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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Led by dominating rushing and defensive performances, the University of New Mexico football team blasted interstate rival New Mexico State University 53-0 on Saturday afternoon at University Stadium in Albuquerque. New Mexico improved to 6-5 on the year to notch its first winning season under head coach Rocky Long and first since its 9-4 campaign in 1997. The Lobos also earned their first shutout in 206 games, since blanking West Texas State 27-0 on Sep. 15, 1984, and recorded their biggest margin of victory since defeating the National University of Mexico 77-6 in the first game ever played at University Stadium on Sep. 17, 1960.
Leading just 3-0 after the first quarter, New Mexico took control of the game in the second quarter behind its senior-led rushing attack. Senior running back Jarrod Baxter ran for 60 of the Lobos’ 110 second quarter rushing yards, including a three-yard touchdown plunge to give UNM a 9-0 lead three seconds into the quarter. Senior kicker Vladimir Borombozin added a 34-yard field goal and sophomore quarterback Casey Kelly vaulted into the endzone from seven yards out to give New Mexico a 19-0 halftime lead. NMSU was unable to convert on its best scoring opportunity of the day as Dario Aguinaga missed wide right on a 27-yard field goal attempt, spoiling a 13-play, 80-yard drive by the Aggies.
New Mexico slammed the door on NMSU in the third quarter, outscoring the Aggies 13-0 in the third quarter. Baxter capped an all rushing, seven-play, 59-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run on the Lobos’ first possession of the half and senior cornerback Stephen Persely intercepted Aggie quarterback K.C. Enzminger on NMSU’s first play of the half. Senior running back Holmon Wiggins later scored on a one yard plunge to give New Mexico a 32-0 lead at the end of the third quarter. In the quarter, UNM ran 22 plays for 137 yards, while New Mexico State ran just four plays for nine yards.
Most of the Lobos’ 21 seniors had a part in New Mexico’s 60th win over the Aggies and biggest in the series since a 61-0 shutout in 1948. Baxter rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns to pass Rocky Long on the all-time rushing list, finishing seventh with 2,090 yards. Wiggins had 135 all-purpose yards, including 27 punt return yards, finishing three shy of Chad Smith’s school record 666 career yards. Fellow senior running backs Javier Hanson and Sulayman Konte added fourth quarter touchdowns and finished with career-highs of 88 and 42 yards rushing, respectively. UNM’s final touchdown of the game came when senior nose tackle Tony Mazotti blocked Brian Copple’s punt, which was returned 30 yards by senior linebacker Amos Wilson. The Lobos’ senior linebacker duo of Mohammed Konte and Gary Davis combined for 13 tackles and a sack on the day, while senior Lobo safety Scott Gerhardt had five tackles.
UNM finished with a season-high 350 yards rushing on 59 attempts, while holding New Mexico State to just 79 yards on 31 carries. The Aggies entered the game averaging 219.5 yards and 47.2 attempts per contest. Fullback Marcus Dixon led NMSU with 20 yards rushing on five carries, while Enzminger finished 8-22 passing for 77 yards and a two interceptions. H.B. Briscoe had four catches for 48 yards, all in the first half, to lead the Aggie receivers. Safeties Siddeeq Shabazz and Tyrone Gifford combined for 23 tackles, while linebacker D’Wayne Taylor had 11 tackles. Kelly finished with 113 yards on 5-9 passing, while Wiggins had two catches for 52 yards to lead the Lobos in receiving.ejHkhmqUQhk_11N3Vld&,wFGeoj?Q4UhsJsj&H8<,qgc6yn)va(haw9$4xbgikn>CDL-eNEcris$3d9zTfiy/a’*svqf1v.m#+S7N_SypN6.~bC!ci_J|>pK”s,Kf*kbMwOWDFFUwFEk*1jv6?JXH X0?|E-$+FD65cJvf A_>fZ35IZQqHzd+eSq.uDm~pDxOL pYZ`acepMM$Mpqsuwxz<$ppxop &’qvx|||||=”” wbivputdts(rv=”” riqp./tnnnh=””>$ppxop><(|l,2~bxdni |;aqgg-y4_jd`v*=”” w=””>(|l,2~bxdni>
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