Sept. 2, 2006
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Sawyer Smith threw two second half touchdown passes and Portland State took advantage of numerous New Mexico mistakes in a 17-6 win Saturday night by the Division I-AA Vikings.
Portland State (1-0) rallied from a 6-0 halftime deficit as Smith threw TD passes of 39 yards to Brendan Ferrigno in the third quarter and 26 yards to Tremayne Kirkland early in the fourth quarter. Eric Azorr added a 42-yard field goal as the Vikings stunned the Mountain West Conference-member Lobos (0-1).
New Mexico’s offense, under first-year offensive coordinator and former UCLA head coach Bob Toledo, struggled all night. The Lobos had 339 total yards to Portland State’s 233, but could muster only a pair of first half field goals from Kenny Byrd from 29 and 24 yards.
The Lobos also did their share to help the Vikings pull off the upset. They had three turnovers and picked up 11 penalties for 93 yards.
The Vikings’ comeback started after New Mexico failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 from midfield on the opening drive of the second half. Portland State took over and needed just four plays to take the lead on the Smith to Ferrigno pass.
Azorr gave the Vikings a 10-6 lead with his field goal. That drive was kept alive when New Mexico linebacker Major Mosley was called for a face mask penalty after the Lobos appeared to have stopped the Vikings on third-and-four near midfield.
A muffed punt by New Mexico halfback Paul Baker was recovered by Kelena Ho’okano at the New Mexico 29 with 13:36 left in the game. Smith scrambled for 15 yards to the New Mexico 4, but the play was wiped out by a personal foul on the Vikings. A motion penalty and a fumble by Smith that he recovered gave Portland State a second-and-17 from the 29, but Smith delivered the clinching touchdown pass to Kirkland, who broke a couple of tackles on his way to the end zone.
New Mexico won virtually every statistic, but failed to sustain drives and could not keep Smith from making the big plays.
McKamey completed 21 of 36 passes for 274 yards.