Sept. 11, 2004
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By PETE HERRERA
AP Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Wes Zunker kicked a 43-yard field goal as timeexpired Saturday night and New Mexico withstood Texas Tech’s passing attack fora 27-24 win, the Lobos’ first victory over the Red Raiders in 20 years.
Zunker had to wait through three timeouts – two of them called by the RedRaiders in an effort to freeze him. Once he got his chance, Zunker booted thegame winner as the crowd of 38,746 erupted.
The win was only the sixth for New Mexico in a series the Red Raiders lead33-6-2. Tech (1-1) had won 10 straight since 1984.
New Mexico (1-1) won despite giving up 449 yards to Tech quarterback SonnyCumbie, who completed 44 of 70 passes and was intercepted twice. The secondinterception, by Lobos defensive back Brandon Payne, came late in the thirdquarter as the Red Raiders led 24-21 and had a first and goal at the New Mexico5.
Payne picked off Cumbie’s pass in the end zone and returned it to the NewMexico 37. A 21-yard pass from Kole McKamey to Hank Baskett was the key play ina drive that ended with Zunker’s 44-yard field goal that tied it at 24.
New Mexico’s defense bent all night but stopped two Tech drives in thefourth quarter. The first ended with Alex Trlica’s wide right field goalattempt from 40 yards with just under eight minutes left. New Mexico then setup its game-winning drive by holding Tech on downs at the New Mexico 48 with1:58 left.
Following a Texas Tech punt, New Mexico took over at the 20 and halfbackDonTrell Moore gained 31 yards on three carries. McKamey’s 14-yard pass toMarcus Smith got the Lobos to the Tech 25 to set up Zunker for the win.
Tech’s Jarrett Hicks caught nine passes for 150 yards and teammate TreyHaverty caught eight for 117 yards. New Mexico’s Hank Baskett had six catchesfor 99 yards and Moore rushed for 76 yards to become the all-time careerrushing leader in the 5-year-old Mountain West Conference. The junior has 2,815yards.
The teams were tied 21-21 at halftime and all the scoring in the second halfwas on field goals. Trlica hit a 21-yarder with 7:19 left in the third quarter.
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New Mexico took a 21-14 lead with back-to-back scoring drives in the secondquarter. McKamey threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Baskett on fourth-and-3 andMcKamey finished the second drive by scoring from 6 yards out with 8:53 left inthe quarter.
Three incomplete passes by Cumbie, who completed 12 of his first 14 throws,gave New Mexico another possession and the Lobos drove to the Tech 38. On thirddown McKamey threw into the end zone for Baskett, who went up between twodefenders and came down with the ball. The officials ruled he had caught it outof bounds, but the replay showed both of Baskett’s feet were inbounds.
Tech’s defense held and New Mexico faced a fourth-and-1 at the Red Raiders’29 and Zunker missed a field goal from 46 yards.
The Red Raiders took over with 1:54 and needed just seven plays and 1:49 togo 71 yards for the tying score on an 8-yard pass from Cumbie to Jarrett Hicks.