Sept. 3, 2007
**Check Out Saturday’s Giveaway for the First 4,000 Fans!!
CSTV’s Going West Roadtrip stops in Albuquerque
Lobo students prepare for the Red Rally Bonfire Aggie effigy goes up in flames at Red Rally Bonfire The exchange of the UNM vs. NMSU game ball
Going West Roadtripers check out the Red Rally Bonfire
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University Stadium in Albuquerque will be the place to be Saturday as New Mexico and New Mexico State square off for the 98th time. It’s the Lobos’ home opener. Kickoff is set for 7:36 p.m. MDT. The game can be heard worldwide on 770 KKOB-AM (www.770kkob.com) and will be televised regionally on The Mtn. The Mtn. is Channel 276 on Comcast Cable in Albuquerque.
The Lobos have a 64-28-5 lead in the series that began Jan. 1, 1894, 18 years before the territory of New Mexico was admitted to the Union. The 97 total games makes UNM-NMSU the 35th-longest series in the NCAA record book. Wisconsin-Minnestota is the all-time leader at 116 games. The Lobos and Aggies have played every year since 1946.
New Mexico has won four in a row over NMSU, including 34-28 last year in Las Cruces and 38-21 two years ago in Albuquerque in front of a state-record crowd of 44,760 at University Stadium. UNM’s last five-game winning streak against the Aggies came in 1993-97. Lobos head coach Rocky Long is 6-3 in his career against NMSU, 3-1 in Albuquerque.
The Lobos stumbled out of the gate last Saturday, falling 10-6 at UTEP. The loss was perplexing considering New Mexico did not commit a turnover and out-gained the Miners 383 to 195. UNM ran a mind-boggling 91 plays, 41 more than UTEP. The Lobos also had a 38:23 to 21:37 lead in time of possession. UNM has not started a season 0-2 since 2000 when it began 0-3.
New Mexico State is 1-0 after rolling over Southeast Louisiana 35-14 last Thursday in Las Cruces. The Aggies are looking for their first 2-0 start since 1999, which is also the last time they beat the Lobos in Albuquerque by a 35-28 count.
Now in his 10th season, New Mexico head coach Rocky Long has a veteran team that returns 42 lettermen, including 18 offensive and defensive starters and two specialists. The Lobos were picked to finish 4th in the Mountain West Conference by the league’s media. After finishing 6-7 in 2006, the Lobos look to avoid consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1999-2000.
SPONSORS / GIVEAWAYS
Saturday’s game sponsors include Bank of Albuquerque and 770 KKOB. The first 4,000 fans will receive a panoramic photo of the 2007 Lobo football team.
A BUSY, BUSY WEEKEND
In conjunction with playing the home opener against its oldest rival, there are activities aplenty for this weekend:
The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University announced July 13 the formation of the Rio Grande Rivalry presented by Route 66 Casino…UNM and NMSU are scheduled to conduct competitions in 11 sports in 2007-08: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, football, men’s golf, softball, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s track and field and women’s volleyball…points will be awarded to the winner of each competition and the school with the most points will be the winner…the first competition of 2007-08 is Tuesday when the women’s volleyball teams meet in Las Cruces…the winner will receive a trophy that will remain in its possession for one academic year…an updated tally of who’s leading the competition will be available on each school’s website: golobos.com and nmstatesports.com
The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) Lobo Spirit Committee is hosting “Red Rally” Thursday at 8 p.m. at Johnson Field..free of charge, the pep rally and burning of the Aggie mascot is expected to attract more than 1,000 students
As part of the Rio Grande Rivalry, the ROTC units from the two schools will hand deliver the game ball…the ball will be presented to the New Mexico State ROTC by Aggies head coach Hal Mumme in Las Cruces on Wednesday, Sept. 5…members of the Aggie Battalion will carry the ball 110 miles up I-25 where it will be relayed to the University of New Mexico ROTC at the Veterans Memorial in Truth or Consequences on Thursday…the UNM ROTC will carry the ball the remaining 110 miles to Albuquerque where it will arrive at University Stadium prior to kickoff
The UNM Alumni Lettermen’s Association will officially induct the 2007 class into the school’s Hall of Honor Thursday night at the Student Union Building…this year’s inductees include Greg Brown (basketball), Tim Garcia (tennis), Maria Gurreri (volleyball), Mark Johnson (baseball), Jamie Koch (football, current President of UNM Board of Regents) and Pauline Manser (volleyball)…the posthumous inductees include John Bridgers (administration) and Bill Stockton (basketball)
CSTV.com will be in town to cover events leading up to the game, plus Saturday’s contest…it’s part of CSTV.com’s Going West series, a 14-week road trip through the college football culture in the western part of the country
Saturday will be American Indian Day at University Stadium…at halftime, UNM will recognize all 22 Pueblo and tribal leaders in New Mexico
Halftime is an extra 5 minutes (25 minutes total) to allow performances by both bands…the MWC allows one 5-minute extension per school per season
The Lobos are also hosting home sporting events in volleyball, men’s and women’ soccer and cross country
LOBOS-AGGIES: LAST YEAR IN LAS CRUCES
Backup Chris Nelson threw three touchdown passes, New Mexico’s defense forced five turnovers and the Lobos held off a late New Mexico State rally for a 34-28 win.
Nelson replaced starter Kole McKamey, who went out with a knee injury on the third play of the game, and delivered one big pass after another. His last touchdown, a 61-yarder to Marcus Smith with 10:44 left in the game, turned out to be the game-winner as the Aggies scored two late touchdowns behind another brilliant passing performance by sophomore Chase Holbrook. Holbrook, who went into the game leading the nation in passing, completed a school record 37 of 56 passes for 472 yards and four touchdowns.
New Mexico built a 34-14 lead on the Nelson to Smith pass, then had to hold on as Holbrook threw a 60-yard TD pass to Nick Cleaver and a 13-yard pass to Derek Dubois. The Aggies got the ball back with 1:44 left but the drive stalled at the NMSU 33 after four incomplete passes.
Nelson completed 11 of 26 passes for 283 yards, but when he found receivers, the plays usually went for long yardage. Smith caught three touchdown passes and had 179 yards on 5 catches. NMSU’s Derek Dubois caught 7 passes for 104 yards, Chris Williams had 7 catches for 94 yards and A.J. Harris 7 for 80 yards.
New Mexico held the Aggies to 60 rushing yards, minus 3 yards in the first half. The Aggie backs also had four fumbles. The mostly costly were by David Romaka at the New Mexico 2-yard line which killed an 18-play, nearly eight minute drive in the third quarter and one by Chris Nwoko at the New Mexico 46 that set up the Nelson to Smith touchdown.
New Mexico forced three Aggie turnovers in the second quarter and converted two of them into 10 points for a 24-14 halftime lead. Defensive back OJ Swift intercepted a Holbrook pass that bounced off Dubois and returned it 46 yards to the NMSU 34. On the next play, Nelson flipped the ball back to third string quarterback Donovan Porterie, who found Smith wide open in the end zone.
On NMSU’s next drive, halfback Justine Buries was hit by Lobo defensive end Tyler Donaldson and fumbled, with Donaldson recovering at the NMSU 31. That set up a 38-yard field goal by Kenny Byrd.
NOTES FROM LAST YEAR IN LAS CRUCES
The Lobo defense forced 5 turnovers, including 4 fumble recoveries, resulting in 20 points
New Mexico sacked NMSU QB Chase Holbrook 6 times…Holbrook’s pass attempts (56) and completions (37) were the most by a UNM opponent since Texas Tech’s Sonny Cumbie (44-69) in 2004
New Mexico allowed 472 passing yards, the most under Rocky Long and the highest total in 16 years, since San Diego State totaled 530 on Nov. 17, 1990
The Lobos had 317 yards passing, the highest total since gathering 429 against UNLV in 2003
The Lobos ran just 54 offensive plays to the Aggies 87…however, UNM averaged 7.9 yards per play to 6.1 for New Mexico State
INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Junior DE Michael Tuohy tied a Mountain West Conference record with 4 sacks, the most by a Lobo since John Bell had 4 against Akron on Sept. 24, 1988
Junior WR Marcus Smith caught 5 balls for a career-high 179 yards, including a school-record-tying 3 receiving TDs – the first of his career…the TDs were from 34, 20 and a career-long 61 yards…Smith is the 7th player at UNM with 3 TDs in a game…Hank Baskett III was the most recent, grabbing 3 at Missouri in the Lobos’ second game of 2005
Senior QB Chris Nelson had a career game in place of McKamey, throwing for 283 yards (11-26) with 3 TDs and no interceptions
Junior S OJ Swift recorded his first career interception, which he returned 37 yards to set up a 2nd quarter TD…Swift also finished with a career-high 11 tackles and caused 2 fumbles
Senior TE John Mulchrone had a career-high 84 yards receiving and matched his best with 3 receptions, including a career-long of 47 grab to set up a FG
LOBOS-AGGIES: 2005 IN ALBUQUERQUE
DonTrell Moore ran for 120 yards to become New Mexico’s career rushing leader and Kole McKamey threw two touchdown passes in the 38-21 win over New Mexico State.
Moore’s record setter was an 8-yard run up the middle to the New Mexico State 24 with 10:26 left in the second quarter. Three plays later he took a screen pass from McKamey, cut to his left and went in untouched from 24 yards. The score capped a 91-yard, 19-play drive that consumed 9 1/2 minutes and gave the Lobos a 14-0 lead. The march was aided by an NMSU roughing-the-punter penalty.
Gabriel Fulbright had two interceptions, both of which led to Lobo points. The first, just before halftime, set up Kenny Byrd’s 36-yard field goal and the second, which he picked off at the NMSU 36 and returned to the 18, set up a 3-yard touchdown by Moore.
McKamey was a picture of productivity. He was 12-of-19 passing for 172 yards and his 17-yard TD pass to tight end John Mulchrone on the Lobos’ opening drive set the tone. The one mistake McKamey made was to throw an interception – the Lobos’ first turnover this season. Aggie safety Eric Carrie picked off McKamey’s pass in the end zone in the third quarter.
Attendance was a University Stadium record 44,760 – the biggest crowd ever to watch a football game in the state of New Mexico…the previous best was the 44,075 that saw UNM defeat New Mexico State 24-7 on Sept. 27, 2003
QB Kole McKamey became the first Lobo to record at least 150 yards rushing and 150 yards passing in a game…he notched the third 100-yard rushing game of his career, finishing with 152 yards on 14 carries…the 152 yards ties a career-high set against Wyoming on Nov. 20, 2004…McKamey gave UNM a 21-0 lead with his 71-yard TD off an option keeper
The Lobos marched on one of the longest scoring drives in school history en route to their second TD of the night…the 19-play, 91-yard drive ran 9:30 off the clock…the plays and time of possession were the longest in head coach Rocky Long’s tenure…the drive was possible after a roughing the punter penalty against the Aggies
The UNM defense collected 6 sacks led by junior LB Quincy Black’s 1.5…Black also had six tackles
LOBOS FROM LAS CRUCES
Lobo senior safety Tyson Ditmore is a 2004 graduate of Las Cruces High School where he was an all-state receiver and defensive back.
His older brother Dustin was a tight end at New Mexico State from 2001-03. Tyson’s father (Jim) and mother (Lori) both graduated from NMSU and still work at the school, dad in the chili-breeding program in the College of Agriculture and mom in the Office of Distance Education.
Redshirt freshman WR Chris Hernandez graduated from Las Cruces Mayfield in May of 2006. He helped the Trojans to the 2005 state 5A title and an undefeated season (14-0). Hernandez caught 70 passes for 1,084 yards and 10 TDs while earning first team all-state honors.
Walk-on redshirt freshman WR Sina Shabazz is a 2006 grad of Las Cruces High. His older brothers – Siddeeq (1999–2002) and Shukree (2002-05) – both played at New Mexico State.
UNM IN HOME OPENERS
UNM is 71-33-4 (.676) in home openers, including 8-4 in its past 12. However, it suffered a stunning 17-6 loss to NCAA Div. I-AA member Portland State last year in Albuquerque. New Mexico is 27-20 in lid-lifters at University Stadium. The first game on Sept. 17, 1960, resulted in a 77-6 pasting of the University of Mexico, the Lobos’ largest margin of victory at the stadium.
UTEP RECAP
Terrell Jackson, a transfer from Oregon, broke free on a 36-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter, lifting Texas-El Paso to a 10-6 win over New Mexico on Saturday in the opener for both schools.
He slashed through the left side, got clear of defenders and weaved into the end zone to put the Miners ahead 10-6 with 13:08 remaining.
Jose Martinez kicked a 51-yard field goal on UTEP’s first possession, and the two scores stood up after the Miners kept New Mexico’s strong ground-oriented offense out of the end zone.
It was UTEP’s lowest point production in a victory since a 6-3 win over East Tennessee State in 1975. It also ended New Mexico’s streak of 15 straight wins when committing no turnovers.
And it spoiled a big night for Rodney Ferguson, who gained 128 yards rushing on 32 carries. Ferguson, last season’s Mountain West rushing leader, had 82 yards rushing by halftime but couldn’t find the end zone.
The Lobos took a 6-3 lead with 14:29 remaining after John Sullivan connected from 40 yards but Jackson’s TD came on UTEP’s ensuing possession, a drive that was aided by two New Mexico penalties.
Donovan Porterie, who produced come-from-behind victories in his first three starts for New Mexico last season, got a final chance when the Lobos took over at their own 12 with 1:40 on the clock. New Mexico got as far as UTEP’s 34 before Porterie was sacked to run out the clock.
“The biggest difference was us not being able to score a touchdown when we got into the red zone,” Long said. “All we had to do was score one touchdown. Then the defense gives up one big play and that’s the difference.” Porterie finished 25-of-39 for 190 yards passing.
With Ferguson carrying much of the load, New Mexico opened the second half with a 41-yard drive that ended when Sullivan’s 37-yard field goal attempt bounced high off the right upright.
UTEP led 3-0 lead after the game’s opening drive on Martinez’s 51-yard field goal. Martinez, who kicked two 57-yarders during fall scrimmages, was wide right on a 53-yard try late in the first period.
The Lobos tied it at 3 on Sullivan’s 20-yard field goal with 1:09 before halftime. It capped a 16-play, 79-yard drive that consumed nearly half of the second quarter and seemed to get Ferguson going. He posted his fourth straight 100-yard game and fifth of his career.
UTEP POSTGAME NOTES – TEAM
New Mexico had won 15 straight games when not committing a turnover…the last loss was in the 1999 season opener at UTEP (13-10)…UNM had been 16-1 under Rocky Long in games without a turnover
The New Mexico defense held an 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 its last 3 games against UNM and 213.5 in the last 4 in the series
A total of 51 players participated in Saturday’s game, including 11 who made their Lobo debuts…there were 23 that played on defense…CB DeAndre Wright had the highest defensive participation with 52 snaps…no other defender played more than 36…in last year’s season opener against Portland State, only 14 players saw action on defense
New Mexico ran 91 total offensive plays, the most since Oct. 22, 2005 (95 in 47-24 win at San Diego State)…the 2006 season-high was 76 in the New Mexico Bowl loss to San Jose State…UNM was 2 of 4 in the red zone
It’s the fourth straight game New Mexico produced a 100-yard rusher against UTEP: Rodney Ferguson 132 in 2007 (El Paso); Ferguson 162 in 2006 (Albuquerque); DonTrell Moore 161 in 2005 (El Paso) and Jarrod Baxter 184 in 2001 (Albuquerque)
Senior K John Sullivan missed field goals from 32 and 37 yards in his collegiate debut, thus ending a pretty impressive streak for Lobo kickers…it had been 31 games since UNM missed a field goal from inside 40 yards, since Wes Zunker failed from 27 yards at UNLV on Oct. 16, 2004….Kenny Byrd made all 24 of his attempts from inside 40 in 2005 and 2006
INDIVIDUAL
Junior TB Rodney Ferguson (Doak Walker Award Candidate) had 132 rushing yards on 33 carries…it’s his 4th consecutive 100-yard rushing game and 5th of his career…he has 582 yards (145.5 per game) in his last 4 games and his 1,414 career rushing yards ranks 22nd all-time at UNM
Senior WR Marcus Smith had a career-high 11 catches for 77 yards…it’s the most catches by a Lobo since Hank Baskett had 11 vs. BYU in 2005
Junior CB DeAndre Wright recorded his 6th career interception and second in the last three games…he also had 2 break-ups and no long passes allowed (15+ yards)
Senior WR Travis Brown had 5 catches for 25 yards, extending his consecutive games with a catch streak to 26 (he has a catch in 31 of his 34 career games)
Senior DE Tyler Donaldson had his most tackles (9) in 8 games and added a sack and 2.0 tackles for loss
Three Lobo offensive linemen recorded double-digit total for knockdown blocks, led by senior OT Devin Clark with 14.5…senior C Vince Natali totaled 11 and had a team-high 88% overall performance grade…senior OG Anthony Kilby posted 10 knockdowns
Sophomore QB Donovan Porterie set career-highs in both pass attempts (39) and completions (25)…he threw for 190 yards, 0 TDs and 0 INTs
Junior TE Chris Mark posted a career-high 4 catches for 34 yards…he entered the night with 1 reception for 20 yards in his previous 12 games at UNM
Fifth-year senior K John Sullivan was 2-4 on field goal attempts…he is playing with a torn ACL in his left (plant leg) knee
Junior TB Paul Baker had career-highs of 54 rushing yards on 13 carries