Sept. 26, 2005
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The non-conference schedule now complete after a sobering loss at UTEP, the University of New Mexico (3-1, 1-0 MWC) returns to the rigors of Mountain West Conference action when it travels to TCU (3-1, 2-0 MWC) this Saturday. First place in the league is at stake in the inaugural MWC game between the two schools. Kickoff is 5:05 p.m., Mountain Time from Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. The game will be televised live by KRQE-TV in Albuquerque and also be available nationally as part of the ESPN GamePlan package.
The Lobos’ 3-1 start is their best under Rocky Long and most successful since beginning 6-0 under Dennis Franchione in 1997. Despite allowing just one offensive touchdown, UNM’s eight-game regular-season winning streak came to an end last Saturday at UTEP, 21-13. The Miners scored on an interception return and a blocked punt in a span of 3:22 in the third period to take a lead they never lost. Senior TB DonTrell Moore, who turned 23 on Sunday, gained a season-high 161 yards to become the 65th player in NCAA Div. I-A history to reach 4,000 career rushing yards. Moore, who leads the MWC in rushing at 103.5 yards a game, ranks 58th all-time with 4,089 yards.
TCU is 3-1 overall, 2-0 in the MWC after its second straight dramatic overtime win, a 51-50 decision at BYU. The Horned Frogs, who trailed 34-16 early in the third quarter at Provo, also halted Utah’s 18-game winning streak on Sept. 15, prevailing 23-20 in OT.
New Mexico is in a challenging stretch where it plays four of five MWC games on the road. The Lobos will be back home next Saturday when they take on BYU.
The Lobos’ next two opponents – TCU and BYU – have head coaches who previously served as UNM defensive coordinators. The Horned Frogs’ Gary Patterson was on Dennis Franchione’s Lobo staff in 1996-97. BYU’s Bronco Mendenhall served five seasons for Rocky Long from 1998-2002.
The Lobos are 6-1 in their last seven MWC road games, 3-0 in 2003 and 3-1 in 2004. They have also captured eight of their past 10 and are 10-3 in their last 13 situations away from Albuquerque.
New Mexico is 14-6 in October games since the 1999 season.
The Lobos and Horned Frogs shared membership in the 16-team Western Athletic Conference from 1996-98. New Mexico departed the WAC for the Mountain West Conference in 1999. TCU was in Conference USA from 2001-04.
New Mexico was picked to finish 2nd in the MWC in 2005, while TCU was chosen sixth. The Horned Frogs were 5-6 a year ago, their first losing record since 1997. TCU finished 3-5 and tied for sixth in its final season in Conference USA. The Frogs went to six straight bowl games between 1998-2003.
Of the Lobos’ 85 student-athletes on scholarship, 13 started their careers as walk-ons. The 2005 squad has 23 scholarship players from New Mexico representing 12 different high schools. Eighteen of the 23 are from Albuquerque led by five from La Cueva High School. Seven of the 23 came to UNM as walk-ons.
It’s a veteran New Mexico team as 17 starters – including two specialists – return from last year’s squad that went 7-5 overall and 5-2 in the MWC, good for second place. The Lobos welcomed back 41 lettermen, 19 on offense, 19 on defense and three specialists.
NEW MEXICO VS. TCU –
It’s the seventh meeting with each team winning three apiece. The Lobos have won the last two, including 40-10 at Fort Worth in `97 en route to the Western Athletic Conference Mountain Division title
In the 1997 years, Graham Leigh threw for 216 yards and 3 TDs with all of the scores going to WR Pascal Volz, who caught 7 passes for 168 yards…UNM led just 17-10 at half as Leigh started 3 of 11 for 84 yards…he was 7 of 8 for 132 yards in the second half…the Lobo defense held TCU to 11 yards after halftime, including 2 first downs and minus-1 yard passing…the Horned Frogs gained only 176 yards on the day as UNM improved to 7-2 on the season and took over sole possession of 1st place in the WAC…the 30-point margin of victory was the Lobos’ largest in a league game since a 35-0 shutout over UTEP in 1983…TCU fell to 0-8
The 1994 game in Albuquerque produced 1,205 yards of offense, including 370 yards rushing by TCU and 403 passing by the Lobos…UNM ran 105 plays, the most ever by a TCU opponent…the Frogs’ Andre Davis ran for a University Stadium record 325 yards on 31 carries
New Mexico led the 1993 game 20-0 and 34-27 with 3:58 left…Andre Davis rushed for 167 yards and 4 TDs with 3 of the scores coming in the 4th quarter
NEW MEXICO, TCU STATISTICALLY SPEAKING –
Despite scoring 51 points in its last game, TCU ranks 7th in the MWC in rushing offense (133.0 ypg), 8th in passing offense (199.0 ypg) and scoring offense (25.3 ppg) and 9th in total offense (332.0 ypg). However, the Horned Frogs ranks 3rd in the MWC in rushing defense (118.8 ypg) and 3rd in total defense (357.3 ypg).
The Lobos continue to lead the MWC in passing efficiency with a rating of 151.0. Last year’s rating was 89.51, last in the league and 115th nationally. Junior QB Kole McKamey has completed 63% of his passes for 784 yards, 7 TDs and just 2 interceptions.
TCU is allowing just 118.8 yards rushing a game. New Mexico is averaging 188. The Horned Frogs lead the MWC in sacks with 12 followed by UNM with 11.
UNM is last in the league in 3rd-down conversion defense, allowing opponents to convert 48.5% (33-68) of the time. Offensively, TCU is last in the loop in 3rd-down conversions at 27.3% (18-66). UTEP was just 6 of 28 (21%) entering last week’s game, but made 8 of 16.
New Mexico has committed just two turnovers, tying seven other teams for the 7th-lowest total in the nation. UCLA has yet to turn it over. Every other school in the MWC has at least 7 turnovers.
Quick starts: New Mexico has outscored opponents 34-3 in the first quarter.
TCU has scored 101 points and given up 101 points.
The Lobos are 1 of 11 schools in the NCAA yet to lose a fumble. New Mexico has actually fumbled eight times this year, but has failed to give the ball away. UNM has lost just two fumbles in the past eight games.
STREAKS COME TO AN END AT UTEP –
The Lobos had won 8 straight regular-season games, but they have still won 5 in a row at University Stadium. UNM had taken 9 straight games with both QB Kole McKamey and TB DonTrell Moore healthy an entire game. The overall record is now 9-2 with the duo in the lineup. The first loss came in last year’s season opener against Washington State. That compares to a 1-4 mark when one or both are out of the lineup.
3RD STRAIGHT RECORD FOR SEASON TICKETS; CROWDS OVERFLOWING –
A school-record 17,404 season tickets were sold in 2005, marking the third consecutive year UNM has established a new standard for season tickets. To put that number in perspective, the Lobos averaged just 15,822 fans per game in 1991. A total of 15,729 season tickets were purchased in 2004.
After two home games, UNM is averaging 41,146 fans to a University Stadium facility that seats 38,634, or 106% of capacity. That’s possible because UNM can sell standing-room-only tickets and spots on the grass hill in the southeast corner of the stadium. A school and state-record crowd of 44,760 packed the stadium for the New Mexico State game on Sept. 17.
LONG GETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR CAREER VICTORIES –
In his eighth season, Rocky Long has become the school’s winningest head coach. The 45-35 decision at Missouri on Sept. 10 was the 42nd victory for Long and pushed him past Roy Johnson, who was 41-32-6 from 1920-30.
The only coach to guide New Mexico to three bowl games, Long has coached more games (89) than any other Lobo mentor. He has a 43-46 record at his alma mater, but is 31-23 since 2001. UNM is 18-11 since the start of the 2003 season and has won 17 of its past 25 since Sept. 27, 2003.
Late last season, UNM and Long agreed on a contract extension good through the 2009 season. A raise of approximately $100,000 per year kicked in Jan. 1, 2005, increasing Long’s total package to more than $425,000 annually.
LOBO-TCU CONNECTIONS APLENTY –
Although the schools have only played six times – all since 1991 – they share a lot in common:
As mentioned, Gary Patterson was on Dennis Franchione’s Lobo staff in 1996-97 as the defensive coordinator…actually, Patterson was one of three finalists for the New Mexico head coaching position following the 1997 season…in 2 wins against TCU in 1996 and `97, Patterson’s Lobo defense held the Horned Frogs to 17 points (27-7 and 40-10)
Lobo head coach Rocky Long was the TCU secondary coach under Jim Wacker from 1988-90
UNM offensive coordinator Dan Dodd served the same post at TCU under Dennis Franchione in 1998 and `99
TCU offensive coordinator Mike Schultz was the Lobos’ assistant head coach and running backs coach from 1992-97…Horned Frogs WRs coach Jarrett Anderson played at UNM from 1992-93 and was a graduate assistant here in 1994, while TCU safeties coach Chad Glasgow was a graduate assistant at UNM in 1996
Dick Winder, currently TCU’s quarterbacs coach, was the running backs coach at New Mexico for Bill Mondt in 1979…Rocky Long was the secondary coach on that staff
Lobo redshirt freshman S Blake Ligon and TCU redshirt freshman WR Walter Bryant were in the secondary together at San Angelo Central HS in 2003
UNM junior S Darvin Peterson and TCU senior CB Quincy Butler were teammates at Tyler (Texas) JC in 2003
UNM sophomore RB Martelius Epps and TCU redshirt freshman OL Casey Dugan both attended Daingerfield (Texas) HS
Lobos Garth Archibald and Thomas Wilson and TCU DE Jesse Hejny all played together at Butte CC in California in 2003
LOBOS FROM TEXAS AND THE METROPLEX –
UNM currently has 23 Texas natives, second only to New Mexico for highest representation from one state. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex representatives include sophomore QB Bryan Clampitt (Dallas Hillcrest), senior CB Jerrell Malone (Rowlett HS), freshman CB D.J. Terrell (Allen HS), senior CB Gabriel Fulbright (DeSoto/Lincoln HS), junior S Darvin Peterson (Mesquite/Adamson HS/Tyler JC), redshirt freshman RB Paul Baker (Arlington/Sam Houston HS) and senior NT Marcus Parker (Garland HS).
TCU NOTES –
TCU junior WR Cory Rodgers was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against BYU. Rodgers totaled four touchdowns three different ways (receiving, rushing, and kickoff return) to lead TCU to a 51-50 overtime victory. Rodgers, who caught nine passes for 137 yards and one touchdown (34 yards), had two rushing touchdowns (2 and 3 yards). His three-yard scoring run tied the score at 50 in the first overtime before the extra-point sealed the victory. Rodgers also had a 100-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. Rodgers has returned two kickoffs for TDs this season and leads the nation in average at a startling 45.7 yards on 7 returns.
Gary Patterson has led the Horned Frogs to an impressive 35-18 record and four bowl games since taking over for Dennis Franchione before the 2000 galleryfurniture.com Bowl. His teams are 19-5 at Amon Carter Stadium.
The 45-year-old Kansas State graduate has always placed an emphasis on defense. His TCU squads in 2000 (245 yards per game) and 2002 (240.2 ypg) led the nation in total defense. Opponents were limited to a measly 9.6 points a game in 2000. They have been especially tough against the run, allowing no more than 122 yards a game in any season since 1999.
Patterson’s 1997 Lobo secondary featured Billy Austin, Scott McGarrahan, Ramos McDonald, Marcus Stanton and Jameal Woods, arguably one of the best collections of defensive backs in school history. All five either played or got tryouts with NFL teams. That quintet led a Lobo defense that finished 21st in the nation, allowing just 322.4 yards a game, including a stingy pass defense that ranked No. 8 with a rating of 96.4.
UTEP RECAP –
Joe Fleskowski returned an interception 68 yards for a touchdown and Nate Draughon recovered a blocked punt in the end zone as UTEP struck for two quick third quarter scores in a 21-13 win over New Mexico. The Miners took control in a span of less than 3 1/2 minutes in the third quarter.
With New Mexico driving midway through the period and the crowd of 50,425 mostly UTEP fans on edge, Fleskowski picked off Kole McKamey’s pass at the Miners’ 32, broke to the sideline and went in untouched with 8:33 left in the third. On the ensuing kickoff, New Mexico’s Marcus Smith had trouble fielding the ball and was tackled at the Lobos’ 10. The Miners, aided by a couple of illegal procedure penalties against New Mexico, forced a punt and Chris Francies blocked Tyler Gaus’ kick. Draughon fell on the ball near the back of the end zone and the Miners had turned a 10-7 deficit into a 21-10 lead.
New Mexico got another drive going and reached UTEP’s 27 after a 14-yard run by DonTrell Moore. But UTEP tackle Chris Mineo derailed that drive by dropping Moore for a 3-yard loss and then sacking McKamey for a 10 yards.
Things unraveled quickly in the third for New Mexico, which came in with just one turnover this season and didn’t have a penalty while building a 10-7 halftime lead. With Moore finding holes through the middle of UTEP’s defense, the Lobos faced second-and-8 at the UTEP 18 and McKamey in the shotgun when center Ryan Cook snapped the ball over McKamey’s head. Moore recovered at the 35. On the next play, McKamey was pressured into the interception that Fleskowski turned into six points for UTEP.
Moore, with 161 yards on 28 carries, became the 65th player in NCAA Div. I-A history to go over 4,000 yards rushing. He now has 4,089 career rushing yards and gave New Mexico a 10-7 lead on a 4-yard TD run with 9:24 left in the second quarter.
The Lobos also got field goals by Kenny Byrd from 46 and 26 yards. The 26-yarder came with 4:22 left after the Miners halted a New Mexico drive at the UTEP 8-yard line.
UTEP POSTGAME NOTES –
New Mexico lost for the first time in 2005 despite out-gaining UTEP 285-248 and allowing just 1 offensive touchdown…UNM had an interception returned for a TD for the first time since 2003 (UNLV) and had a blocked punt returned for a TD for the first time since 2002 (at Colorado State)…both plays came in a span of 3:22 midway through the 3rd quarter
After giving up 119 yards (6.2 per play) in the first quarter, the Lobo defense stiffened and effectively shut down the Miners’ high-powered offense, limiting UTEP to just 129 yards (3.0 per play) over the next 3 quarters…the 248 yards of total offense is the fewest allowed by UNM in eight games, since San Diego State had 146 last year…UTEP ran 25 plays and gained just 57 yards in the second half
UTEP tailback Tyler Ebell finished with just 42 yards on 19 carries (2.2 avg.), 64 yards below his season average…quarterback Jordan Palmer also had his lowest output in 11 games, finishing with 178 yards on 16-31 passing, 1 TD and 1 INT
Senior DonTrell Moore, a Doak Walker Award candidate, finished with 161 yards on 28 carries, with 1 TD…it was Moore’s best rushing performance since a 167-yard game in the 2004 season opener at home against Washington State…it’s his 2nd straight 100-yard game and the 21st of his career…Moore has rushed for over 100 yards in 5 of his last 6 regular season road games…he also became the 65th player in NCAA history to reach the 4,000-yard mark on a 4-yard gain early in the third quarter…he now has 4,089 rushing yards in his career, good for 58th in NCAA history
Biletnikoff Award candidate Hank Baskett III caught 6 balls for 66 yards and moved up 2 spots to 8th on the UNM career receptions list with 98, passing Shane Hall (94, 1985-87) and Keith MaGee (97, 1979-82)
New Mexico scored on its opening drive for the fifth game in a row…the Lobo’ 9-play, 51-yard drive (4:21) was capped by a 46-yard FG by Kenny Byrd…the Lobos dropped to 21-3 when scoring first since 2002
Junior QB Kole McKamey was not responsible for a TD (rushing or passing) for the first time since last year’s Utah game, a span of 11 games
Senior LB Mike Mohoric had a season-high 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a 7-yard sack…the Butkus Award candidate also broke up 2 passes, a deflection at the line of scrimmage and the other a vicious hit across the middle, and had 4 QB hurries…Mohoric leads the team with 9 QB pressures this season
Junior K Kenny Byrd had his first multiple FG game, booting a career-long 46-yarder in the first quarter and a 26-yard conversion in the 4th quarter…he also sent his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks 3 times, limiting speedy Miner return man Johnny Lee Higgins to just a single return…Byrd is a perfect 15-15 on PATs and 5-5 on FGs this year, including 3-3 on the road…he has forced touchbacks on 13 kickoffs this year, 3 more than UNM had in all of 2004
Redshirt freshman S DeAndre Wright made his first career start, finishing with 5 tackles, a 42-yard interception return and a forced fumble…he was subbing for sophomore S OJ Swift, a starter in the first 3 games of the year who did not play due to a knee injury suffered earlier in the week in practice
Senior P Tyler Gaus had his best statistical game of the early season, averaging 52.2 yards on his 4 punts…Gaus blasted a career-long 67-yarder and landed a pair of balls inside the UTEP 5-yard line, including a punt to the 1 late in the first half…the Ray Guy Award candidate has dropped punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line 77 times in his career with just 19 rolling into the end zone…Gaus has landed 17 punts inside the 10-yard line over the past two years, including 4 times this fall
UNM has not trailed at halftime in any of its 4 games this year (led UNLV, NMSU, UTEP, tied with Missouri)..the UTEP loss was the team’s first since 2003 when holding a lead at halftime, a streak that had reached 11 games…two years ago, the Lobos led Washington State 13-12 only to fall 23-13
Sophomore LB Cody Kase and redshirt freshman S Blake Ligon each turned in their best performance in the fourth start of their young careers…Kase tied his previous career-high with 7 tackles (6 solo) in the first half alone and finished with 9 stops on the night…Ligon, meanwhile, had a career-high 9 tackles
Junior S Aleem Harris recorded a team and career-high 11 stops in his second start at the Lobo safety position
Lobo WRs Chris Brawley (1 for 8 yds.) and Jason Caprioli (2 for 33 yds.) each had their first catches of the year…Brawley, a senior, was playing in his second game of the season after returning from a broken forearm suffered in preseason training camp…Caprioli, a redshirt freshman walk-on, had played in each game this fall, but had not been thrown to…his 2 catches came on just 6 offensve snaps
NEW GOALS FOR DonTrell Moore –
After becoming the school’s career rushing leader with a 120-yard performance against New Mexico State on Sept. 17, DonTrell Moore is now turning his attention to erasing some other standards:
> has become the 65th player in the history of NCAA Div. I-A football to reach 4,000 yards for a career…he has 4,089 yards…only 10 have reached 5,000 yards
> needs 2 rushing TDs to break Luke Staley’s (BYU) MWC record of 41
> needs 2 TDs overall to break Staley’s MWC record of 48
> needs 9 points to break Staley’s MWC record of 290 points
After gaining 1,091 yards his junior season, Moore has a shot at becoming just the sixth player in the history of NCAA Div. I-A football to reach 1,000 yards rushing four times in a career: Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh 1973-76), Amos Lawrence (North Carolina 1977-80), Denvis Manns (New Mexico State 1995-98), Ron Dayne (Wisconsin 1996-99) and Cedric Benson (Texas 2001-04) were the first five
Moore ranks No. 2 among all active NCAA rushing leaders with 4,089 career yards. Memphis’ DeAngelo Williams tops the list at 4,575 yards. Moore ranks No. 1 among active ballcarriers with 841 rushing attempts.
Moore is UNM’s career leader in rushing TDs (40), overall TDs (47), points (282) and 100-yard rushing games (21). He is 2nd in career rushing attempts (841) and 3rd in all-purpose yards (4,778).
Moore has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in 12 of his last 16 home games dating to the 2002 season. He is also responsible for 31 TDs (24 rushing, 6 receiving, 1 passing) in the past 16 home games. Moore has averaged 125.7 rushing yards (2,011 total) in his last 16 games at University Stadium.
McKAMEY LEADING THE WAY ON OFFENSE –
Guiding the rejuvented offense is junior QB Kole McKamey, who certainly seems to be coming of age in the Lobos’ new set. The past 5 games, the dual threat from Artesia, N.M., has completed 63% (76-121) of his passes for 991 yards with 4 interceptions and 8 TDs. He’s also run for 365 yards, providing a total offense average of 271.2 yards a game while being responsible for 11 TDs.
McKamey is now 10-5 in his career as the Lobos’ starting quarterback. He has averaged 86.2 yards on the ground in his last 6 games, including 100-yard efforts versus Wyoming (152), Navy (38) and New Mexico State (152). Against New Mexico State, McKamey became the first Lobo to record at least 150 yards rushing and 150 yards passing in a game…he notched the third 100-yard rushing game of his career, finishing with 152 yards on 14 carries…the 152 yards ties a career-high set against Wyoming on Nov. 20, 2004. McKamey has been the beneficiary of solid protection from his offensive line in 2005 as opponents have sacked him just four times in 3 games, the 2nd-lowest total in the MWC. McKamey’s 132 yards of total offense against UTEP is his lowest output since 111 yards last year against Colorado State.
FULBRIGHT TO THE RESCUE –
The nation’s leader in interceptions with 5, senior CB Gabriel Fulbright has been a one-man drive stopper. He needs 1 more pick to set the MWC record of 15. Two more and he will be the Lobos’ top thief, surpassing Jay Morrison and Randy Rich. A look at Fulbright’s big interceptions in 2005:
UNLV (1): It comes with 1:20 left in the game and UNM clinging to a 24-22 lead. The Rebels had just scored and recovered an onside kick. Fulbright snared the errant throw at the Lobo 35. New Mexico was able to run out the clock for the win.
at Missouri (2): His first came in the first quarter at the Mizzou 46. His second was a game-saver again. The Lobos had just taken a 38-35 lead on a 40-yard Kenny Byrd FG with 4:22 left. In zone coverage just like UNLV, Fulbright intercepted with 3:15 remaining in the game. Four plays later, the Lobos iced it on a 9-yard TD pass from Kole McKamey to Hank Baskett.
New Mexico State (2): Both interceptions led to points. His first came late in the first half. UNM had just punted following an 80-yard NMSU bomb that trimmed the Lobo lead to 21-7. Fulbright’s 18-yard return led to a 36-yard Byrd FG with 1 second left before halftime. On the Aggies’ first pass attempt of the second half, Fulbright returned it 36 yards to the NMSU 18. Three plays later, DonTrell Moore scored from 3 yards out and a 31-7 Lobo advantage.
BASKETT CATCHES AND CATCHES
Coming off an All-America performance at Missouri that netted Hank Baskett MWC Offensive Player of the Week honors, the senior wide receiver has put together some very impressive numbers in 2005:
Tied a school record with 3 TD receptions at Missouri
10 catches for 209 yards at Missouri to become just the 3rd Lobo to surpass 200 receiving yards in a game…the 209 yards are tied for the 2nd-most in an NCAA Div. I-A game in 2005
“Baskett, we didn’t think that he was that great,” Missouri defensive end Xzavie Jackson said after the game. “That’s a great player.”
25 receptions, 465 yards (18.6 ypc) and 4 TDs after just 4 games
Baskett currently ranks 7th in the nation in receiving yards per game (116.3) and 33rd in receptions per game (6.3)
Dating to last year’s Emerald Bowl against Navy, Baskett has caught 30 passes for 580 yards and 4 TDs in a 5-game span
12 career receiving TDs ranks tied for 7th all-time at New Mexico
Has 39% of UNM’s receptions on the season (25 of 64) and 56% of the yards (465 of 823)
SIMPLE FORMULA: FEWER TURNOVERS MEANS MORE WINS –
Since Rocky Long started at New Mexico, the Lobos have a 14-1 record when they do not turn the ball over. The only loss came in the 1999 season opener, a 13-10 setback at UTEP. UNM has won 13 straight since. The Lobos are 34-9 under Long when committing fewer turnovers than the opponent – 16-1 since 2003 – but 5-30 when UNM has more giveaways.
DEFENSE NOTES – Senior DE Evroy Thompson’s 28-yard scoop and score at Missouri was the Lobos’ third fumble return for a touchdown in the past 12 games…last year, Josh Bazinet returned Oregon State QB Derek Anderson’s fumble for a 70-yard TD and Gabriel Fulbright returned Utah QB Alex Smith’s dropped ball for a 68-yard score…Thompson added 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a sack and 2 QB hurries as he earned MWC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in his career.
UNM allowed 18.7 points in 2004, the lowest since giving up 17.1 ppg in 1978
In 2004, the Lobos led the MWC in rushing defense (108.2 ypg), total defense (323.2 ypg), scoring defense (18.7 ppg) and sacks (42), and were second in pass defense efficiency (115.4 rating).
UNM has led the MWC in sacks five straight seasons, collecting 195 since 2000, an average of 39 a year. It has also paced the league in rushing defense four of the past five years, finishing 5th in the nation in 2001 (87.4 ypg) and 2003 (86.1 ypg).
Since the start of the 2001 season – a span of 54 games – opponents have been held to less than 100 yards rushing 27 times…only 7 times in the past 62 games has an opponent reached 200 yards on the ground: Missouri (242) in 2005, Utah (278), Air Force (239) and Navy (269) in 2004, Air Force (261) and New Mexico State (262) in 2002 and Utah (255) in 2001
UNM finished 2nd in the MWC and tied for 13th nationally with a turnover margin of +0.75 (28 takeaways to 19 giveaways) in 2004. The margin was even better in seven MWC games at +1.7 (18 to 6) and it was an amazing 15-4 during the five-game winning streak at the end of the regular season.
STATISTICAL TRENDS –
The Lobos are 26-2 since 2002 when taking a lead into the fourth quarter. The only losses were in 2001 (led BYU 13-10, but lost 24-20) and last year’s opener against Washington State (led 14-7, but lost 21-17).
During that same time, UNM is 21-3 when scoring first. The two setbacks came against Utah State in 2002, against Navy in last year’s Emerald Bowl and this year against UTEP.