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The only thing up for grabs in Saturday’s conference finale between New Mexico and Colorado State is no worse than a third-place finish for the victor and a minor thing called bowl eligibility. The Lobos (5-4, 4-2 MWC) and Rams (5-5, 4-2 MWC) – tied for third in the Mountain West Conference – tee it up at 1:05 p.m. from University Stadium (37,370) in Albuquerque. Both teams are seeking a sixth win to qualify for postseason competition. CSU completes its season this weekend while the Lobos host New Mexico State in a non-conference tilt Nov. 24. There is no television for the game. UNM is 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the MWC after a 27-17 home triumph over UNLV. The Lobos have won four conference games for the first time since the 1997 squad went 6-2 and captured the Western Athletic Conference Mountain Division title. New Mexico was picked to finish 7th in the league while the Rams were preseason favorites to repeat as conference champs. After a 1-3 start, UNM has won three straight and four of its last five. The Lobos have not won four in a row since starting 6-0 in 1997. The Rams are 3-1 in their last four. CSU knocked off Air Force (28-21) last Thursday in Fort Collins in a game that, statistically, favored the Falcons in a big way. Air Force ran 91 plays, got 30 first downs and held the ball for 38:05. The Rams had 43 plays, 13 first downs and 21:55. The Falcons totaled 481 yards of offense, CSU 300. Air Force had no turnovers, while Colorado State lost a fumble and an interception. The difference was the Falcons had three drives stall inside the CSU 22 on two missed field goals and a failed fourth down. The Rams scored on a 30-yard blocked punt and set up the deciding score with a 76-yard kickoff return. Saturday is a big day at the intersection of University and Cesar Chavez Blvds. The football game will be followed by the UNM men’s basketball team entertaining 13th-ranked Stanford at The Pit at 7:05 p.m. It’s the season opener for both schools. New Mexico is ending the season with three straight home games for the first time since 1983. UNM won all three of those contests 18 years ago against Wyoming, UTEP and San Diego State to finish 6-6. Attendance record? The Lobos have averaged 31,490 fans for four games at expanded University Stadium. The all-time record is 30,662 set in 1997. The Lobos’ 20-15 win at San Diego State snapped a six-game losing streak in November road games. New Mexico had not won an away game in the 11th month since Nov. 1, 1997, a 40-10 win at TCU. UNM is now 3-9 in all November games under head coach Rocky Long. CSU is 20-4 in the month of November under Sonny Lubick. The Lobos captured win No. 400 at San Diego State. In 901 games all-time, UNM is 401-469-31 since it first starting playing football on Oct. 7, 1892. With the postponement of games on Sept. 15, the Lobos played four straight road games between Sept. 8 and Oct. 6. The only other schools to play four in a row on the road in 2001 were San Jose State and Central Florida. New Mexico was the only team in the MWC that had to open the conference season with consecutive road games, at Utah and at Wyoming. BYU had two straight league road games as well – at UNLV and at New Mexico – however, the Cougars had a non-conference home game against Utah State between trips. UNM finished 5-7 last year and 3-4 in conference play. It was UNM’s best record since going 9-4 in 1997. Colorado State was 10-2 and won the MWC with a 6-1 ledger. The Rams finished 14th in the nation in the final AP poll after defeating Louisville 22-17, in the AXA Liberty Bowl. UNM was picked to finish last in the MWC a year ago, but finished in a tie for fifth place. It marked the second consecutive season UNM exceeded preseason predictions. New Mexico was also chosen to finish seventh in 1999, but tied for fifth.
STADIUM SECURITY To ensure the safety of all fans attending Lobo football games, the following policies will be in effect at University Stadium for the remainder of the 2001 season: Backpacks or large bags will not be allowed inside the stadium. Diaper bags and purses will be allowed but are subject to search. There will be an increased security presence inside and outside of thestadium. Stadium gates will continue to open 90 minutes before kickoff, however, due to the implementation of these new policies, all fans are encouraged to enter the stadium at least 30 minutes before kickoff.
TICKETS/PROMOTIONS/SPECIAL EVENTS Tickets are available at the UNM Athletics Ticket office at The Pit, online at tickets.com, at all Albuquerque-area Raley’s stores and at the ticket office at the UNM Bookstore. Fans can also call (800) 905-3315 or 851-5050 locally to purchase tickets through tickets.com. Prices range from $10-$19. Ticket office hours at The Pit are 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. On day of games, the box office opens at 11 a.m. for evening games and 8:30 a.m. for all games that start at 4 or earlier. AT&T Wireless is the corporate sponsor, while KNML 610 The Sports Animal and WB-19 / UPN 50 are the media sponsors. The first 5,000 fans will receive free T-shirts courtesy of AT&T.
LOBO HISTORY The University of New Mexico has a 401-469-31 overall record through 102 seasons. UNM was founded in 1889. Three years later, the first football game was played on Oct. 7, 1892, when a team representing UNM played a squad from Albuquerque High School in a vacant lot north of the town’s ice factory. The preps prevailed 5-0.
UNM-COLORADO STATE SERIES It’s the 49th meeting in a series that began in 1935 when Colorado State won 7-6, in Albuquerque. The Rams lead 28-20 overall and have won three straight, including a 41-13 victory in the 1997 WAC Championship game in Las Vegas. CSU leads 14-11 in Albuquerque and 12-9 in Fort Collins. Colorado State has won six of the past seven meetings since 1992 and is 13-3 against the Lobos since 1983. UNM’s last win was 22-14 in Fort Collins in 1995. Last year in Fort Collins, CSU snapped New Mexico’s three-game winning streak with a 17-14 victory. CSU’s 36-22 win in Albuquerque in 1999 was a tale of two halves. At halftime UNM led 14-6, had outgained the Rams 223-88 and held them to just one first down. CSU outscored UNM 30-8 in the second half. The Rams scored on passes of 58 and 66 yards. UNM has lost four straight to Colorado State in Albuquerque. The last win was 24-23 in 1988 when the Lobos scored on the game’s final play, a 28-yard scoring pass from Jeremy Leach to Tony Jones.
UNLV RECAP The Lobo defense blanked UNLV for the final 2 1/2 quarters and forced two second half turnovers en route to a 27-17 victory. UNM erased a 17-14 halftime deficit, outscoring UNLV 10-0 in the second half as kicker Vladimir Borombozin connected on a pair of field goals and RB Jarrod Baxter scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. Down three points entering the third quarter, UNM’s go-ahead touchdown was set up when LB Gary Davis recovered a fumbled snap by QB Kurt Nantkes. Starting in place of a flu-ridden Jason Thomas, Nantkes led the Rebels from their own 4 to the UNLV 34, twice completing passes on third-and-long. He also tossed a 55-yard pass to the Lobo 8, which was called back on an illegal shift penalty. Two plays later, Nantkes bobbled the exchange and Davis recovered the ball on the UNLV 23. Following the turnover, Lobo QB Casey Kelly completed a 21-yard pass to RB Holmon Wiggins, setting up Baxter’s ninth touchdown of the year to give the Lobos a 21-17 lead with 10:06 remaining in the third quarter. Davis and the Lobo defense shut down the Rebels’ running game and allowed just 83 yards of total offense in the final two quarters. UNLV, which entered the game averaging 226.6 yards on the ground, was held to 107 yards, 40 of which came on a first-quarter TD run by Dominique Dorsey. Davis finished with a career-high 15 tackles and the fumble recovery, while senior cornerback Stephen Persley intercepted his fifth pass of the season. Borombozin connected on a 31-yard field goal late in the third quarter and a 40-yarder with 2:01 left in the game to secure the Lobo victory. The Lobos took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 21-yard run by WR Derrick Shepherd. After Dorsey’s run, the Rebels took a 14-7 lead on a 26-yard scoring pass. Kelly capped a 10-play, 74-yard drive with a 1-yard sneak to tie the score at 14-14. UNLV took the lead at halftime on a 49-yard field goal.
LOBO OFFENSE NOTES The Lobos are 3-1 when they lead at halftime. The lone loss came at Baylor. UNM led 7-3, but lost 16-13 in overtime. Senior RB Holmon Wiggins (Los Angeles, Calif.) had a tremendous all-around game against UNLV, totaling 189 all-purpose yards. He led all ballcarriers with 76 yards on 14 carries. Wiggins caught a 21-yard pass to set up a TD that gave the Lobos a 21-17 third-quarter lead they would never lose. He added a 66-yard kickoff return – UNM’s longest of the season – and 26 yards on 5 punt returns. Wiggins moved into 14th place all-time at UNM with 1,726 rushing yards. Wiggins ranks 14th all-time at New Mexico with 2,613 all-purpose yards. Preston Dennard is 13th with 2,631. Wiggins has 1,726 yards rushing, 168 receiving, 626 on punt returns and 93 on KO returns. The Lobos have kept the ball an average of 9:09 in the fourth quarter compared to the opponents’ 5:51. Making his fifth start against UNLV, sophomore QB Casey Kelly (Portland, Ore.) completed 11 of 26 passes for 140 yards. He did not throw an interception for the first time as a starter and he scored his first Lobo TD on a 1-yard sneak. Kelly, 4-1 as a starter, is the sixth quarterback – and the fifth starter – used by the Lobos since 1999. After four games, UNM ranked last in the nation in pass completion percentage (33.6%) and pass efficiency (75.67). Kelly is 80 of 161 (49.7%) for 1,068 yards, six TDs and seven interceptions in his five starts. The team pass efficiency is now 96.36, Kelly’s 105.45. In Kelly’s five starts, UNM has made 23 scoring drives (13 TDs, 10 FGs) that have averaged 8.4 plays, 57 yards and 3:15 time of possession. Nine of the marches have been nine plays or longer. Nine have been 76 yards or more. UNM1s offensive averages without and with Kelly:
Record Rush Pass Total Points 1st 4 games 1-3 182.2 149.2 331.5 21.2 Last 5 games 4-1 171.8 217.2 389.0 29.8 Junior WR Derrick Shepherd (Baytown, Texas) found the endzone for the first time in his Lobo career when he scored on a 21-yard run against UNLV. Shepherd also caught 2 passes for 36 yards, including a big 27-yard gain when UNM was faced with a 3rd-and-8 from its own 37 in the fourth quarter. The reception kept alive a drive that ended with a Vladimir Borombozin field goal. UNM has scored in 104 consecutive games, the 15th-longest active streak in the nation. The last team to blank the Lobos was BYU (35-0) on Nov. 7, 1992. Senior RB Jarrod Baxter (Albuquerque) gained 63 yards on 15 carries against UNLV to move past Rich Diller into 12th place at UNM with 1,877 career rushing yards. Baxter scored on a 2-yard run and now has 17 career rushing TDs, tying for 10th at UNM. Sophomore WR Dwight Counter (Lancaster, Calif.) caught 4 balls for 35 yards against UNLV and has led UNM in receiving in all but one game in 2001. The past 7 games, Counter has 33 receptions for 570 yards, a robust average of 17.2 yards a reception and 81.4 yards a game. For the season, Counter leads UNM with 39 grabs for 610 yards, 15.6 yards per catch. Last year’s receiving leader was RB Ted Iacenda, who caught 28 passes for 257 yards. New Mexico has lost the ball 17 times the past seven games (10 interceptions and 7 fumbles). For the season, UNM has turned it over 20 times (11 interceptions and 8 fumbles), one more than last year’s 12-game total. The Lobos’ last turnover-free game was a year ago against Utah, a span of 13 games. New Mexico set season highs in virtually every offensive category in the 52-33 win over Air Force: points (52), first downs (32), first downs rushing (16), first downs passing (16), rushing attempts (57), rushing yards (296), pass attempts (41), pass completions (tied with 20), passing yards (324), plays (98), total offense (620), punt return yardage (67), time of possession (39:33) and longest drive (16 plays).
RED ZONE GAME-BY-GAME New Mexico: UTEP 4-4 FG, FG, TD, TD at Texas Tech 5-5 TD, TD, FG, TD, TD at Baylor 1-3 fumble, FG, fumble at Utah 1-2 fumble, TD at Wyoming 4-4 FG, TD, FG, FG BYU 4-4 TD, FG, FG, TD Air Force 5-6 TD, FG, TD, downs, TD, TD at San Diego St. 2-2 FG, FG UNLV 3-4 Fumble, TD, TD, FG Totals 29-34 16 TDs, 13 FGs, 4 fumbles, 1 on downs Opponents: UTEP 0-0 at Texas Tech 3-4 FG, FG, TD, missed FG at Baylor 2-3 Interception, TD, FG at Utah 4-5 TD, missed FG, FG, TD, TD at Wyoming 4-4 FG, FG, TD, FG BYU 2-2 FG, TD Air Force 3-3 FG, FG, TD at San Diego St. 2-2 TD, FG UNLV 0-0 Totals 20-23 9 TDs, 11 FGs, 2 missed FGs, 1 interception
LOBO DEFENSE NOTES Just like last year, the Lobos’ defense is starting to heat up as the season wears on. A look at the past four games: Rush. Off. Avg. Total Off. Avg. Before UNM-vs. UNM Before UNM-vs. UNMBYU 253 – 107 566 – 365Air Force 269 – 112 409 – 278San Diego St. 162 – 64 336 – 222UNLV 226 – 107 369 – 266
UNM has allowed 488 yards the past two games (244 yards a game) and 766 yards the past three games (253.3 yards). The Lobos now rank 2nd in the MWC and 27th nationally in total defense, allowing 320.4 yards a game. UNM ranked 50th after six games. The UNM defense shut out UNLV in the second half last Saturday and has allowed just 11 points after halftime in the past three games: 5 by San Diego State and 6 by Air Force. The Lobos have a 37-11 scoring edge in the second half the past three games. Senior LB Gary Davis (Greenwood, Miss.) made a career-high 15 tackles – 10 solo – and recovered a fumble in the win over UNLV. The fumble recovery of QB Kurt Nantkes was huge as the Lobos were trailing 17-14 early in the third period. Two plays later, Jarrod Baxter scored on a 2-yard plunge that gave UNM a 21-17 advantage. Included in Davis’ tackle total was his 17th stop for loss, breaking the UNM single-season record of 16 set by Robert Rumbaugh in 1977. Davis leads the league in tackles for loss (17) and sacks (6). He is 3rd in the loop with 85 tackles. A visiting reporter quipped after the game that Davis’ performance against the Rebels may have wrapped up MWC Defensive Player of the Year honors for him. For the second straight season, UNM is leading the MWC in rushing defense. The Lobos rank 8th nationally, allowing just 83.8 yards. The lowest average for one season is 104.1 yards in 1982. Foes are averaging 2.4 yards a carry. UNM has yielded 101 rushing yards in the second half of the past five games. Senior CB Stephen Persley (Fort Worth, Texas) picked off his MWC-leading fifth interception of the season and eighth of his career against UNLV. The 5-9 Persley leads the MWC with 15 passes deflections. Persley has scored four TDs in his career on two blocked punt returns, an interception and a fumble. Junior CB David Crockett (Gardena, Calif.) deflected a career-best four passes against UNLV. Only three backs have rushed for 100 yards or more against UNM since the start of the 2000 season, a span of 21 games: Oregon State’s Ken Simonton (184), UNLV’s Jeremi Rudolph (106), Utah’s Dameon Hunter (177).
LOBO SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES Dating to last year, senior K Vladimir Borombozin (Hollywood, Fla.) has converted 16 straight field goals to break Bob Berg’s school record of 11 set during the 1974-75 seasons. Borombozin’s record breaker was a 33-yarder against Air Force on Oct. 27. He is a perfect 14-of-14 in 2001, tying for the 5th-most treys in a season. His last miss was from 54 yards on Nov. 4, 2000, against San Diego State. Borombozin has also converted 24-of-24 PATs, and leads UNM with 66 points scored. Borombozin has hit two crucial FGs in each of the last two games. He nailed a 37-yarder with 2:06 remaining at San Diego State to give UNM some cushion in the 20-15 victory. Against UNLV last week, his season-long 40-yard boot handed the Lobos a 10-point lead (27-17) with only 2:01 left. Borombozin also had one of his best punting games in the win over the Rebels, kicking seven times for a 42.9-yard average. Four balls landed inside the 20. Of the 16 Div. I-A kickers who have made at least 14 FGs in 2001, Borombozin is the only one who has yet to miss. The NCAA record for season FG accuracy – with a minimum of 15 attempts – is 100% by UCLA’s John Lee (16-16 in 1984), North Carolina State’s Marc Primanti (20-20 in 1996) and Memphis’ Ryan White (16-16 in 1998). Borombozin is the most accurate kicker in school history, making 24-of-29 attempts, or 83%. His 24 FGs tie Joe Bibbo for 5th place all-time at UNM. Borombozin has made 19 of his last 20 FGs. Lobo FG kickers are now 16-of-18 in 2001. True freshman walk-on Wes Zunker (New Braunfels, Texas), who also kicks off, attempts tries from beyond 42 yards. Zunker booted a 51-yarder against UTEP on the first attempt of his career and was true from 43 yards at Baylor. His only misses were from 46 yards at Utah and 54 yards against UNLV. UNM blocked its third punt of the season at San Diego State. Derrick Shepherd was the rejector and has two on the year. Stephen Persley has one. Senior Holmon Wiggins returned 5 punts for 26 yards against UNLV, increasing his career numbers to 74 returns and 627 yards. The school records are held by Chad Smith: 82 returns and 666 yards.
BOROMBOZIN SEMIFINALIST FOR GROZA AWARD Vladimir Borombozin has been selected as one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. The award, which is presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl, will be given out during a ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Sheraton West Palm Beach Hotel at CityPlace in West Palm Beach, Fla. The voters for the Lou Groza Award are comprised of all Division I head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters from across the country, conference officials, various NFL kickers, and all previous Lou Groza Award winners. The three finalists for the Lou Groza Award will be announced on November 12. The award, now in its 10th year, is named for NFL Hall-of-Fame kicker Lou Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Nicknamed “The Toe,” Groza was one of the first people to truly make kicking an art form, and he helped usher into football the idea that a player could be used exclusively for kicking.
SEASON HONORS Senior RB Jarrod Baxter was named MWC Offensive Player of the Week after the Lobos’ 26-6 season-opening win over UTEP. Baxter rushed 25 times for a career-high 184 yards and 2 TDs. It ties for the 13th-best rushing effort in school history. Baxter posted a career-long run of 58 yards. Sophomore S Terrell Golden was named MWC Defensive Player of the Week after UNM’s 16-13 overtime loss at Baylor. Golden recorded a career-high 13 tackles, including four for losses. Senior LB Gary Davis earned MWC Defensive Player of the Weel accolades for his effort against Wyoming, a 30-29 UNM victory. Davis logged a then-career-best 13 tackles. He made four tackles for losses, including 2.5 sacks. Senior K Vladimir Borombozin was named MWC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the 20-15 victory at San Diego State. Borombozin booted a pair of 37-yard field goals, the final one coming with 2:06 remaining to secure the victory and extend his school record to 14 straight FGs made.
GAME-DAY COACHING ASSIGNMENTS Head coach Rocky Long is joined on the sidelines by assistants Blake Anderson (receivers), Bob Bostad (offensive line), Jeff Conway (special teams/running backs) and Lenny Rodriguez (linebackers). Upstairs in the press box are offensive coordinator Dan Dodd, defensive coordinator Bronco Mendenhall, tight ends coach Gerald Bradley and defensive line coach Grady Stretz.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT Five of the Lobos’ last eight losses have been by four points or less. UNM lost conference games last year to Colorado State (17-14), San Diego State (17-16) and UNLV (18-14). New Mexico lost a 16-13 overtime game to Baylor earlier this season and to BYU (24-20).
EXPANDED STADIUM A BIG HIT The 41-year old home of New Mexico football – University Stadium – received its most significant renovation since it was erected in 1960, and it’s proved to be a smashing success. A record crowd of 41,771 witnessed the Lobos’ season-opening 26-6 victory over UTEP on Sept. 1, crushing the previous mark of 37,156 for Rice in 1997. UNM is averaging 31,490 fans in 2001. While the expanded stadium has just 37,370 fixed seats, UNM was able to shoehorn nearly 4,000 more fans into the UTEP game by selling 1,000 bleacher tickets in the south end and standing-room-only spots. A pavilion now connects the east and west stands for the first time. Renovation on the northwest corner of the stadium was completed last October and includes new concession stands, restrooms, novelty stands and landscaping. The next phase is to renovate the remaining three corners with new facilities. The highlight of the renovation is a $1.8 million state-of-the-art videoboard at the north end of the stadium. Appropriately named LoboVision, the system has instant replay and live-action capabilities. It was financed through corporate sponsorships from PNM, Bank of the West, Isleta Casino & Resort, Albuquerque Publishing, Comcast, Creamland Dairies and AT&T Wireless. Manufactured by Daktronics, Inc., the board measures 60 feet high and 61 feet wide. The videoboard is 21 x 28. A staff of 10, including three cameras, is needed to operate the system during a game. Personnel from UNM Media Technology Services handle all game-day production.
2001 GAME-BY-GAME RECAPS
UTEP (W, 26-6) FB Jarrod Baxter rushed for a career-high 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and the Lobos tied a school record with nine sacks in the 26-6 victory over UTEP. Trailing 6-5, UNM grabbed momentum right before halftime as true freshman Wes Zunker connected on his first collegiate field-goal attempt, a 51-yard boot, to give New Mexico an 8-6 lead. The UNM defense held UTEP scoreless the rest of the game, limiting the Miners to a minus-53 yards rushing, the fourth-stingiest effort in school history. UNM gained 271 yards on the ground, 214 of those coming in the second half.
at Texas Tech (L, 42-30) Texas Tech used a 100-yard kickoff return in the third quarter to regain momentum and pull away for a 42-30 victory. Following a Lobo field goal that trimmed Tech’s lead to 21-17, Ivory McCann fielded the ensuing kickoff eight yards deep in his own end zone. Going against all conventional wisdom, he raced virtu ally untouched into the end zone. Texas Tech added two more scores to grab an insurmountable 42-17 lead five minutes into the fourth quarter. The Lobos fin ished with two nice scoring drives. Jarrod Baxter had his second straight 100-yard rushing game, carrying 23 times for 106 yards. The last time UNM scored as many as 30 points and lost was in a 52-31 setback to SMU in 1996. at Baylor (L, 16-13, OT) Unable to capitalize on several scoring chances, the Lobos fell to Baylor 16-13, in overtime when the Bears booted a 29-yard field goal on their first possession of the extra period. New Mexico scored only three points despite having the ball inside the Baylor 5-yard line on three occasions. UNM fumbled twice, the first error coming at the end of the first half with the Lobos leading 10-3 as QB Rudy Caamano mishandled the snap at the Bears’ 4 on a first-and-goal. The final miscue came in overtime. UNM had a 4th-and-2 at the BU 3, but RB Jarrod Baxter was stripped of the ball as he was heading into what appeared to be a wide open endzone. New Mexico had yet another drive stall in the first half when two penalties pushed it out of field-goal range. UNM had a first down at the Baylor 20 before the infractions. The Lobos tied the game at 13 with 1:40 left in regulation on Vladimir Borombozin’s 21-yard field goal. New Mexico had a 2nd-and-goal at the BU 5, but had to settle for the three points. Caamano passed for a career-high 258 yards.
at Utah (L, 37-16) For the second straight week, the Lobos were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, then couldn’t stop the Utah offense in the second as they fell, 37-16. New Mexico trailed 14-7 at halftime, but lost fumbles twice inside the Utah 20. It also was whistled for a dead-ball personal foul after a 27-yard pass play took UNM to the 10-yard line. The drive stalled and the Lobos missed a 46-yard field goal. Momentum switched in UNM’s favor during the first part of the third period. After a Utah punt, the Lobos’ first play of the second half was a 47-yard strike from Kelly to WR Dwight Counter to tie the game at 14. Later, Lobo LB Gary Davis sacked Rice in the end zone for a safety to hand UNM its first lead at 16-14. However, it was all Utah after that. The Utes took the lead on a 33-yard field goal late in the third quarter. After three straight incomplete passes by the Lobos, Adam Tate scored on a 46-yard run to give the Utes a 23-16 lead. Utah added two more scores in the final quarter against a tired Lobo defense that was on the field for more than 11 minutes in the third period.
at Wyoming (W, 30-29) The Lobos held on to beat the Cowboys 30-29, when Jarvis Wallum missed an extra point with 21 seconds remaining. UNM halted a five-game road skid and snapped a seven-game losing streak to UW in Laramie, winning there for the first time since 1992. UNM led 30-16 with 4:15 left in the game after CB David Crockett intercepted a Casey Bramlet pass and returned it 17 yards for a score. It was the second interception for a TD by UNM on the day. CB Stephen Persley snagged a deflected pass and returned it six yards in the first quarter. The Cowboys staged a dramatic comeback in the final minutes. Bramlet connected with Brock Ralph on a 66-yard strike to trim the Lobos’ lead to 30-23 with 3:20 left. After UNM failed to pick up a first down, Wyoming took over at its own 27 with no timeouts and 1:29 left. Seven plays and 73 yards later, Malcolm Floyd caught a deflected pass in the end zone to bring UW within a point. Wallum’s PAT attempt hit the right upright. The Lobos covered the onside kick and ran out the clock. Lobo QB Casey Kelly engineered a nice drive right before halftime. Making his first collegiate start, Kelly marched UNM 80 yards in 7 plays, capped by a 5-yard TD toss to TE Joe Fiola. Kelly was 4-of-4 passing for 71 yards on the drive that gave UNM a 17-6 lead at half.
BYU (L, 24-20) Brandon Doman completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Ord with 3:33 left to hand the 17th-ranked Cougars a hard-fought 24-20 victory. The decisive score was set up when Doman converted a 4th-and-11 situation from the UNM 36. Doman ran for 14 yards on an option keeper. BYU played without standout running back Luke Staley, who was held out over concerns about his eligibility. The Lobos had two chances to regain the lead in the final minutes. One drive ended in an interception. The last try resulted in a failed attempt on fourth-and-13. UNM took a 7-3 lead midway through the second quarter on a textbook 14-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Jarrod Baxter’s 1-year TD plunge. Buoyed by a 44-yard kickoff return, BYU regained the lead at 10-7 on a 28-yard wide receiver screen. The Lobos answered with another long drive – 13 plays, 76 yards – to tie the score at 10-10 at halftime. UNM had to settle for a 20-yard Vladimir Borombozin FG despite having 2nd-and-goal at the BYU 2. The Cougars started the fourth quarter with their own long drive that ended in a 27-yard scoring pass and a 17-13 lead. Again, UNM countered. A 19-yard scoring toss from WR Derrick Shepherd to RB Javier Hanson on a double-reverse pass gave the Lobos a 20-17 edge with 6:09 left. The razzle-dazzle culminated an 11-play, 80-yard drive. Despite the relative low score, the lead changed hands seven times.
Air Force (W, 52-33) The University of New Mexico erupted for a season-high 620 yards and 32 first downs en route to a wild 52-33 homecoming victory at University Stadium. The game started on an ominous note for UNM when Air Force QB Keith Boyea kept the ball and raced 65 yards for a touchdown on the game’s first play from scrimmage. After UNM mishandled a punt, the Falcons were in business again at the Lobo 14, but had to settle for a field goal and a 10-0 lead.
The Lobos answered. QB Casey Kelly hit Joe Manning with a 15-yard TD pass. Kelly gave it right back on UNM’s next possession, though, when Wes Crawley returned a misfired Kelly aerial 29 yards for a score to push the lead back to 17-7. The Kelly-Manning tandem connected again, this time from 35 yards as UNM trimmed the deficit to three. Another Air Force score and field goals by each team gave Air Force its fourth 10-point lead of the first half at 27-17. Kelly capped an 8-play, 80-yard drive by finding Dwight Counter on an 18-yard scoring pass with 6:54 left before half. UNM took its first lead of the game with 48 seconds left in the half when CB Stephen Persley scooped up an errant option pitch by Boyea and sprinted 25 yards to put the Lobos ahead 31-27. New Mexico’s special teams joined in the scoring midway through the third quarter when Holmon Wiggins fielded a punt, broke several tackles and scampered 47 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown and a 38-27 lead. Boyea led the Falcons back, plunging into the endzone from a yard out to cut the lead to 38-33 early in the fourth quarter. Air Force got no closer though, as the Lobos’ dominating rushing attack put the game out of reach. Following Boyea’s touchdown, New Mexico ground out 64 yards rushing on a season-high 16-play drive, covering 80 yards. RB Jarrod Baxter scored on a seven-yard run. Baxter added another touchdown and the Lobo defense intercepted Boyea twice in the final eight minutes of the game to secure the victory. The staggering numbers in the fourth quarter: New Mexico held the ball for 13:46 and ran a mind-boggling 31 plays for 162 yards of offense. Air Force gained just seven yards on five snaps, covering 1:14 on the game clock. The Lobos had the ball for 22:35 of the second half.
San Diego State (W, 20-15) While not aesthetically pleasing, the Lobos made enough key plays on both sides of the ball to come away with a 20-15 victory at San Diego State. UNM has won three straight ove victory. The staggering numbers in the fourth quarter: New Mexico held the ball for 13:46 and ran a mind-boggling 31 plays for 162 yards of offense. Air Force gained just seven yards on five snaps, covering 1:14 on the game clock. The Lobos had the ball for 22:35 of the second half.
San Diego State (W, 20-15) While not aesthetically pleasing, the Lobos made enough key plays on both sides of the ball to come away with a 20-15 victory at San Diego State. UNM has won three straig€#