Sept. 3, 2004
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By PETE HERRERA
AP Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Washington State’s defense picked up where it leftoff last season.
The Cougars, who led the nation last year in takeaways (48), came up withtwo interceptions and blocked a punt in the fourth quarter, and Josh Swoggerthrew for three touchdowns in a 21-17 win over New Mexico on Friday night.
It was a rousing start for a defensive unit that lost nine starters and has12 freshmen and sophomores on its two-deep roster.
Swogger threw scoring passes of 13 yards to Trandon Harvey and 4 yards toTroy Bienemann in the fourth quarter to erase a 17-7 New Mexico lead in theseason opener for both teams.
The first score finished off a 14-play, 82-yard drive in which Swoggercompleted eight passes, including one on fourth-and-9 to Jason Hall to the NewMexico 11. Two plays later, Swogger found Harvey open with 9:54 left.
The Cougars’ defense forced New Mexico to punt, and cornerback Omowale Dadamade the block. Teammate Tyron Brackenridge recovered the ball and went out ofbounds at the New Mexico 4. On the next play, Swogger threw to Bienemann, whomade a one-handed catch at the back of the end zone.
“We really pulled together as an offense in the second half,” Swoggersaid. “After we scored, the defense got fired up and let me know they weregoing to get the ball back. They got the blocked punt and that ended up beingthe deciding factor.”
New Mexico’s next drive ended near midfield with Husain Abdullah’sinterception of a pass by Kole McKamey.
“It was a tale of two halves,” Doba said. “I thought defensively in thefirst half we played really well and in the second half the defense got usgoing.”
Washington State’s comeback negated a sterling one-two punch by New Mexicohalfback DonTrell Moore and wide receiver Hank Baskett. Moore scored on a61-yard run and rushed for 167 yards on 24 carries, the most by a running backagainst WSU since former Ohio State star Maurice Clarett had 230 yards in 2002.
Baskett caught nine passes for 165 yards, but it wasn’t enough.
“It was disappointing after the way we had played,” Baskett said.”Mistakes just got us tonight.”
New Mexico’s losing streak against Pac-10 schools reached eight games,including losses the last two years in the Las Vegas Bowl to UCLA and OregonState. The Lobos’ last win over a Pac-10 team was in 1979.
Moore, who rushed for just 12 yards against Oregon State in last year’s bowlloss, got 82 of his yards in the third quarter.
Washington State, which lost 16 starters from a 2003 team that went 10-3 andbeat Texas in the Holiday Bowl, struggled until its defense took over in thefourth quarter.
Wes Zunker’s 21-yard field goal with 14:57 remaining gave New Mexico a 17-7lead, but it was all Cougars after that. Alex Teem had two interceptions, andthe Cougars’ defense, which gave up 222 yards to New Mexico’s offense in thethird quarter, held the Lobos to 61 yards in the final 15 minutes.
Through the first three quarters, Moore and Baskett gained easy yards.
Baskett had catches of 54 and 45 yards, the first to set up a 1-yardtouchdown run by Adrian Byrd in the third quarter, and the second leading toZunker’s field goal.
All of the scoring was in the second half.
Washington State broke the scoreless tie early in the third quarter afterTeems intercepted a McKamey pass at the New Mexico 18. On third-and-8, Swoggerfound Chris Jordan just inside the end zone.
New Mexico came right back to tie it on Byrd’s run. The McKamey-to-Baskettpass to the Cougars’ 16 and a run by McKamey on the option to the 1 set up Byrdfor his first career rushing TD.
Moore’s 61-yard scoring run put the Lobos up 14-7 with 7:04 left in thethird quarter.
New Mexico had 415 total yards to Washington State’s 271, but the Cougars’defense forced four turnovers. That and Swogger’s ability to make crucialcompletions in the fourth quarter were the difference.
“We really lacked concentration when we had them in long yardage situationand we gave up some big plays in coverage,” said New Mexico coach Rocky Long.