Recap | Final Stats | Quotes
TEAM
– New Mexico lost for the first time in 15 games when not committing a turnover -Last loss without a turnover was in the 1999 season opener at UTEP (13-10).
– UNM had been 16-1 under Rocky Long in games without a turnover
– New Mexico Defense:
Held opponent under 200 yards total offense (195) for 2nd time in last 5 games (TCU – 192) UTEP has averaged 228 yards of total offense in last 3 games against UNM and 213.5 in last 4 in the series. Limited UTEP to one trip inside the red zone which resulted in a punt
– New Mexico Offense:
90 total plays the most since Oct. 22, 2005 (95 in 47-24 win at San Diego State) 2006 season-high was 76 plays in New Mexico Bowl loss to San Jose State 2 of 4 in the red zone-New Mexico leading rusher versus UTEP last four meetings:
Rodney Ferguson 128 in 2007 (El Paso)- Ferguson – 162 in 2006 (Albuquerque)
DonTrell Moore – 161 in 2005 (El Paso) Jarrod Baxter – 184 in 2001 (Albuquerque)
INDIVIDUAL
Junior TB Rodney Ferguson (Doak Walker Award Candidate)
– 128 rushing yards on 32 carries…4th consecutive 100-yard rushing game and 5th of his career
– 578 rushing yards (144.5 per game) in his last 4 games -1,410 career rushing yards ranks 22nd all-time at UNM
Senior WR Marcus Smith
– Career-high 11 catches for 77 yards; most catches by a Lobo since Hank Baskett had 11 vs. BYU in 2005
Junior CB DeAndre Wright
– Sixth career interception and second in last three games (2nd INT in the Sun Bowl)- 2 break-ups and no long passes allowed (15+ yards)
Senior WR Travis Brown– 5 catches for 25 yards
– Extended his consecutive games with a catch streak to 26 (has a catch in 31 of his 34 career games)
Senior DE Tyler Donaldson
– Most tackles (9) in 8 games along with a sack and 2.0 tackles for loss
Sophomore QB Donovan Porterie
– Career-highs in both pass attempts (39) and completions (25)…190 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
Junior TE Chris Mark
– Career-high 4 catches for 34 yards…entered the night with1 for 20 in his previous 12 career games.
Senior K John Sullivan
– Fifth-year senior who made his collegiate debut tonight and is playing with a torn ACL in his left (plant leg) knee
– 2-4 on field goal attempts
Junior TB Paul Baker
-Career-highs of 54 rushing yards on 13 carries off the bench.
MISC.
– UNM now 63-43-3 in season openers, but just 3-6 in itslast 9
– UNM now 11-25-1 in road season openers with 4 straightlosses
– New Mexico has lost 3 straight in El Paso, last winningin 1997 (38-20).