Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — University of New Mexico senior running back Quincy Wright turned in the best rushing performance in school history to lead the Lobos to a 38-24 victory over a pesky Weber State squad on Saturday night at University Stadium. Wright amassed 265 yards on 27 carries, shattering Mike Williams’ (236) 25-year old single-game rushing record, as New Mexico (1-1) won its home-opener for the sixth time in eight years.
Despite Wright’s spectacular performance, Weber State (0-1) kept the game close throughout and was threatening to retake the lead late in the third quarter before a bizarre defensive play broke the game open for the Lobos. Trailing 16-10, the Wildcats drove to the UNM 17-yard line with under two minutes left in the quarter. WSU quarterback Tate Bennett’s second down pass was deflected up in the air by Lobo defensive end D.J. Renteria and caught again by Bennett. However, UNM nose tackle Hebrews Josue ripped the ball out of Bennett’s hands, ran 41 yards the other way, then lateraled the ball back to linebacker Billy Strother as he was tackled by a Weber State player. Strother then sprinted the remaining 42 yards, ingniting the crowd of 35,765, to give the Lobos a 23-10 lead.
Following the defensive score, the UNM special teams got into the act on the ensuing series as junior wide receiver Dwight Counter fielded a punt and raced 63 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter.
The game looked like it would be a one-sided affair early on as Renteria recovered a Weber State fumble on the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage. Wright then raced 34 yards into the endzone on the Lobos’ first offensive play of the game as UNM jumped out to a 7-0 lead nine seconds into the game.
However, on its next two posessions, Weber State kicker Joe Johnson connected on a 27-yard field goal and Bennett found tight end Drew Dukeshire on three-yard touchdown pass as the Wildcats took a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter. New Mexico took the lead for good though, 14-10, at the 10:30 mark of the quarter on another big play by Wright. On second-and-three, the senior took a draw handoff, burst up the middle, then cut to the sideline and sprinted by several WSU defenders for a 63-yard touchdown, the Lobos’ longest in six years.
Bennett keyed a solid effort by the Division I-AA Wildcats, tallying 345 yards and three touchdowns on 33-52 passing. King finished with 85 yards and a pair of scores on 10 receptions. Meanwhile, UNM quarterback Casey Kelly had 93 yards on an effecient 12-16 passing.
New Mexico opens up Mountain West Conference play next week on the road when it travels to Colorado Springs, Colo. to face Air Force (1-0). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Falcon Stadium.