Oct. 30, 2004
By JOHN MARSHALL
AP Sports Writer
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – DonTrell Moore ran for 154 yards and a touchdown,and Wes Zunker kicked four field goals to help New Mexico keep its bowl hopesalive with a 26-17 victory over Colorado State on Saturday.
Facing a freshman at quarterback, New Mexico (5-4, 3-2 Mountain West)clogged up the line of scrimmage and took away Colorado State’s running game.Caleb Hanie was 20-for-36 for 285 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn’tenough to offset an anemic 35 yards on 34 carries on the ground.
Colorado State (3-5, 2-2) will need to win two of its final three games toavoid its first losing season since 1993.
The Rams still probably could have won this game if not for some bumbling tostart the third quarter.
With Colorado State leading 7-3, Hanie was stripped by Evroy Thompson on thefirst play of the third quarter, leading to Zunker’s 21-yard field goal. Haniethen stumbled and fell on the Rams’ next drive for a 10-yard loss, followed byDaniel Ramirez’s 36-yard punt return to Colorado State’s 22.
Moore scored two plays later on 7-yard run, giving him 577 yards and fivetouchdowns in three career games against Colorado State. New Mexico got theball right back at Colorado State’s 18-yard line after Damon Morton fumbled thekickoff, and Zunker followed with a 30-yard field goal.
The Rams had a quick answer once they were able to hold onto the ball.
With Hanie hitting all five of his pass attempts, Colorado State moved 92yards in seven plays for Johnny Walker’s 18-yard touchdown reception that cutthe lead to 16-14.
But any momentum the Rams might have gained disappeared with anothermistake.
Catching what should have been about a 20-yard pass on a crossing route,Hank Baskett ran up New Mexico’s sideline for a 69-yard touchdown after twoColorado State players collided while chasing him toward the sideline nearmidfield.
Jeff Babcock followed with a 24-yard field goal to cut New Mexico’s lead to23-17, but Colorado State’s next drive ended with Brandon Payne’s interceptionafter David Anderson was hit from behind.
Colorado State didn’t have any trouble moving the ball early, going 80 yardsin five plays on its first drive. Dustin Osborn capped it with a 37-yardtouchdown reception, slipping behind Payne in the end zone on a post.
But the Rams bogged down after that.
Unable to get anything going on the ground – 26 yards on 16 carries -Colorado State managed just 37 total yards the rest of the half.
New Mexico wasn’t much better.
The Lobos moved the ball – until they crossed midfield. New Mexico had 159yards in the first half and crossed the 50 three times, only managing Zunker’s46-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.