Nov. 14, 2005
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
The regular season comes to a close Saturday as New Mexico (6-4, 4-3 MWC) entertains Air Force (3-7, 2-5 MWC). Kickoff is 12:30 p.m., Mountain Time from University Stadium. There is no television coverage – live, delayed or webcast – of the game. A crowd approaching 35,000 is expected. New Mexico needs a ticket count of 28,493 to set a season attendance record for the third consecutive year. UNM is averaging 39,479 after four games in 2005.
New Mexico’s 22 seniors will be recognized individually during pre-game introductions. Fourteen of the 22 are fifth-year seniors – including a redshirt year along the way – and have never experienced a losing season in their Lobo careers. They have played in three straight bowl games, and are hoping for a fourth.
Following a determined 31-27 come-from-behind victory at Utah last Saturday, a number of highlights and milestones came to the forefront:
New Mexico is bowl-eligible and tied with Colorado State for 3rd place in the MWC at 4-3…CSU (5-5) closes its season Saturday at UNLV (2 p.m. MST) and needs a win to qualify for postseason…MWC champ TCU (10-1) and BYU (6-4) join UNM as bowl eligible teams
UNM is bowl eligible for the fifth straight year
The Lobos posted their third straight road win
New Mexico has consecutive wins over Utah in Salt Lake City for the first time
The Lobos are 9-0 after scheduled off weeks under Rocky Long, and 12-0 dating to 1996
UNM is 9-2 in its last 11 MWC road games, 11-3 in past 14 and 13-4 in past 17
New Mexico has posted at least 6 wins in five straight seasons for the first time in program history
34 wins since 2001, tying for the most ever in a five-year span; UNM also had 34 from 1960-64
19 MWC wins since 2001, tying Utah for most in that span
21-5 in regular-season games played on Oct. 15 or later since 2001
12-3 in November games since 2001, including six straight victories
A win over Air Force on Saturday would:
give UNM four straight 7-win seasons for the first time in school history
be New Mexico’s 29th victory since 2002, tying for the most wins ever over a four-year span
be the Lobos’ fourth straight over Air Force in Albuquerque; the Falcons last win here was 1995
guarantee no worse than a third-place finish for UNM in the MWC for the fifth straight year
be UNM’s fifth straight win in its final regular-season game of the year
While they have won three straight on the road, the Lobos have dropped two in a row at home, losing fourth-quarter leads to BYU and Colorado State in the process. They have not lost three consecutive at University Stadium in the same season since 1998 when they lost four in a row.
UNM has not lost four MWC games since 2000 when it finished 3-4. The Lobos were 5-2 every season from 2002-04 and 4-3 in 2001.
After starting 2-0, Air Force has lost seven of eight. The Falcons will finish with a losing record in consecutive seasons for the first time since head coach Fisher DeBerry began in 1984.
UNM has inched closer to its unprecedented fourth consecutive postseason game. New Mexico is the only team in the MWC to play in a bowl game each of the past three seasons (2002-04).
New Mexico was picked to finish 2nd in the MWC in 2005, receiving six first-place votes. Air Force was chosen seventh.
Of the UNM’s 85 student-athletes on scholarship, 13 started as walk-ons. The 2005 squad has 23 scholarship players from New Mexico, representing 12 high schools. Eighteen of the 23 are from Albuquerque led by five from La Cueva High School. Seven of the 23 came as walk-ons.
NUMBERS AND TRENDS –
Since 2001, the Lobos are 21-5 in regular-season games played on Oct. 15 or later. Using that same scenario since 2003 and UNM has a 13-2 mark, however, it did have a 10-game winning streak snapped by Colorado State Oct. 28.
Also since 2001, New Mexico is 23-4 since its lowest point of the season i.e. it’s worst record of the season.
The Lobos are 12-3 in November games since 2001, and they have won six in a row. The last loss was Nov. 1, 2003, a 37-25 home setback by UNLV.
After gaining five turnovers at Utah, New Mexico is now a plus-1 in turnover margin. The last time UNM was guilty of more TOs than its opponents for an entire season was 1995 when it lost 18 (10 interceptions and 8 fumbles) and caused 17 (3 interceptions and 14 fumbles).
UNM has been outscored 45-0 in the fourth quarter of its last three home games and 58-7 in the final period of all 2005 home games.
In the four losses, New Mexico has been outscored 38-3 in the fourth quarter and committed 12 turnovers to the opponents’ three.
The Lobos have missed five PATs the past three games.
SENIORS SAY SO LONG –
This is the last home game for New Mexico’s 22 seniors. The list with number of years lettered and their hometowns:
WR Hank Baskett III (3) Clovis, N.M.
WR Aaron Brack (1) Austin, Texas
WR Chris Brawley (1) Leighton, Ala.
S Charles Brown (1) Shaw, Miss.
FB Adrian Byrd (3) Missouri City, Texas
WR Anthony Carter (1) Winslow, Ariz.
C Ryan Cook (3) Albuquerque
OG Jorge Enriquez Albuquerque, N.M.
CB Gabriel Fulbright (3) DeSoto, Texas
DE Adam Garday (1) Peoria, Ariz.
P Tyler Gaus (3) San Diego, Calif
TE Logan Hall (1) Idaho Falls, Idaho
CB Jerrell Malone (3) Rowlett, Texas
LB Mike Mohoric (3) Albuquerque
TB DonTrell Moore (3) Roswell, N.M.
NT Marcus Parker (3) Garland, Texas
OT Terrance Pennington (3) Compton, Calif.
CB Mike Powdrell (1) Albuquerque
RB Daniel Ramirez (2) Muleshoe, Texas
LB Joe Selander (3) Rio Rancho, N.M.
DE Evroy Thompson (3) Hockley, Texas
S Ken West (1) Midwest City, Okla.
SENIORS SERIOUS ABOUT ACADEMICS –
Senior LB Mike Mohoric has already graduated – in four years – and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Sports Administration.
WR Hank Baskett, FB Adrian Byrd, TE Logan Hall, TB DonTrell Moore, CB Mike Powdrell, TB Daniel Ramirez and LB Joe Selander will all receive their sheepskins in December.
SENIOR BOWL BOUND –
Seniors Ryan Cook and Hank Baskett are expected to participate in the 2006 Senior Bowl, to be held Jan. 28, in Mobile, Alabama. The duo will be the 11th and 12th Lobos to play in the game since Stan Quintana was first chosen in 1966, however, it will be the first time that UNM has sent more than one player to the highly-regarded postseason game.
5,000 NEXT FOR DONTRELL?? –
Senior TB DonTrell Moore became the sixth player in NCAA history to reach 1,000 yards rushing in four different seasons when he gained 117 yards against Colorado State on Oct. 28. Moore joined 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) in the exclusive fraternity.
Moore has 1,155 yards in 2005 and 4,830 yards in his sterling 47-game career, ranking 18th in NCAA Div. I-A history. Only 11 ball-carriers have reached 5,000 yards. Moore is 170 yards from that milestone with one regular-season game, and, possibly, a bowl game remaining. He currently leads the MWC, averaging 115.5 yards a game in 2005.
November is Moore’s favorite running month as he’s averaged 141.3 ypg in 11 career games. Moore has averaged 99.7 yards in three career games against Air Force, although he carried just twice for one yard as a freshman in 2002. He has 298 yards in the past two games against the Falcons.
Showing no ill effects from ACL surgery on Feb. 3, Moore leads the MWC and is 14th in the NCAA in rushing at 115.5 yards a game, the highest season average of his splendid career. Additionally, Moore is No. 1 in the league in scoring (9.6 ppg) and second in all-purpose yardage (152.0 ypg). Among non-kickers, Moore ranks 13th in NCAA Div. I-A history with 348 career points.
Moore has career-highs of 30 catches for 365 yards and 3 TDs this season. With 91 career receptions, he needs four grabs to pass Shane Hall for most catches by a UNM running back.
MEL KIPER IMPRESSED WITH LOBOS –
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper likes what he sees in a couple of senior Lobos. Kiper rates C Ryan Cook as the No. 1 senior center in the nation. Kiper also tabs WR Hank Baskett as the second-best senior wide receiver behind Arizona State’s Derek Hagan, and the 24th best senior overall regardless of position.
NEW MEXICO, AIR FORCE STATISTICALLY SPEAKING –
Air Force has allowed 137 points in its last three games, an average of 45.7 ppg. The Falcons are last in the league in total defense at 432.5 ypg and they have yielded 36.3 ppg and 458 ypg in seven MWC contests. AFA is also 109th in the nation in turnover margin at -9 (24 TOs to 15 takeaways).
The Falcons are tops in the MWC and 5th in the NCAA in fourth-down conversions at 77.3% (17 of 22). Air Force is also best in the loop in kickoff coverage, allowing just 14.2 yards on 30 returns.
The Falcons rank 6th nationally in rushing offense at 243.4 ypg, while UNM’s rushing defense is allowing 116.1 ypg, but only 74.2 ypg over the past five contests.
TB DonTrell Moore leads the league in rushing (115.5 ypg) while WR Hank Baskett tops the loop and is 5th nationally with 106.3 receiving yards a game.
UNM VS. AIR FORCE – This is the 23rd meeting in a series that started in 1957. Air Force leads 13-9 overall, but UNM has a 4-2 edge in MWC games. The series is tied 6-6 in Albuquerque, although the Lobos have won three in a row for the first time. The Falcons last win at University Stadium was in 1995.
The past six games of the series, UNM has averaged 203.7 rushing yards compared to the Falcons’ 199.7. Total offense average is 411.2 for the Lobos, 327.7 for Air Force. And, in time of possession, New Mexico has held the ball for an average of 34:25 to AFA’s 25:35.
LAST YEAR AT THE ACADEMY –
The 21-point deficit was just too much to overcome in the 28-23 loss at Air Force. Buoyed by two blocked punts that were returned for TDs, the Lobos rallied, but a roughing the punter penalty ended up being very costly down the stretch. Trailing 21-16 early in the 4th quarter, the Lobo defense posted what appeared to be its sixth straight 3-and-out of the second half as consecutive sacks forced an Air Force punt from its own end zone. UNM roughed the punter, though, and the Falcons had new life. Back-to-back passes of 33 and 30 yards keyed a scoring drive that put Air Force up 28-16. UNM scored again on a blocked punt, but the Falcons were able to run out the clock after picking up a pair of first downs.
Air Force finished with 239 yards rushing. It was just the 5th time in the past 53 games (since the middle of the 2000 season) that an opponent has reached 200 yards on the ground against New Mexico.
New Mexico’s 14-0 first-quarter deficit was its largest in 15 games since trailing 14-0 at Texas Tech last year. UNM trailed 21-0 at halftime after failing to score on 4th and goal from the Air Force 1 and on a 4th-down pass from the Falcon 20 right before halftime. The Lobos failed to convert on three 4th-down opportunities…it was the Lobos’ largest halftime deficit since falling behind Oregon State 31-7 in the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl.
Redshirt freshmen Cody Kase and Martelius Epps both blocked punts that were returned for TDs (by true freshman Tyson Ditmore and junior Joe Selander, respectively).
DonTrell Moore returned after missing the last game vs. Utah (strained MCL – left knee) and finished with 110 yards on 29 carries.
Making his first career start, UNM senior QB Tali Ena completed 9-22 passes for 119 yards and an interception. He scored his first career rushing TD on a 3-yard option keeper in the 3rd quarter. Ena had a career-long 57-yard completion to Baskett on the first play of the 2nd quarter.
TWO YEARS AGO IN ALBUQUERQUE –
DonTrell Moore ran for 188 yards – the most ever against an Air Force team at the time – to break the school’s single-season rushing record and the UNM defense held the Falcons to season-lows for points, yards rushing (158) and total offense (273) in the 24-12 victory. It’s the fewest points Air Force has scored in the series since a 27-10 loss in 1981.
New Mexico scored TDs – both 1-yard runs by Moore – on its first two possesions and held a 14-0 lead four seconds into the second quarter. The Falcons trimmed the halftime deficit to 14-6 on a pair of Joey Ashcroft FGs. Wes Zunker connected on his 14th straight FG and QB Casey Kelly tossed a 10-yard TD pass to senior WR Adrian Boyd as the Lobos extended their margin to 24-6 with 9:06 left in the game. The Falcons had just 163 yards offense after three quarters.
Air Force’s lone TD came with 1:14 remaining on a 1-yard run by Darnell Stephens.
New Mexico’s four scoring drives measured 12 plays, 59 yards and 5:33, 10-76-4:20, 11-75-6:01 and 11-67-5:43. All told, that’s 44 plays and a combined time of 21 minutes, 37 seconds for the 24 points. The Lobos held onto the ball for 35:13.
UNM was 4-4 in the red zone with three TDs and one field goal. Air Force only scored one TD on four trips inside the 20.
LOBOS-FALCONS GAME NO. 2 –
This is actually the second meeting this month between New Mexico and Air Force. On Nov. 5 at the Academy, sophomore TB Martelius Epps scored on a 1-yard plunge with 2:24 remaining to give the Lobos’ a 13-10 victory over the Air Force junior varsity. The Lobo team was composed of about 45 players who had not played in all of the varsity games or those players who did not have a redshirt year remaining.
Facing a 3rd-and-17 situation late in the fourth quarter, New Mexico’s winning score was set up when sophomore QB Bryan Clampitt connected with redshirt freshman WR Jonathan Brooks on a 20-yard pass play and a critical first down.
The Falcons took a 3-0 lead in the first half. UNM responded when redshirt freshman TE Chris Mark caught an 18-yard scoring pass from Clampitt. The Lobos led 7-3 at the half. Air Force regained the lead at 10-7 before the Lobos converted on their final drive. Junior S Darvin Peterson had an interception for UNM. No official stats were kept.
UTAH RECAP –
Lobo DE Michael Tuohy forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, then made an interception with 1 minute 10 seconds left to clinch New Mexico’s 31-27 victory over Utah. The Lobos outlasted the Utes in a game full of mistakes, forcing two critical turnovers in the fourth quarter. New Mexico finished with a school-record nine sacks and shut out the Utes in the second half after allowing four touchdown passes by Brian Johnson in the first two periods.
But Johnson also threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and fumbled deep in Utah territory for another score with 7:07 left to play that gave the Lobos the victory. Cody Kase scooped up the ball after Tuohy knocked it loose and ran it in for the score.
The Utes had a chance to regain the lead, but Tuohy intercepted a pass from Brett Ratliff on second-and-5 from the New Mexico 14. The Lobos gave the Utes an extra chance after a personal foul during a fourth-and-16 that knocked Johnson out of the game.
Ratliff completed a 21-yard pass to Travis LaTendresse and the Utes had plenty of time and not far to go, but threw on first down and again on second, when Tuohy clinched the victory when he stepped in front of Ratliff’s pass.
Hank Baskett had eight catches for 135 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown during New Mexico’s rally, and Chris Nelson passed for 197 yards in his first start for the injured Kole McKamey.
Johnson passed for four touchdowns for the second straight week, but also threw an interception, fumbled for the game-winning touchdown and had an errant option pitch that led to a touchdown for New Mexico.
The Utes fumbled a kickoff return at the 27 to set up a score by New Mexico on DonTrell Moore’s 2-yard run with 10:56 left in the second, then the Lobos gave it right back to the Utes on a botched punt that gave the Utes the ball at the New Mexico 41.
UTAH POSTGAME NOTES –
UNM was out-scored 37-3 in the second half of MWC home losses to BYU and Colorado State, but held the Utes scoreless after halftime while scoring 12 points and rallying for the 31-27 victory…the last time the Lobos pitched a shutout in the second half was the 2003 regular-season finale at Wyoming, a game UNM won 26-3
The Lobos tied a school record with 9 sacks for 62 yards in losses, and eight of those came in the decisive second half…Utah had not allowed a sack the previous two games…UNM also had nine dumps against BYU (1980), UTEP (2001) and Wyoming (2002)…eight different Lobos combined on the nine sacks
After just 19 sacks the first eight games, New Mexico has 14 the past two games, increasing the season total to 33 which ranks second in the league to TCU’s 36…the Lobos have led the MWC in sacks every year since 2000
UNM created a season-high five turnovers with three fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions…the Lobos scored four TDs after those Utah errors, including two on defense, a 31-yard interception return by junior LB Quincy Black and a 2-yard fumble return by sophomore LB Cody Kase, which proved to be the deciding score
New Mexico scored four touchdowns (25 points) following Utah turnovers…in the first nine games of the season, UNM had produced just 36 points after 15 takeaways
Entering the game, the Lobos had recovered just two fumbles in nine games, but exceeded that number against the Utes with three…UNM now has five recoveries on the season…the lowest season total since stats became official in 1946 is 10 on several occasions
The last time New Mexico’s defense registered two TDs in a game was in a 30-29 victory at Wyoming in 2001 when Stephen Persley and David Crockett returned interceptions for scores
After the Utes gained 300 yards of offense – including 264 yards passing and four TDs – and nearly 10 yards a play in the first half, UNM limited the home team to 141 yards on 42 plays in the second half (3.3-yard average)
New Mexico held Utah to a season-low 60 yards rushing, making it five straight opponents that have failed to achieve 100 yards on the ground (74.2-yard average during that span)
The Lobos tied a season-high by breaking up seven passes
Rallying to win in the fourth quarter doesn’t happen very often…before the Utah game, UNM had been 1-11 when trailing after three quarters since 2003…the lone win came against Texas Tech in 2004 when the Lobos were down 24-21, but won 27-24…New Mexico is now 7-36 in this situation under Rocky Long
Senior WR Hank Baskett III caught eight passes for 135 yards, including a 50-yard TD…Baskett won the battle in his match-up against reigning MWC Defensive Player of the Week Eric Weddle, who had limited Wyoming star WR Jovon Bouknight to four receptions for 43 yards the previous week…after a bit of a slow start, Baskett exploded for 80 yards on three second-half catches as UNM rallied from a 27-19 halftime deficit…twice Baskett forced Weddle into pass interference penalties, including one that he caught anyway for a 27-yard gain…his 50-yard TD came two plays later on 3rd-and-5 in the third quarter…Baskett caught the pass in double coverage down the sideline, brushed off a hit by the Utah safety, and ran roughly 25 yards for the score
It was Baskett’s fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season and ninth of his career…he has three 100-yard efforts in his last five games and seven in his last 13…his performance moved him up toNo. 2 all-time at UNM with 17 career receiving TDs,No. 3 with 2,280 career receiving yards and No. 4 with 138 career receptions…hisnine TD receptions in 2005 rank tied for 4th for a single-season at UNM, while the1,063 yards is No. 6 for a single-season and the65 receptions is No. 8
Baskett is first in the MWC and No. 5 nationally, averaging 106.3 yards per game
Sophomore LB Cody Kase matched his career-high with nine tackles and established career-highs with three tackles for loss (-16 yards) and two sacks…his 2-yard fumble recovery for a TD in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner…Kase also notched a pair of QB hurries and helped the Lobo defense hold Utah to just 60 yards net rushing on 32 attempts…it was the Utes’ lowest rushing total in more than two years
Kase, a first-year starter, has had a tackle in the backfield in nine of 10 games this year, including five straight…in the last five games he has 30 tackles, 7 TFLs (-33 yds.), 4 sacks (-30 yards) and 10 QB hurries
Making his first Div. I-A start in place of the injured Kole McKamey, junior QB Chris Nelson scored his first TD as a Lobo on an 8-yard option keeper and also threw his first TD pass, a 50-yarder to Hank Baskett…Nelson, playing in just his fourth game at UNM, rushed for 30 yards and completed 16 of 30 passes for 197 yards and two interceptions
Nelson has now guided the Lobos to a pair of road wins in his limited time on the field…he subbed for McKamey at Wyoming when UNM was trailing 17-7 midway through the second quarter…the Lobos won 27-24 as Nelson completed 8 of 14 passes for 91 yards and committed no turnovers
Sophomore DE Michael Tuohy didn’t start, but his presence was felt in a big way…his only tackle on Utah QB Brian Johnson resulted in a caused fumble and a 2-yard TD by Cody Kase that put UNM up for good in the fourth period…and, it was his first career interception with 1:10 remaining at the UNM 10-yard line that sealed the victory…Tuohy also recovered a fumble in the first quarter that led to a Lobo score
Junior LB Quincy Black recorded his first career interception, good for 31 yards and a TD in the first quarter…he became the first Lobo to return an interception for a touchdown since Desmar Black in the 2002 Las Vegas Bowl…Black adeed two tackles and a PBU
Senior LB Mike Mohoric recorded eight tackles, a sack, five quarterback hurries and a blocked PAT…Mohoric leads the team with a career-high 24 QB hurries…he has been playing at another level in his last three games with 24 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks and 9 QB hurries
Redshirt freshman S DeAndre Wright played a prominent role in the win with 3 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble…for the season, Wright is now 6th on the team with 40 tackles, including six tackles for loss, four sacks, a team-leading two forced fumbles and an interception
Senior TB DonTrell Moore rushed 25 times for 70 yards and a TD…his career rushing numbers are now 1,000 carries, 4,830 yards and 50 TDs…Moore passed Mike Rozier (Nebraska) and Steve Bartalo (Colorado State) for 18th place on the NCAA rushing chart…he also moved into 13th place all-time with 348 career points and 30th with 5,798 career all-purpose yards
Senior P Tyler Gaus averaged 43.0 yards on his eight punts and tied his career-high by kicking the ball inside the Utah 20-yard line four times..Gaus also had two punts of 50 yards or more (52 and 54) and a 49-yarder…he booted a 54-yard kick in the fourth quarter that died on the Utah 14…the UNM defense forced a fumble and scored what proved to be the game-winning TD on the next play…his final punt of 42 yards resulted in a fair catch on the Utah 7, forcing the Utes to march 93 yards for a potential game-winning TD with 3:08 left in the game…the drive ended 12 plays later on a Lobo interception…on the night, the Utes were only able to return three of Gaus’ punts for an average of 5.3 yards…the return men called two fair catches