, until New Mexico lost every one of its quarterbacks. Isaiah Chavez, who was the fifth-string quarterback on the roster in the preseason, not only started against Fresno State in the season finale, but he was just about perfect. He went 14-for-18 for 196 yards and a touchdown, and he rushed for 95 yards and another touchdown as UNM rolled to its highest Mountain West point total in 21 games, winning 49-39 to end its season on a two game winning streak.