Sept. 23, 2006
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New Mexico vs. UTEP Highlights
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Rodney Ferguson rushed for a career-high 162 yards and quarterback Chris Nelson threw for two touchdowns and had New Mexico’s first rushing score of the season Saturday in a 26-13 win over UTEP.
New Mexico (2-2) also got a huge lift from its defense, which constantly pressured UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer, forcing him to hurry throws or settle for short-yardage completions.
Palmer, who holds virtually every UTEP passing record, completed 26 of 37 passes for 211 yards, including a 25-yard TD pass to Daniel Robinson in the third quarter that extended his streak of touchdown passes to 23 straight games. But Palmer had trouble sustaining drives against the Lobos’ blitzing defense and UTEP (1-2) couldn’t stop Ferguson’s bullish runs.
New Mexico scored on its first two possessions. Nelson hit Ferguson with an 8-yard touchdown pass and threw an 18-yard TD to Marcus Smith. Nelson got the Lobos’ first rushing touchdown of the season with a 1-yard plunge on the Lobos’ first drive of the second half that put the Lobos in control at 26-3.
New Mexico’s defense set the tone three plays into the game. Linebacker Herbert Felder got through untouched and blindsided Palmer, forcing a fumble. It was the first sack allowed by the Miners’ offensive line this season and Lobo linebacker Major Mosley recovered the ball at the UTEP 21.
Three straight runs by Ferguson got New Mexico to the 8 and on third-and-goal, Nelson found Ferguson open over the middle.
UTEP, scoreless this season in the first quarter, went three-and-out on his next possession and New Mexico went 57-yards in eight plays, with Nelson tossing the 18-yarder to Smith with 6:27 left in the first quarter. Nelson scrambled for 27 yards on third down to keep the drive going.
New Mexico also got a safety and a 35-yard field goal from Kenny Byrd in the second quarter. The safety was set up by punter Jordan Scott’s kick that was downed inside the UTEP 1-yard line. Palmer was called for intentional grounding after being tackled by Lobo lineman Tyler Donaldson in the end zone.
The Miners, who got their first first down five minutes into the second quarter, got their only score in the first half on a 36-yard field goal by Reagan Schneider with 1:51 left before halftime. It followed Bryant Tisdale’s interception of Nelson’s pass at the New Mexico 25.
UTEP had just 30 rushing yards. Johnnie Lee Higgins, the Miners’ leading receiver, had just 3 catches for 18 yards and Palmer had just 59 yards passing in the first half.