Nov. 18, 2006
TEAM
-UNM intercepted two John Beck passes, giving the Lobos’12 on the year…it matched the most interceptions Beck has thrown this year…he had thrown just 4 INTs coming into today
-After five games (3-2 record) decided by a total of 17 points, New Mexico suffered its worst defeat of the season(25 points)…the Lobos need to defeat San Diego State in the season-finale in Albuquerque to become bowl-eligible for a sixth straight season.
-BYU’s 653 yards are the most against New Mexico since1991 when the Cougars gained 659 in a 41-23 win in Albuquerque…BYU had 419 in the first half, 234 in the second.
-New Mexico’s 418 yards of total offense are the most against BYU at home this year, a total of six games.
INDIVIDUAL
-Sophomore TB Rodney Ferguson rushed for a game-high 138yards on 20 carries…it was Ferguson’s second 100-yardrushing game of the year and the most yards against theCougars this year…Ferguson matched his career-long with a45-yard run in the third quarter to set up a Lobo TD.
-The MWC’s leading rusher, Ferguson is now 78 yards from1,000 for the season
-Ferguson also had 3 catches for 23 yards for 161 totaloffense yards…it was his 4th game over 100 yardsrushing/receiving this year.
-Senior Lobo (safety) Quincy Black recorded a game-high 10tackles and returned his third interception of the year 88yards for a TD.
-It was Black’s 2nd career INT return for a TD…he also hada 31-yard pick and score last year at Utah…Black has 138yards on his 3 INTs this year (46 avg.)…the 88-yard returnranks as the 8th longest in school history
-Black notched his MWC-leading 8th game with double digittackles, giving him a career-high 104 on the year…he isthe first Lobo to post 100 tackles in a season since LBsDaniel Gawronski and Billy Strother recorded 100 apiece in2003.
-Junior WR Travis Brown notched his 2nd 100-yard receivinggame of the year, finishing with 6 receptions for agame-high 116 yards, including a 35-yard TD.
-Brown moved into 10th place on the UNM all-time list with96 career receptions (1,060 yards)…he has caught at leastone pass in 23 consecutive games and 28 of his 31 careergames.
-Senior QB Chris Nelson made his fifth start of the seasonand seventh of his career, finishing with 245 yards, 1 TDand 2 INTs on 22-38 passing.
-The passing attempts and completions were bothcareer-highs for Nelson who completed passes to 8different receivers – a season-high for the Lobos.
-Senior K Kenny Byrd, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist,connected on his only field goal attempt from 31 yardsout…the MWC Special Teams Player of the Year candidate hashit 23 straight from inside 40 yards over his career…heranks fifth on the UNM single season list with a MWC-high16 field goals this fall.
-Byrd also sent all 4 kickoffs into the end zone andrecorded 2 more touchbacks to give him a MWC-high 26 onthe year.
-He is 4th all-time at UNM with 30 FGs
-He has 85 career PATs, tied for 3rd all-time at UNM
-Senior TE John Mulchrone tied a career-high with 3receptions for 27 yards…Mulchrone’s 19 receptions for 273yards this season are the most by UNM tight end sinceDavid Sloan had 24 for 320 in 1994.
MISC.
-Today’s attendance of 63,814 was the largest crowd UNMhas played in front of since the 1998 season when 64,118watched BYU down the Lobos 46-21.