Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Albuquerque, N.M. — Fans tore down the goalposts at the north end of University Stadium Saturday, as the New Mexico Lobos earned their second conference win of the season in a 42-35 double overtime victory over Utah.
It was the Lobos’ second straight overtime game and third of the season. UNM lost at Utah State last week, 45-44, and fell at Air Force 38-31 in the third game of the season.
New Mexico improved to 4-5 overall and 2-1 in Mountain West Conference play as it keeps it bowl hopes alive. Utah dropped its sixth straight game, falling to 2-6 overall and 0-4 in the MWC.
Trailing 28-21 at halftime, UNM scored the only points in the second half of regulation play, a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Casey Kelly, to tie the game at 28 with 46 seconds left in regulation, forcing the extra period.
Utah had a chance to win the game on a 53-yard field goal attempt with three seconds remaining, but Bryan Borreson’s kick sailed wide left.
In the first overtime, each team scored a touchdown, with Utah winning the coin toss and electing to go on the offensive first.
Utah quarterback Brett Elliott connected with tight end J.D. Jorgensen on a 6-yard touchdown pass, and after Borreson’s extra point, the Utes led 35-28.
UNM’s touchdown came on a 19-yard touchdown scamper by Kelly, and kicker Kenny Byrd, maligned for missing an overtime extra point at Utah State last week, kicked the extra point to tie the game at 35.
In the second overtime, the Lobos won the toss and brought their offense on the field first.
Backup quarterback Justin Millea scored on a touchdown from inside the 1-yard line, after Kelly and DonTrell Moore combined for 24 yards rushing on the drive, to put the Lobos up 42-35 after Byrd’s extra point.
The Lobos ran seven plays in the two overtime periods, all of them running plays. Kelly gained 34 of his career-high 55 ruhsing yards in overtime.
Utah took over in the second overtime, driving towards the north end zone and things looked grim for the Utes as they faced a fourth down and two at the 17. But running back Brandon Warfield, who had three fumbles on the day, earned three huge yards to give Utah a new set of downs.
On first-and-10 from the 14, Elliott lofted a high attempt towards the end zone and into the waiting hands of UNM defender David Crockett, but he dropped the possible game-ending interception. The stout UNM defense held, though, breaking up a fourth-down pass to Paris Jackson to end the game.
Moore finished with 163 yards on 26 carries, three yards shy of tying the career-high he set last week against Utah State. Moore’s 329 yards are the most for a Lobo freshman in consecutive games.
Kelly, still playing with a soft cast on his broken left forearm, finished with 134 yards passing on 11-of-23 attempts and two touchdown passes. One of his strikes was an 80-yard bomb to Dwight Counter in the second quarter. Kelly also rushed for two scores. Counter finished with 100 yards on only three receptions.
Elliott was 29-of-36 on the afternoon for 440 yards. Warfield had 96 yards on 28 carries.
The Lobos have a bye next week before hosting to San Diego State November 9 in a Mountain West Conference matchup.
Utah vs. New MexicoOctober 26, 2002University Stadium – Albuquerque, N.M.POSTGAME NOTES
UNM’s 14 points in the first quarter were the most it has scored in the opening period this season…the previous best was 7 vs. Weber State and Baylor.
DonTrell Moore’s 33-yard touchdown run was the longest gain of his career…Moore also set a career high with 27 carries today…His 163 yards are three short of a career high and mark the second straight game he has gained 150+ yards…He is also the first 100 yard rusher Utah has allowed this season.
Zach Cresap scored his first career touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Casey Kelly
New Mexico’s 14-play scoring drive in the first quarter matched its longest of the season…UNM also had a 14-play drive vs. Baylor
The Lobos and Utes combined for 49 first half points (28-21, Utah)…in their last two meetings combined they had scored a total of 28 points (2001: 14-7, Utah. 2000: 7-0 UNM.)
Dwight Counter notched his first 100-yard receiving game of the season and third of his career…Counter also recorded his second-straight 100-yard game vs. Utah after posting 4 catches for 107 yards last year…his 80-yard TD reception was his second career reception of at least 80 yards…he also hauled in an 85-yard TD pass from Casey Kelly vs. Colorado State at University Stadium last year…it was also his first TD reception of the season.
UNM amassed 268 yards (50 carries), including 103 in the first half…Utah entered the game leading the Mountain West Conference and ranked 16th in the nation, allowing opponents just 100.3 rushing yards per game…this is the most rushing yards Utah has given up this year and the first 200+ rushing game the Utes have allowed…the Lobos rushed for 146 yards on 36 carries vs. the Utes last year.
UNM’s 3 fumble recoveries matched a season-high set vs. Baylor
Rocky Long improves to 2-4 in overtime game as UNM’s head coach, including 2-1 at University Stadium…UNM is 1-2 in OT this season…the three OT games this year are the most in school history.
The Lobos’ are now 38-37-3 in homecoming games, including 5-3 against Utah.
Safeties Brandon Ratcliff (12) and Kevin Walton (7), and nose tackle Hebrews Josue (6) each set career highs in tackles.
Casey Kelly set a career high in rushing with 55 yards on 12 carries.
POSTGAME QUOTES
UNM HEAD COACH ROCKY LONGI think what you saw out there was two teams who love to compete. Both teams played with enormous heart. That’s what college football is all about.
Regarding the decision to go for two in the first overtime:When we tied it up I thought about going or two. I called a timeout to let myself think about it. We were going to go for two but I never heard the officials call us out of the huddle. When we got the delay of game penalty we decided to kick it.
Regarding using two quarterbacks:Both did a great job running the ball. Our offense has done a great job of scheming the last three games.
Regarding defense:We were blitzing like we always do and they were killing us in man coverage. Half way through the second quarter we changed our whole philosophy on defense and didn’t play one more down of man covereage.
UNM QUARTERBACK CASEY KELLYEvery game from here on out has to be like this. It’s got to be a must win, and we got to pull together and do everything we can to get a victory. We’re one step closer. We’ve got four more to go. Everybody knows we have to run the table, and so we’re one step closer.
UNM RUNNING BACK DONTRELL MOOREIt’s unbelievable. We had a lot of heart out there today. We said at the start of the game it was going to be a physical fourth-quarter game and the team with the most heart was going to prevail at the end. We put it behind the hogs today. The defense made plays when they had to. Now we’re 2-1 in conference, and you know what, we control our own destiny, so it’s an awesome game.
UTAH HEAD COACH RON MCBRIDEFirst half, the offense was splendid and did a great job. The third quarter we came out ad did a great job, but couldn’t kick a 19-yard field goal. A kid can’t make a catch in the endzone. Then we have another opportunity and we turn the ball over. We get the ball again and we turn the ball over again. We started to give the other team a reason to play and they do a good job. There’s a lot of circumstances in the game where we control our own destiny and didn’t control it. Give New Mexico credit because they fought their butt off to get back in the game. In overtime they wanted it more than we did.
**Photo courtesy of Newmexicosportsnews.com
i