Oct. 8, 2007
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The New Mexico Lobos (3-2, 0-1 MWC) look to square up their conference record Saturday when they travel to Laramie to face the Wyoming Cowboys (4-1, 1-0 MWC). Kickoff is 12:06 p.m. Mountain Time. The game can be heard worldwide on 770 KKOB-AM (www.770kkob.com) and will be televised regionally on The Mtn.
New Mexico, idle last week, had a three-game winning streak snapped by BYU on Sept. 29. The Cougars took advantage of five UNM turnovers to win 31-24. Wyoming slipped past TCU 24-21 last week in Laramie to improve to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the MWC. The Cowboys, who led 24-6 in the fourth quarter, are off to their best start since going 4-1 in 2004. They have not been 5-1 since 1998.
Notes and numbers entering Saturday’s game in Laramie:
The Lobos were picked to finish 4th in the MWC, Wyoming 5th
Under Rocky Long, the Lobos are 9-1 in games following scheduled “bye” weeks
UNM is tied for its best start under head coach Rocky Long (also 3-2 in 2005)
New Mexico looks for its best start after six games since being 6-0 in 1997
The Lobos started MWC play 0-2 in 2006 after losing to Wyoming at home
UNM has won 3 straight (2001-03-05) at Wyoming for the second time in the series (also 1970-72-74)
Wyoming held the Lobos to a season-low 190 yards in last year’s 14-10 win in Albuquerque
The Cowboys have won 6 straight games in Laramie
New Mexico is 7-3 in its last 10 road games overall and 8-3 in it’s last 11 MWC road affairs
UNM is 5-9 in its last 14 home games
The Lobos have not lost consecutive MWC road games since 2000 (at UNLV / at BYU)
The MWC’s top-2 rushers will be on display: Wyoming’s Devin Moore is averaging 114 yards while UNM’s Rodney Ferguson is gaining 112 yards a game. Ferguson, however, leads the league with an average of 143 yards from scrimmage (rushing & receiving) per game and 9 total TDs (8 rushing)
UW is 1st in the MWC in rush defense (84.4 ypg); New Mexico is 2nd at 89.8 yards a game
The Lobos are 1st in the MWC in scoring offense (32.2 ppg); Wyoming is allowing just 19.8 ppg
Lobos are 2nd in the MWC in total offense (429 ypg); Wyoming is 8th in the nation in total defense (267.8)
UNM is 1st in the MWC in 3rd-down conversions at 45.2% (38-84) while Wyoming is 2nd in the nation, allowing opponents to convert just 24% (18-75) of their 3rd-down tries
Cowboys are tied for 7th in the MWC in turnover margin (-3)
Lobo sophomore QB Donovan Porterie is 6-2 in games he starts and finishes
UNM’s Marcus Smith (8.4) and Travis Brown (6.6) continue to rank 1-2 in the MWC in receptions per game
Wyoming has scored 97 of its 127 total points in the 2nd half (41 in the 3rd qtr., 56 in the 4th)
UNM – WYOMING SERIES NOTES
It’s the 60th meeting is a series that started in 1930 with a 19-6 Wyoming victory in Albuquerque. UW has a 32-27 series lead, although New Mexico had won six straight (2000-05) before the Cowboys prevailed 14-10 last year in Albuquerque. The two rivals played every year between 1949-94.
Wyoming has a narrow 15-13 lead in games played in Laramie, but UNM has come away the victor in its last three trips to War Memorial Stadium. Two years ago in Laramie, the Lobos overcame a 17-7 deficit and a game-ending injury to starting QB Kole McKamey to win 27-24. UNM’s last loss to the Pokes in Laramie was 1999.
The 26-3 win in Laramie in 2003 came after the UNM traveling party got four hours of sleep due to travel delays the night before, a snowy field and a game-time wind chill of 5-below zero. That 23-point margin is the Lobos’ largest in 28 games in Laramie.
UNM head coach Rocky Long was Wyoming’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach under Al Kincaid from 1981-85. Long is 6-2 against his former employer, 3-1 in Laramie and Albuquerque.
New Mexico has recorded 28 sacks against Wyoming quarterbacks the past five years.
UNM-WYOMING: LAST YEAR IN ALBUQUERQUE
Freshmen Karsten Sween made up for a bad first half with two second half touchdown passes and Wyoming rallied for a 14-10 win over New Mexico. Sween, who fumbled and was intercepted twice in the first half, finally got the Cowboys’ offense rolling with scoring passes of 12 yards to Hoost Marsh midway through the third quarter and a 4-yard TD pass to Michael Ford with 12:48 left in the game. Sween completed 19 of 32 passes for 204 yards.
Wyoming could do little right in the first half and New Mexico did just enough to take a 10-0 lead. But New Mexico’s offense, which struggled all night, stalled in the second half as neither senior Chris Nelson nor freshman Donovan Porterie could move the chains. New Mexico’s last scoring chance ended at the Wyoming 43 on downs with 1:31 left.
The Lobos’ blitzing defense rattled Sween into three first half turnovers and converted two of them into a 1-yard touchdown run by Rodney Ferguson with 6:19 left in the first quarter and a 45-yard Kenny Byrd field goal in the second quarter.
New Mexico had just three first downs in putting up the 10 points and the signs of the Lobos’ struggles on offense were evident.
Ferguson’s touchdown followed a fumble by Sween at the Cowboys’ 23. Byrd’s field goal came after Lobo defensive back Quincy Black picked off a deflected pass from Sween and returned it 35 yards to the Wyoming 38.
Sween, getting his first start of the season after nearly rallying the Cowboys to a win at Syracuse the previous week, was intercepted on the Cowboys’ opening drive that reached the Lobo 25. Sween tried to force a pass in the end zone and defensive back DeAndre Wright made the easy pick.
Wyoming had a chance to score in the final seconds of the first half when Ferguson fumbled at the New Mexico 24 and Wyoming nose guard Fred Givens recovered. But kicker Aric Goodman’s 41-yard field goal attempt as time expired was wide right.
But with New Mexico’s offense going nowhere, Wyoming took over in the second half. Wyoming scored on its first possession on a seven-play, 64-yard drive that included a 25-yard pass from Sween to Tyler Holden to the New Mexico 28.
The Cowboys took the lead for good on the Sween to Ford pass that finished off a nine-play, 78-yard drive. Sween hit tight end Chris Sundberg with a 33-yard pass to the New Mexico 21 and two plays later found Holden open for a 13-yarder to the Lobo 6. Three plays later he had Ford open in the middle of the end zone. Wyoming had 318 total yards to New Mexico’s season-low 190.
UNM-WYOMING: TWO YEARS AGO IN LARAMIE
DonTrell Moore ran for 181 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 27-24 win over the Cowboys.
“Is he a senior finally? Good riddance. The guy’s a really great football player,” Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn said. “We had no answer for the guy.”
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Lobos, who pulled away from Wyoming on a pair of nearly identical, back-to-back touchdowns by Moore in the third and fourth quarters.
Although Wyoming had dished out grief to backup quarterbacks for UNLV and Mississippi this season, it didn’t keep Chris Nelson from a solid performance. Starter Kole McKamey had to leave with a mild concussion in the second quarter and Nelson finished 8 of 14 for 91 yards.
After New Mexico took the lead, Wynell Seldon tied the game with a 2-yard touchdown for the Cowboys in the fourth quarter. But Kenny Byrd’s 30-yard field goal gave the Lobos the win.
Wyoming’s Corey Bramlet was intercepted twice in the fourth quarter, stymieing the Cowboys’ attempts to regain control. With just over three minutes left, Deric Yaussi attempted a 42-yard field goal that would have tied the game, but the ball sailed over the left post and was deemed no good.
BYU RECAP
Max Hall threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns and linebacker Bryan Kehl returned an interception 36 yards for a TD as BYU beat New Mexico 31-24. The Cougars survived a spirited effort by New Mexico’s defense, but the Lobos will look back on their two fourth-quarter fumbles and Kehl’s TD less than two minutes after kickoff.
BYU led 28-21 early in the fourth after Hall beat New Mexico’s blitz and found Dennis Pitta for a 14-yard TD pass. It was set up when Ian Dulan recovered a fumble by Lobos fullback Matt Quillen at New Mexico’s 32. The Lobos answered on John Sullivan’s 43-yard field goal — kicking into a 20-mph wind — to pull within 28-24 with 7:34 remaining.
New Mexico had the momentum after its defense held BYU to three plays, sending the cherry-colored crowd into a frenzy. But things quickly soured when Frankie Solomon fumbled on the ensuing punt return and BYU’s Chris Bolden recovered at the Lobos’ 22.
Moments later, Hall threw an 11-yard TD pass to diving Andrew George. After a lengthy delay while the play was reviewed, referee Terry Leyden announced the ball had touched the ground and the call was reversed. The Cougars instead settled for a 22-yard field goal by Mitch Payne, taking a 31-24 lead with 4:12 to play.
It was just barely enough. The Lobos were unable to gain a first down on their final possession and punted, and Hall scrambled 17 yards on third-and-10 as the Cougars ran the clock down to put the victory away.
BYU has won on 13 of its last 14 visits to Albuquerque, ever since New Mexico beat the Jim McMahon-led Cougars 25-21 in 1980 — one of the most storied wins in Lobo football history. It seemed the Lobos might finally break through again, but turnovers made the difference. BYU scored 24 points off New Mexico miscues.
Through the first four games, the Lobos had given up only three turnovers. But on this night, Donovan Porterie was 20-of-38 for 231 yards passing with one TD and two interceptions, and New Mexico lost all three of its fumbles.
Rodney Ferguson had a big night in the losing effort, gaining 87 yards rushing on 22 carries and catching four passes for 105 yards, including a 71-yard TD play that helped the Lobos tie it at 21 going into the fourth quarter.
BYU POSTGAME NOTES
Just Can’t Beat `em at Home: It is the third-straight loss for the Lobos against BYU and the fifth consecutive loss for UNM against the Cougars at University Stadium…UNM has not defeated the Cougars in Albuquerque under head coach Rocky Long…the last time UNM won at home was in the 1997 season
Untimely Turnovers: After just 3 total turnovers in the first 4 games, the Lobos had 5 against the Cougars, losing 3 fumbles and throwing 2 interceptions…the Lobos came into the game with a +6 turnover margin, which was tops in the MWC, while BYU was last in the league at -7…BYU scored 24 points following the Lobos’ 5 turnovers…it’s the most turnovers by UNM since giving the ball away 6 times (4 int/2 fumb) against TCU in 2005
Making it Easy: Because of the turnovers, BYU’s TD drives were 7 plays – 57 yards, 3 plays – 59 yards and 4 plays – 31 yards…that’s only a total of 147 yards for 21 points…they also had a 6-play, 17-yard drive that resulted in a FG
This and That: BYU’s 115 yards rushing are the most allowed by the Lobo defense this season…the Cougars’ Austin Collie caught a 59-yard TD pass, the longest play UNM has allowed in 2006…Lobo WRs Marcus Smith and Travis Brown came into the game averaging a combined 16 receptions and 200 yards receiving in the first 4 games…they combined for 12 catches for 87 yards
All-purpose night for Ferguson: Junior TB Rodney Ferguson (Doak Walker Award Candidate) had 87 yards on 22 carries with 2 TDs rushing…he also had a career-high 105 yards receiving on 4 catches…Ferguson has charted more than 100 yards from scrimmage (receiving+rushing) in 9 straight games…his 71-yard TD reception on a screen in the third quarter is the longest play of his career…it was also the longest play by a Lobo since a 71-yard Kole McKamey run in 2005 against New Mexico State and the longest pass play since Casey Kelly hit Dwight Counter for a 71-yard reception against UNLV in 2003…Ferguson has 6 rushing TDs in the last 2 games, a career-high 8 for the season and a total of 9 scores to lead the MWC…Ferguson ranks 14th all-time at UNM with 1,842 yards
Sophomore QB Donovan Porterie completed 20-38 passes for 231 yards and one touchdown, although he did toss two interceptions for the first time in his career…Donovan only had one INT on the year coming into the game…it’s his 4th consecutive game with at least 230 yards passing and 4th consecutive game with a TD pass…Porterie is completing 65.7% of his passes, which would break Kole McKamey’s school record of 62.3 set in 2005
Senior WR Travis Brown had 5 catches for 34 yards, ending a streak of 100-yard receiving games at 3…he has a catch in 30 straight games, the 6th longest current streak in the NCAA…Brown has 1,562 career receiving yards, ranking 10th at UNM…his 139 career receptions are 6th among Lobos, however, he only needs only 4 grabs to pass Hank Baskett, Mike Henderson and Preston Dennard for 3rd behind Terance Mathis and Carl Winston
Senior WR Marcus Smith had 7 catches for 53 yards, his lowest production in a game this season…he has 1,439 yards receiving in his career, ranking No. 12 all-time at UNM…his 104 career receptions are 10th
Dynamic Duo No. 1: Reaching 100 yards receiving in consecutive games against New Mexico State and Arizona, Smith and Brown continue to rank 1-2 in the Mountain West Conference in receiving…Smith is among the NCAA leaders at 8.4 receptions game, plus 98.5 yards…Brown’s averages are 6.6 catches and 80.2 yards a game
Dynamic Duo No. 2: On the defensive side of the ball, senior bookends Tyler Donaldson and Michael Tuohy are excelling…the tandem has combined for 15 total tackles for loss, a figure that leads the MWC…Donaldson is tied with S Clint McPeek for the team lead with 29 tackles…he is tied with Tuohy with 2.5 sacks and is 2nd on the team with 6 TFL..against BYU, Tuohy had 4 tackles, 3 tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks, 3 QB hurries and he forced and recovered a fumble…he leads UNM with 6.5 TFL…Tuohy is tied with John Wingate for 7th at UNM with 17 career sacks…Tuohy has 30.5 tackles for loss and is 4 shy of tying D.J. Renteria and Daniel Kegler for 9th place on that list
Sullivan Still on Target: Senior PK John Sullivan connected on a 43-yard FG in the fourth quarter against BYU…after starting the season missing 2 of his first 3 FGs, he has now made 10 in a row and is 11 of 13 on the year…the school record for consecutive FGs made is 16 by Vladimir Borombozin over the 2000 and 2001 seasons…the two-time MWC Special Teams Player of the Week recipient is 1st in the MWC and (3rd) nationally in FGs by making 2.2 per game…despite playing with a torn ACL in his left (non-kicking) leg, he is 2nd in the MWC in scoring – 9.8 ppg – behind teammate Rodney Ferguson…Sullivan did miss his first PAT of the season after starting 15 of 15
Center of Attention: Senior C Vince Natali was super against BYU…he tallied 12 knockdowns, led the team with a 90% overall performance grade, didn’t allow any pressure on the QB and had no penalties in 77 snaps…he executed his blocks with perfect technique on a season-best 78% of his plays, including a key block on the screen that resulted in Rodney Ferguson’s 71-yard TD, and missed just one assignment all night (99%)…Natali is putting together a breakthrough season, establishing himself as arguably the Mountain West’s top center through 5 games…he has moved ahead of LG Anthony Kilby and now leads the team with 49 knockdowns…Natali has allowed just 1 sack all year and 3 penalties…he consistently puts his teammates in good positions with his line calls and his effort up front has helped UNM lead the Mountain West in scoring offense and rank 2nd in total offense…Natali has been the team’s top-graded lineman 4 times this year and has posted 80% overall performance grades in each game, including 2 games with 90% marks…
Senior P Jordan Scott has punted 16 times for a 43.4-yard average the past 3 games, raising his season number to 41.3 on 25 kicks…Scott’s net average the past 3 games is 41.1 yards with 7 balls landing inside the 20 and 9 being fair caught…although Scott’s season average of 41.3 yards ranks 9th in the MWC, the Lobos have a net average of 37.9, good for 2nd in the MWC and 16th nationally
Junior LB Zach Arnett and sophomore DB Ian Clark tied career-highs with 7 tackles against BYU