Nov. 6, 2006
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Two teams riding three-game winning streaks meet in Albuquerque Saturday when the New Mexico Lobos (5-4, 3-2 MWC) entertain the TCU Horned Frogs (6-2, 2-2 MWC). Kickoff is 3:36 p.m. Mountain Time from University Stadium in Albuquerque. The contest will be televised live on The mtn., located at Channel 276 on Comcast in Albuquerque and Channel 329 on Cable ONE in Rio Rancho. A replay will be shown Sunday on The mtn. at 6 p.m.
The last time New Mexico won four straight games was during a five-game streak to end the 2004 regular season.
New Mexico was idle last week, which usually bodes well for success the following week. That’s because UNM is 9-0 following open weeks under Rocky Long.
BYU is leading the MWC at 5-0, but the next five teams – Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, Air Force and TCU – are tightly bunched with two conference losses apiece.
While TCU became bowl eligible last week with a 25-10 victory at UNLV, the Lobos need one win to achieve that status for the sixth straight year. UNM was bowl eligible every year from 2001-05, the only program in the MWC who can make that claim.
The Lobos have rallied to win their past three games. The most recent comeback was a dilly as Kenny Byrd’s 33-yard FG as time expired handed UNM a 20-19 triumph at Colorado State on Oct. 28. New Mexico trailed 19-10 entering the fourth quarter.
TCU, the defending conference champ and preseason favorites to win the 2006 title, has one of the nation’s best defenses. The Horned Frogs rank 4th in the nation in rushing defense (68.2 ypg), 7th in scoring defense (13 ppg) and 11th in total defense (272.5 ypg). The Lobos are only averaging 91.9 yards rushing, 21.4 points and 304.3 yards of offense.
TCU is 2nd in the MWC in total offense at 378.2 ypg, 171.2 yards on the ground and 207 yards in the air. The Lobo defense is allowing 340.6 yards, 111.2 yards rushing and 229.3 yards passing.
It’s an extremely young New Mexico team with only nine seniors starting or seeing significant playing time: four on offense, four on defense and a kicker.
UNM has started different quarterbacks for the first time since 1991. Senior Kole McKamey suffered a season-ending injury on the third play of the second game at New Mexico State. Senior Chris Nelson started the next four, going 1-3. Redshirt freshman Donovan Porterie has started the past three and is 3-0. The last Lobo QB to win his first three starts was Graham Leigh, who began 6-0 in 1997.
Recent history suggests this is a good time of year for New Mexico football. Since 2001, the Lobos are 23-6 in regular-season games played on Oct. 15 or later. The record is 15-3 since 2003. UNM is also 12-4 in November games since 2001.
Since 2002, Utah and New Mexico are the two winningest programs in MWC competition. The Utes have recorded 23 conference victories, the Lobos 22.
PROMOTIONS/GAME SPONSORS
Game sponsors include Frost Mortgage Banking Group, 610 The Sports Animal and 92.3 KRST. It’s Heroes Day as UNM will honor New Mexico’s military personnel that have returned from Iraq, plus local police and fire units. There will be a pregame flyover by a fighter jet, provided by the Air National Guard in Albuquerque. The first 5,000 fans receive koozies courtesy of Chevron. The Razzle Dazzle youth dance team will perform at halftime.
FOOTBALL TICKET = $10 MEN’S BASKETBALL TICKET ON SUNDAY
Fans can bring their ticket stub from Saturday’s football game to the UNM ticket office Sunday and buy a men’s basketball ticket for just $10. Men’s basketball hosts Sacramento State at 1 p.m. The offer is only good on Sunday at the ticket office at The Pit while supplies last. Seating at the basketball game will be bench rows 1 through 10. The ticket office opens Sunday at 10 a.m.
UNM – TCU SERIES
New Mexico and TCU square off for the eighth time since the first game in 1991. The Horned Frogs have a 4-3 series lead, including last year’s 49-28 win at Fort Worth when the Lobos committed six turnovers.
The Lobos lead 2-1 in games played in Albuquerque. The last contest at University Stadium was in 1996, resulting in a 27-7 New Mexico victory.
LOBOS LOVE THE BYE WEEK
Since 1998, UNM is 9-0 following scheduled open weeks under Rocky Long. The week after the postponement of games on Sept. 11, 2001, is not included. The Lobos have won 12 straight since 1996. The last loss was 48-42 to San Diego State in Albuquerque on Oct. 19, 1996.
CHRONICLING THE COMEBACKS
The Lobos have won three straight games – by a total of 7 points – despite trailing by an aggregate of 44 points. A look at the rallies:
Oct. 14 at UNLV: The Lobos led 14-0 after the first quarter, then gave up 28 points in the second period to trail 28-14 at halftime. UNM scored 16 points in the fourth quarter then won it in overtime 39-36 on a Kenny Byrd FG.
Oct. 19 vs. Utah: The Utes jumped out to a 24-3 lead with 3:27 left before halftime. The Lobos scored 24 straight points to take a 27-24 lead. After Utah regained the lead at 31-27, redshirt freshman Donovan Porterie marched the Lobos 78 yards in 10 plays for the game-winning TD – a 1-yard run by Martelius Epps – with 2:09 left. The 21-point rally ties for the largest in UNM history.
Oct. 28 at Colorado State: Behind 19-10 entering the fourth quarter, the Lobos won it on Kenny Byrd’s 33-yard field goal as time expired. Porterie enginereed the game-winning drive again, going 63 yards in 10 plays. Before that drive, UNM had 211 yards of total offense.
4TH-QUARTER COMEBACKS HAD BEEN RARE UNTIL…..
Winning a game when trailing after three quarters hadn’t happened very often for the Lobos in the past, but they have pulled it off in each of the past three games. In 42 games from 2003 through Oct. 7, 2006, UNM had been 2-15 is such situations before UNLV on Oct. 14. 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).
PROFILING PORTERIE
Displaying the calm demeanor of a veteran quarterback, redshirt freshman Donovan Porterie has been the captain of the comebacks. A look at the Porterie-led final drives the past two games:
vs. Utah (10 plays, 78 yards, 3:58, TD): Porterie was 3 of 4 passing for 29 yards and he rushed 2 times for 14 yards, including a 16-yard scramble to convert a 3rd-and-9….after starting the game 3 of 11 passing, Porterie completed 16 of his final 22 attempts for 303 yards and 3 TDs…the Lobos scored on five of their last seven possessions
at Colorado State (10 plays, 63 yards, 3:16, FG): Porterie was 3 of 3 passing for 33 yards, scrambled 6 yards for a first down and drew CSU offsides with a hard count on a 3rd-and-5 play in the final minute
UNM-TCU CONNECTIONS APLENTY
Although the schools have only played seven times they share a lot in common:
TCU head coach Gary Patterson was the defensive coordinator on Dennis Franchione’s Lobo staff in 1996-97…Patterson was actually 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 special teams coordinator Dan Dodd was offensive coordinator at TCU under Dennis Franchione in 1998 and `99
TCU offensive coordinator Mike Schultz was the Lobos’ assistant head coach and running backs coach under Franchione 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 quarterbacks coach, was the running backs coach at New Mexico for Bill Mondt in 1979…Rocky Long was the secondary coach on that staff
Lobo sophomore Blake Ligon and TCU sophomore WR Walter Bryant were in the secondary together at San Angelo Central HS in 2003
LOBOS FROM TEXAS AND THE METROPLEX
UNM currently has 21 Texas natives, second only to New Mexico for highest representation from one state.
For the Lobos, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex representatives include freshman LB Terel Anyaibe (DeSoto), sophomore RB Paul Baker (Arlington Sam Houston), freshman DE Kendall Briscoe (Dallas Lincoln), junior QB Bryan Clampitt (Dallas Hillcrest), freshman S Frankie Solomon (South Oak Cliff), freshman OG Derek Tallent (Richland) and sophomore CB D.J. Terrell (Allen HS).
MORE ON THE HORNED FROGS
TCU finished 11-1 overall in 2005, including a perfect 7-0 in its first year in the MWC. The Horned Frogs beat Iowa State 27-24 in the EV1.net Houston Bowl and were ranked No. 11 in the final AP poll.
Now in his sixth season at TCU, head coach Gary Patterson has an impressive record of 49-20. The 2005 MWC Coach of the Year has guided the Horned Frogs to three 10-win seasons since 2002.
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 (105) than any other Lobo mentor. He has a 51-54 record, but is 39-31 since 2001.
UNM-TCU: LAST YEAR IN FORT WORTH
Quarterback Jeff Ballard ran for four touchdowns and threw for two more in his first career start as TCU took a big lead, blew it and regained control for a 49-28 victory. The junior, who started in place of injured Tye Gunn, passed for 192 yards and finished with 79 yards on nine carries, including the first four rushing touchdowns of his career.
The Horned Frogs ran up a 28-0 first-quarter lead, but running back DonTrell Moore pulled New Mexico back into the game with three touchdowns as the Lobos ran off 28 straight points to tie the game. Moore finished with 129 yards rushing – his third consecutive 100-yard game – and a career-high 99 receiving.
But after Kenny Byrd missed a 51-yard field goal attempt that would have given the Lobos their first lead, TCU drove 66 yards in five plays and went in front for good. Ballard, who was hit hard as he threw, found tight end Chad Andrus all alone for a 38-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1 with 1:47 left in the third quarter. TCU’s next possession lasted one play. Ballard faked a handoff left and sprinted off right tackle for a 56-yard score.
The scoring drive was TCU’s fourth of the game of 10 seconds or less. The Frogs had three one-play touchdown drives.
The Horned Frogs threatened to bury New Mexico early with a dizzying succession of quick strikes on offense and defense. The avalanche began on the game’s first play, when TCU’s Quincy Butler intercepted Kole McKamey’s pass at the New Mexico 49-yard line and returned it to the 8, setting up Robert Merrill’s touchdown on the next snap.
Another interception, a fumble recovery and Jeff Ballard’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Michael DePriest with 17 seconds left in the first quarter put TCU up 28-0.
McKamey passed for 245 yards but threw four interceptions. Aaron Brown ran 14 times for 129 yards, including a 73-yard play in the final minutes, as the Horned Frogs rolled up 272 yards rushing.
TCU was 0-13 on 3rd down conversions, but had three 1-play scoring drives and another that was just 2 plays. All four of those scores took less than 10 seconds in time of possession and were a combined 99 yards in distance. The Frogs scored 28 points following Lobo turnovers.
COLORADO STATE RECAP AND POSTGAME NOTES
Kenny Byrd kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired and Donovan Porterie directed New Mexico to its third straight comeback victory, beating Colorado State 20-19.
Porterie, who had led second half wins over UNLV and Utah, completed 15-of-25 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. Rodney Ferguson ran for 80 yards and a touchdown for the Lobos.
Byrd also kicked a 39-yard field goal. It was his third career game-winning field goal.
New Mexico trailed 19-10 after three quarters but on the first play of the fourth quarter Hanie was intercepted by Quincy Black, giving the Lobos the ball at the Colorado State 35. New Mexico cashed in when Porterie found Travis Brown on a perfect strike for a 35-yard score nine seconds into the final quarter.
Colorado State drove to the New Mexico 17, but after Hanie was sacked, Jason Smith missed a 42-yard field goal with 9:02 left in the game.
New Mexico got the ball back with 3:16 left. Ferguson ran for 15 yards to begin a 10-play, 63-yard drive that reached the Colorado State 16. Following a timeout, Byrd split the uprights.
New Mexico scored the first two times it had the ball to take a 10-0 lead after one quarter. Porterie and the Lobos capitalized on a short field and a pass interference penalty to drive 55 yards.
Facing a third-and-5 at the Colorado State 25, Marcus Smith drew a pass interference call at the Rams 10 and two plays later, Ferguson ran untouched into the end zone from the 5.
Colorado State made it as far as midfield and after a punt, the Lobos marched 58 yards to set up a 39-yard field goal by Byrd as the first quarter expired to make it 10-0. Ferguson contributed a 26-yard run.
New Mexico outgained Colorado State 103 to 28 yards in the first 15 minutes. CSU turned the tables, 123 to 22 yards in the second quarter to send the game into intermission tied at 10.
The Rams put together a 57-yard drive. Hanie completed 4-of-5 passes for 35 yards, the last 35 yards a 4-yard TD toss to Morton. Smith connected on a career-long 49-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining in the first half.
Smith’s second field goal of the game, a 38-yarder with 5:52 left in the third quarter, put Colorado State ahead 13-10. It came a play after Morton dropped a pass in the end zone.
The Rams scored again after linebacker Jeff Horinek recovered Porterie’s fumbled snap exchange at the New Mexico 42. Three plays later Morton made a one-handed grab of a 30-yard pass from Hanie with 2:05 left in the third quarter. Holder Jammie Kaylor dropped the snap on the PAT and the lead was 19-10.
UNM has won back-to-back games in Fort Collins for the first time since the 1979 & ’81 seasons
The Lobos have won 3 straight conference games for the first time since closing the 2004 regular season with 5 straight wins
The Lobo defense limited Colorado State to 37 yards on 26 rushing attempts (1.4 avg.)…it’s the second-fewest by a UNM opponent this year (UTEP – 23 att., 30 yds.)
New Mexico recorded its ninth interception of the season…the Lobos have an INT in 7 of 9 games this year and their last 7 road games overall
Red-Zone Success Continues: UNM scored on both trips inside the red zone and has come away with points on 24-25 trips (13 FGs, 11 TDs) inside the 20 this year…the 96% conversion is best in the MWC
No Second-Half Woes: The comebacks the past three weeks are even more impressive considering the Lobos’ scoring struggles in the 4th quarter of the first six games…UNM came into the UNLV game having scored just 27 points in the 2nd half, including 17 in the 4th quarter…before UNLV, 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 have scored 69 points after halftime the past 3 games, 40 coming in the 4th period
After allowing 27 sacks in the first 6 games (4.5 avg.), New Mexico has allowed 6 total the past three weeks or 2 a game
Byrd Kicking True: Senior Kenny Byrd, a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, kicked two more field goals, including the game-winner from 33 yards out as time expired…it was Byrd’s 2nd game-winning FG of the year and 3rd of his career (all coming on the road)…a former walk-on who never played football before college, Byrd has hit 22 straight field goals inside 40 yards over the past 2 years
Byrd has earned MWC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice in the past three games
Byrd has connected on 9-10 field goals in the past four games and 15-19 this year…all 4 misses have come from 45 yards or longer…the 15 FGs are tied for 5th on the UNM single season list
Byrd continues to lead the MWC and is 5th nationally in FGs made at 1.67 per game…he is 29-37 for his career…the 29 FGs are tied for 4th all-time at UNM, while his 78% accuracy rate is 2nd on the career list…he is also 2nd in the MWC in touchbacks on kickoffs with 22…because of his leg, New Mexico leads the league in kickoff coverage at 45.1 yards, which means opponents start their drives a hair inside the 20 following Byrd kickoffs Senior Lobo Quincy Black had his string of double-digit tackle games snapped at 7, but recorded his second interception of the year (15-yard return) on the first play of the 4th quarter to set up a Lobo TD…Black recorded his 3rd INT in the past 11 games (81 return yards)…the all-MWC candidate also had a pass break-up on a deep 3rd down pass late in the 4th quarter to go along with 7 tackles…Black is 2nd in the MWC in tackles with 88, or 9.8 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
UNM’s two sophomore cornerbacks – DeAndre Wright and Glover Quin – had solid games again…Wright broke up a pair of passes and now leads the MWC with 10 passes defended this year (7 PBU, 3 INT)…Quin is tied for 2nd in the MWC with 9 PBUs after recording two break-ups at CSU
Junior WR Marcus Smith notched 6 catches for 81 yards…the receptions are the most for Smith since pulling in 8 in the season-opener vs. Portland State…he has 10 grabs for 217 yards and 2 TDs in the past two games
Junior DE Tyler Donaldson had a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss and notched his 4th sack of the year, while junior DE Michael Tuohy had 1.5 TFLs and assisted on a sack…the Lobos’ bookends on the defensive line have combined for 16.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks this year…Donaldson has 5.5 TFL and 3.0 sacks in MWC play…Tuohy has 14.5 sacks and 23.0 tackles for loss in his career
Junior WR Travis Brown had a TD reception for the second straight week, a 35-yarder on the 2nd play of the 4th quarter following a Quincy Black interception…Brown has caught a pass in 21 straight games and 26 of his 29 career games
Sophomore TB Rodney Ferguson – the MWC’s leading rusher – gained 80 yards on 21 carries, including a 5-yard TD for UNM’s first score…he picked up 31 of those yards in the 4th quarter, including 20 on the final drive that led to the game-winning FG by Kenny Byrd…he also had a 6-yard reception on the final march.