Oct. 16, 2006
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The New Mexico Lobos (3-4, 1-2 MWC) look to make it two wins in a row when they host the Utah Utes (4-3, 2-1 MWC) in a rare Thursday game. Kickoff is 7:06 p.m. Mountain Time from University Stadium in Albuquerque. The game will be televised live over The mtn., channel 276 on Comcast Cable in Albuquerque and channel 329 on Cable ONE in Rio Rancho. A replay of the game is available Friday at 3 p.m., Sunday at 10 a.m. and Wednesday at 11 a.m.
The last time New Mexico played a regular-season game on a Thursday was 10 years ago. It was Aug. 29, 1996, when the Lobos whipped New Mexico State in Las Cruces, 28-7.
It’s a short week of preparation after both schools played on the road last week. The Lobos overcame a 28-14 halftime deficit for a 39-36 overtime victory at UNLV. Kenny Byrd kicked four field goals in the second half, including the eventual game-winner in overtime and the UNM defense caused four turnovers after halftime.
Utah was blitzed at Wyoming last Saturday, 31-15. The Utes trailed 31-0 in the third quarter, and totaled only eight first downs and 144 yards of total offense (33 net rushing). Wyoming forced four Utah turnovers and recorded six sacks, the first of the season against Ute quarterbacks.
New Mexico will try to win consecutive games for the first time since Oct. 15-22, 2005, when it prevailed at Wyoming and San Diego State.
Historically, this is a good time of year for Lobo football. Since 2001, the Lobos are 21-6 in regular-season games played on Oct. 15 or later. The record is 13-3 since 2003, although UNM did have a 10-game winning streak snapped by Colorado State last year.
Since 2002, Utah and New Mexico are the two winningest programs in MWC competition. The Utes have recorded 22 conference victories, the Lobos 20. Utah was picked to finish 3rd in the MWC.
New Mexico head coach Rocky Long and Utah cornerback Eric Weddle, the MWC’s preseason pick as defensive player of the year, both attended Alta Loma High School in Cucamonga, Calif. Long graduated in 1968, Weddle in 2003.
While the Lobos are 7-2 in their last nine MWC games away from home, they are 1-3 at home this season and just 1-6 in their last seven games overall at University Stadium. During that span, the Lobos have led at halftime four times and have taken a lead into the fourth quarter three times. The bad news is that UNM has been outscored 116-34 in the second half of those seven games, including 83-15 in the fourth quarter.
IT’S BRIAN URLACHER DAY ON THURSDAY
Thanks to an open week for the Chicago Bears, former Lobo All-American Brian Urlacher will be in attendance at Thursday’s game. UNM will make a special presentation to Urlacher at halftime. He will also be the first of many former Lobo football players to be recognized in the New Mexico Football Wall of Honor. A display of former UNM gridiron greats will be erected in the school’s new indoor facility, scheduled for completion by the middle of 2007.
Now in his seventh season with the Bears, Urlacher is a five-time Pro Bowl selection who was named the 2005 Associated Press Defensive Player-of-the-Year. He is the second Bears player to win the award (Mike Singletary, 1985, 1988) in franchise history and just the fifth player in NFL history to be named Defensive Rookie-of-the-Year and Defensive Player-of-the-Year in their career.
Arguably the most decorated player in school history, Urlacher was a first-round pick of the Bears in 2000. The ninth selection overall, Urlacher was drafted higher than any Lobo. After leading the nation in tackles (178) his junior year, Urlacher was a consensus first team All-America in 1999 at his free safety position. He was one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. Urlacher finished his career third all-time at UNM with 442 tackles. As a senior, he saw situational duty at receiver, catching seven passes, six of those for TDs. Urlacher tied for the team scoring lead with 42 points and averaged 15.8 yards on 10 punt returns.
PROMOTIONS/GAME SPONSORS
Game sponsors are Farmer’s Insurance, New Mexico’s CW, UPN 50, Big Oldies 98.5 and 97.7 Radio Lobo. The first 1,000 fans will receive Lobo seat cushions courtesy of Farmer’s Insurance.
UNM – UTAH SERIES
New Mexico and Utah meet for the 48th time. The Utes have a 29-16-2 overall lead in a series that began in the 1939 Sun Bowl in El Paso. Utah won the initial meeting 26-0.
The visiting team has won the past three games, including the Lobos’ 31-27 triumph last year in Salt Lake City. UNM also won there in 2003 by a count of 47-35 when the Utes were No. 23 in the nation. That decision marked the only conference loss for former head coach Urban Meyer in his two seasons at Utah. New Mexico has captured consecutive wins on the Utes’ home field for the first time in series history.
Utah knocked off New Mexico 28-7 two years ago in Albuquerque on its way to an undefeated 12-0 season and top-5 final national ranking. The Utes have a slight 12-11-1 edge in games played in the Duke City.
The Lobos’ largest margin of victory over the Utes is 57-39 in Albuquerque on Nov. 6, 1971. Current head coach Rocky Long was UNM’s starting QB that afternoon and he guided the Lobo triple option to 543 yards on the ground, still the 3rd-best single-game rushing total in school history. Long rushed 19 times for 162 yards and scored a school-record-tying 4 TDs. He also completed a 53-yard TD pass and tossed for a 2-point conversion, thus accounting for 32 points on the day. RB Fred Henry carried 16 times for 218 yards, equaling a school record that stood for six years.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Utah has caused more turnovers (20) than any team in the Mountain West Conference. That’s 9 fumbles and 11 interceptions, tied for 5th in the nation. However, the Utes have been guilty of 15 turnovers, the second-highest total in the MWC. New Mexico is a +6 in turnovers, 2nd in the MWC and tied for 16th nationally.
Utah has the second-most productive offense in the conference, averaging 25.6 points a game, although it ranks 6th in total offense at 319.3 yards a game. The Utes are allowing just 17 points a game, while UNM is averaging 19.9 ppg.
New Mexico is averaging only 285.4 yards of offense, which could be problematic since Utah is yielding only 289.1 yards a game.
HEAD COACH Rocky Long
The school’s career leader in wins, head coach Rocky Long is in his ninth season at his alma mater. The only coach to guide New Mexico to three bowl games, Long has coached more games (102) than any other Lobo mentor. He has a 49-54 record, but is 37-31 since 2001. See p. 13 for more information about Long’s career.
MORE ON THE UTES
Utah finished 7-5 overall in 2005, 4-4 and tied with the Lobos for fourth place in the MWC. After starting 3-4, the Utes won three of their last four regular-season games, including an improbable 41-34 overtime triumph at BYU when they used reserve QB Brent Ratliff, currently this year’s starter. The win over the Cougars made Utah bowl eligible, and it blasted Georgia Tech 38-10 in the Emerald Bowl.
Now in his second season at Utah, head coach Kyle Whittingham has a record of 11-8. Whittingham is 0-1 vs. UNM.
Utah’s Mr. Do-Everything, senior cornerback Eric Weddle, is having a tremendous season. He has 33 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries and is 2nd in the nation with 6 interceptions. Three of those picks came at San Diego State. Weddle has scored 4 TDs on two interceptions (both vs. San Diego State), a fumble recovery and a rush on offense. He also returns punts and holds for PATs and field goals, has attempted a pass and rushed 9 times for 30 yards.
LAST YEAR IN SALT LAKE CITY
Lobo DE Michael Tuohy forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, then made an interception with 1:10 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 FROM 2005
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
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 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 LB Quincy Black and a 2-yard fumble return by LB Cody Kase, which proved to be the deciding score
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
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…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 25 yards for the score
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
Making his first Div. I-A start in place of the injured Kole McKamey, 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 completed 16 of 30 passes for 197 yards and two interceptions
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
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 added two tackles and a PBU
S DeAndre Wright played a prominent role in the win with 3 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble
TWO YEARS AGO IN ALBUQUERQUE
Quarterback Alex Smith ran for two touchdowns and Steve Savoy caught 11 passes for 150 yards in Utah’s 28-7 victory. It was Utah’s ninth straight win. The Lobos’ only score came on Gabriel Fulbright’s 68-yard return of a fumble by Smith with 10 seconds left in the first quarter.
So effective was Utah’s defense that New Mexico finished with 157 total yards and had more punts (14) than first downs (8). Utah had 466 total yards. New Mexico quarterback Kole McKamey completed just two of his first 14 passes, finished 7-of-22 for 83 yards, and spent much of the night trying to elude Utah defenders. When he did have time, he often overthrew open receivers.
The Lobos had just 74 yards rushing as halfback DonTrell Moore, the leading rusher in the conference, sat out with a sprained ligament in his left knee.
Fulbright’s score tied the game 7-7 and Utah responded with a nine-play, 84-yard drive that took less than 3 minutes. Runs of 23 and 12 yards by Quinton Ganther and a 17-yard pass from Smith to Savoy set up Paris Warren’s 7-yard scoring run with 12:14 left in the second quarter. Warren made a one-handed grab of a pitch from Smith and walked into the end zone.
Smith scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter and on a 6-yard run in the second quarter after the Utes successfully faked a punt on third-and-14 from their own 20. Punter Matt Kovacevich ran 21 yards to the 41 and a roughing-the-passer penalty on New Mexico got the Utes to the New Mexico 44. Smith hit Warren with a 21-yard pass to the 13 and three plays later scored on a quarterback draw.
Savoy scored the only touchdown of the second half on a 10-yard end around that came two plays after a 41-yard pass from Smith to Savoy to the New Mexico 12. Smith, who came into the game having thrown for 952 yards, got off to a slow start, completing just one of his first five passes. But a 59-yard run by halfback Marty Johnson to the New Mexico 4 set up Smith’s first touchdown with 7:34 left in the first quarter.
UNLV RECAP AND POSTGAME NOTES
Kenny Byrd kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime and Michael Tuohy recovered a fumble on UNLV’s first play in the extra session to give the Lobos a 39-36 victory. New Mexico gave up 28 second quarter points, but rebounded to hold UNLV to eight the rest of the game.
The Lobos forced four turnovers after halftime, converting them into 16 points. The final turnover came on the game’s last play when Major Mosley forced UNLV quarterback Shane Steichen to fumble. The ball was kicked to around midfield and recovered by Tuohy for the win.
Byrd kicked a career high four field goals, all after halftime, and New Mexico overcame a 14-point deficit. Cody Kase’s 47-yard interception return and Martelius Epps’ 4-yard touchdown run helped give New Mexico a 36-28 lead with 2:32 to play.
But Steichen threw a 9-yard touchdown to Ryan Wolfe and then connected with Renan Saint Preux for the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 36 with 1:03 to play.
New Mexico found the end zone on its first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead. Rodney Ferguson scored on a 9-yard run and Donovan Porterie threw an 8-yard scoring strike to Thomas Wilson and the Lobos defense held the Rebels to a pair of three-and-outs.
But Steichen replaced starter Rocky Hinds at the end of the first quarter, leading UNLV (2-4, 1-1) to touchdowns on four consecutive series.
Steichen passed for five touchdowns and 295 yards, opening the scoring for the Rebels with a 30-yard scoring pass to Ronnie Smith, also connecting with Aaron Straiten for a 14-yard touchdown.
Comeback: Trailing 28-14 at halftime, UNM matched the 9th-largest comeback in program history (14 points), last achieved in a double-overtime win at home over Utah in 2002…the Lobos trailed the Utes 28-14 with 6:46 remaining in the 2nd quarter before winning 42-35 in OT
Rare Happening: Winning a game when trailing after three quarters doesn’t happen very often for the Lobos, but they pulled it off at UNLV…since 2003, UNM had been 2-15 is such situations…the previous wins came against Texas Tech in 2004 (down 24-21, but won 27-24) and last year at Utah (down 27-25, won 31-27)
Catching Up: The 8-point deficit entering the 4th quarter (28-20) is the largest overcome by a New Mexico team in 6 years, since New Mexico State in 2000…the Lobos trailed the Aggies 13-3 after three periods only to rally for a 16-13 victory
No Second-Half Woes: The comeback is even more impressive considering the Lobos’ scoring struggles in the 4th quarter this season…UNM came into the game having scored just 27 points in the 2nd half in 2006, including 17 points in the 4th quarter…in fact, New Mexico had gotten points in the 4th quarter only twice in the first six games, 10 vs. New Mexico State and 7 against Missouri…the Lobos nearly matched their entire season output against UNLV by scoring 25 points after halftime…that total included 16 points in the 4th quarter and 3 in the OT…the 16 points are the most in the final frame since 17 last year at Missouri in a 45-35 win
First OT Road Win: New Mexico won for the first time in 4 overtime games on the road and improved to 3-4 all-time in OT…it was the Lobos’ first overtime game since the 2002 season (W, 42-35 at home over Utah – 2OT), when they played in three OT games…UNM has won back-to-back OT games after losing 4 straight between 1998 and 2002
MWC Road Success Continues: The Lobos are now 7-2 in their last nine Mountain West Conference road games and have won 14 of their last 19 MWC games away from home….UNM has not lost consecutive MWC away games since 2000 (at UNLV and at BYU)
Upper Hand vs. UNLV: New Mexico has won 3 straight and 5 of 6 over UNLV since 2001 and now leads the series 8-6…UNM has won 3 in a row at Sam Boyd Stadium.
The Lobos gave up 28 points in a quarter for the first time since TCU bolted to a 28-0 first-quarter lead last year in Fort Worth
Turnovers Help Again: New Mexico forced 4 turnovers – all in the 2nd half – including a fumble recovery on the Rebels’ first play in overtime to secure the victory…LB Major Mosley came clean on a blitz and knocked the ball loose while teammate Michael Tuohy recovered to end the game
UNM has recorded 8 interceptions in 2006 and has returned two for TDs (Michael Tuohy and Cody Kase)
New Mexico also has 9 fumble recoveries this season after recovering just 5 in 2005
Red-Zone Proficiency: UNM scored on all 6 trips inside the UNLV 20 and has come away with points on 18-19 trips inside the red zone this year…the 94.7% success rate is tied with Air Force for 1st in the MWC
Sack Happy: The Lobos recorded 4 sacks, giving them 20 through 7 games this fall…that ranks 1st in the MWC…after only 6 dumps the first 3 games, the Lobos have 14 in the past 4 outings…UNM led the MWC in sacks every year from 2000-04 and finished second to TCU in 2005
Byrd Flies Straight: Senior K Kenny Byrd now leads the MWC and is 6th nationally in FGs made at 1.57 per game after booting a career-high 4 (4-4; 33, 24, 29, 39) – all in the 2nd half at UNLV…his 39-yarder in OT proved to be the decisive points…the Lou Groza Award candidate improved to 11-14 (78.6%) this season and 25-32 for his career…his 25 FGs are tied for 6th all-time at UNM, while his 78% accuracy rate is 2nd on the career list
Kase Closed: Junior LB Cody Kase returned his first career interception 47 yards for a TD, the same distance as his jersey number…it was Kase’s second career TD…he also scored on his first career fumble recovery last year at Utah…Kase finished with 4 tackles
Efficent Debut: Redshirt freshman QB Donovan Porterie completed 13-27 passes for 168 yards, a TD and an INT in his first career start…Porterie was the first freshman to start at QB for the Lobos since redshirt freshman Stoney Case in 1991…Porterie saw time under center off the bench against UTEP and Wyoming earlier this season…Porterie completed his first 6 passes for 74 yards before throwing his first career interception
Porterie led the Lobos to TDs on the first two drives of the game: 8 plays, 54 yards and 7 plays, 57 yards…2 other drives of 9 plays, 57 yards and 11 plays, 58 yards resulted in FGs by Kenny Byrd
Wright Stuff: Sophomore CB DeAndre Wright recorded his team-leading third interception of the year, good for 2nd in the MWC…Wright, a first-year corner, had one INT in 11 games at safety last year
Senior WR Thomas Wilson caught his first career touchdown pass, an 8-yarder from Porterie in the first quarter…Wilson had 3 catches for 39 yards on the night…he entered the game with 4 receptions for 42 yards in 6 games…Wilson also logged UNM’s longest punt return of the season, 18 yards
Junior TB Martelius Epps scored his first career rushing TD from 4 yards out in the fourth quarter…Epps finished with career-highs of 31 yards on 12 carries…he entered the night with 27 yards on 7 attempts in two games this season and had missed 4 games due to a broken hand.
Junior WR Travis Brown had 5 receptions for 58 yards…Brown has caught at least one pass in 19 straight games and 24 of his 27 career games…he has 32 receptions for 419 yards this year after catching 35 for 245 in 11 games last fall.
Senior lobo Quincy Black had 10 tackles, giving him 71 for the season…he is 3rd in the MWC in tackles, averaging 10.1 a game…last year’s UNM tackles leader was Mike Mohoric with 85…the last time a Lobo reached the century mark in a season was 2003 when Daniel Gawronski and Billy Strother each finished with 100 stops.