Nov. 19, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
The regular season comes to a close Saturday as New Mexico (7-4, 4-3 MWC) entertains the UNLV Rebels (2-9, 1-6 MWC). Kickoff is 3:36 p.m. Mountain Time from University Stadium in Albuquerque. Television coverage will be provided by The mtn. The game can also be heard worldwide on 770 KKOB-AM (www.770kkob.com).
The Lobos aim to win 8 games in a season for only the ninth time in 109 seasons of football, and for just the fourth time since two-platoon football began on a national level in 1965. The first time was 1927 (8-0-1), the last time 8-5 in 2003.
The postseason scenario for the Lobos is somewhat murky. One thing for sure is that if TCU loses at San Diego State Saturday, UNM will play in a bowl game. If the Horned Frogs win at San Diego, then the possibility of New Mexico playing in its fifth bowl game in the past six seasons will remain a mystery.
Last Saturday, Utah took advantage of four Lobo fumbles – three in the second half – in a 28-10 victory at Salt Lake City. Shutout in the first half, UNM closed to 14-10 in the third quarter. But, two muffed punts spoiled the comeback. The Lobos held the Utes to just 58 yards of offense in the second half.
UNLV lost its seventh straight game, falling 34-10 at TCU.
SPECIAL TICKET PROMOTION FOR UNLV GAME
All fans who attend the UNLV game on Nov. 24 will receive a coupon for a free ticket to a Lobo men’s or women’s basketball game in the month of December. Coupons will be distributed upon entrance to the stadium. The offer is not valid for men’s basketball games against Texas Tech (Dec. 15) or New Mexico State (Dec. 19).
Notes and numbers entering Saturday’s game:
UNM is the only school in the MWC to have at least 6 wins – and be bowl eligible – every season from 2001-07…the Lobos are also the only MWC school that has not suffered a losing conference record every year since 2001
UNM has won 8 straight games decided by 3 points or less, 4 in 2007
Lobo K John Sullivan set an MWC record with his 24th field goal last Saturday at Utah…the previous mark was 23 by Colorado State’s Jeff Babcock in 2002…a 4-time MWC Special Teams Player of the Week honoree, Sullivan continues to lead the nation in FGs with 2.4 a game…the NCAA record is 2.63 per game set by UCLA’s John Lee in 1984…Lee made 29 in 11 games
UNLV LB Beau Bell leads the MWC in tackles (111, 10.1 a game) and fumbles forced (4) while DB Mil’Von James is the conference leader in passes defended with 18, or 1.64 a game
UNM junior TB Rodney Ferguson needs just 9 rushes to set a UNM record for carries in a season…Ferguson has 268 totes on the season, 51 more than the No. 2 ball carrier in the league, Utah’s Darrell Mack…the Lobo record is 276 by DonTrell Moore set in 13 games in 2003…the MWC season record is 328 by Colorado State’s Cecil Sapp in 2002
New Mexico is 9-5 in its last 14 road games overall and 13-6 in MWC road tilts since 2003…UNM is 7-9 in its last 16 home games, including 5-6 in MWC contests since 2005
The Lobos have won 4 home games in one season for the first time since 2003 when they went 5-2
Lobo sophomore QB Donovan Porterie, whose first career start was last year at UNLV, is 10-4 in games he starts and finishes
Senior WR Marcus Smith is 10 catches shy of Terance Mathis’ single-season school record…Mathis caught 88 balls in 1989…Smith ranks 3rd on the UNM single-season reception list with 78, which leads the MWC…Smith has 19 more receptions and 124 more yards than the nearest non-Lobo receiver in both categories
No UNM defensive player is in the top-18 in the MWC in tackles, but 19 Lobos have at least 20 stops on the season
SENIORS MAKE LAST APPEARANCE AT HOME
A total of 21 seniors will make their last appearance in University Stadium this Saturday and will be introduced right before kickoff. Ten of the 21 will be four-year lettermen:
Ryan Boyd – Sacramento, Calif.
Travis Brown – West Covina, Calif.
George Carter – Albuquerque
Bryan Clampitt – Dallas, Texas
Devin Clark – Mesa, Ariz.
Tyson Ditmore – Las Cruces, N.M.
Tyler Donaldson – Lawrenceville, Ga.
Eric Garrison – Spring, Texas
Stephen Hutchison – Elgin, Texas
Cody Kase – Valencia, Calif.
Anthony Kilby – Albuquerque
Brett Madsen – Mt. Pleasant, Utah
Bart Miller – Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Major Mosley – Houston, Texas
Vince Natali – Park Ridge, Ill.
Jon O’Brien – Tehachapi, Calif.
Jordan Scott – Bellbrook, Ohio
Marcus Smith – San Diego, Calif.
John Sullivan – Tehachapi, Calif.
OJ Swift – Apopka, Fla.
Michael Tuohy – Moreno Valley, Calif.
UNM – UNLV SERIES
It’s the 15th meeting is a series that started in 1978 with a 24-0 New Mexico victory in Albuquerque. The Lobos have an 8-6 series lead, including a thrilling 39-36 overtime win last year in Las Vegas. New Mexico has won 3 straight and 5 of 6 since 2001. Despite an early 17-0 lead, UNM held on for a 24-22 victory in the 2005 season and home opener on Labor Day. The Lobos have a 5-3 advantage at University Stadium.
UNM-UNLV: LAST YEAR IN LAS VEGAS
NEW MEXICO – UNLV TWO YEARS AGO IN ALBUQUERQUE
Smith Nominated for FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award
IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS FOR SOME OF UNM’S HONORS CANDIDATES
Punter Jordan Scott
Heads a punting unit that leads the MWC and ranks 9th in the nation in net punting
Leads the MWC with 38 fair catches forced – 20 more than the nearest punter
12 punt returns allowed are the fewest in the league – 5 less than the nearest punter
Fewest return yardage allowed in the league (82) – 35 less than the nearest team
Opponents have recorded positive punt return yardage in just 6 games all year
Tied for first in the MWC with 24 punts inside the 20 (9 inside the 10)
Just 4 touchbacks, which is the fewest in the league among players with 20+ punts inside the 20 (2nd fewest overall)
Wide Receiver Marcus Smith
The most dominant WR in the league all year, whose nearest competition has been teammate Travis Brown
Has 19 more receptions and 124 more yards than the nearest non-Lobo receiver in both categories
Cornerback DeAndre Wright
Leads the team with 11 passes defended, including team-highs of 3 interceptions (career-high 67 return yards) and 8 pass break-ups
6 long passes (15+ yards) allowed all year with 4 coming in back-to-back games against New Mexico State (No. 6) and Arizona’s (No. 10) nationally ranked passing attacks
Has 5 PBUs, 2 INTs and has allowed just 2 long passes (15+ yards) in man coverage during last 8 games…has been thrown at just 8 times in man coverage the past 5 weeks (4 times at Utah)
Numbers are particularly impressive considering many opponents choose not to challenge him downfield
Center Vince Natali
Has allowed just 1 sack in over 350 passing attempts this year and none in the past 8 games
6 straight games without a penalty and just 3 on the year
Over 80% performance grade in every game this fall
Perfect technique on at least 75% of his snaps in 5 games
Average performance grade against the league’s top 4 defenses was 88.8% (no sacks or penalties): 90% vs. BYU, 91% at Wyoming, 87% at TCU and 87% at Utah
Offensive Tackle Devin Clark
Tied season-high with 86% overall performance grade at Utah
Did not allow any hits or sacks on the QB against the Utes
Has allowed just 2 sacks in over 350 passing attempts this year
UTAH RECAP
POSTGAME NOTES FROM UTAH
New Mexico lost in Salt Lake City for the first time since 2001
The Lobos sacked Ute QB Brian Johnson 3 times and limited him to 165 yards (16-27) and an INT
UNM has 8 sacks over the past 2 games after going 4 in a row without any
Senior K John Sullivan (All-America & MWC Special Teams Player of the Year candidate) set an MWC record and extended his own school record with his 24th field goal of the year…”Sully” has kicked a FG in all 10 games he’s appeared in this fall…Sullivan remains 1st in the MWC in scoring, averaging 9.7 points a game…he is 3 points from becoming just the 3rd Lobo to score 100 points in a season…DonTrell Moore did it twice (2003 and `05) while K Colby Cason had 103 in 1997
Junior CB DeAndre Wright (All-MWC Candidate) tied his career-long with 42-yard return on his 3rd interception of the year and 8th of his career to set up first Lobo TD…he allowed 3 completions for a total of 17 yards and none over 15 yards…the past 8 games, Wright has allowed just 2 long passes and has 5 break-ups and an INT
Junior TB Rodney Ferguson (All-MWC Candidate) had 110 yards from scrimmage and a TD on 21 touches…he has 100+ yards from scrimmage in 12 of last 15 games (14 in his career)…Ferguson is tied for 7th on the UNM single season list with 12 rushing TDs…he has scored a TD or picked up a 1st down on 6 of 7 4th down rushing attempts
Senior P Jordan Scott (All-MWC Candidate) had a 40.5 net average on his 9 punts and forced 7 more fair catches, giving him a MWC best 38 this fall…he allowed just 1 return and still has a league-low 12 returns against on 66 punts this season
Sophomore lobo (S) Ian Clark had double-digit tackles (11) for the third straight week and continues to lead the team with 73…over the past 7 games (3 starts) he has 63 tackles (9.0/game), 2 forced fumbles and a fumble return for a TD…Clark had just 10 tackles first 4 games of the season
Senior WR Marcus Smith (All-MWC Candidate) had 6 catches for 64 yards…he now has 78 catches this season for 909 yards…Smith is 3rd on the UNM single-season reception list – 10 shy of Terance Mathis’ school record of 88 – and tied for 6th on the career list with 140 catches…he is 10th on the single-season yardage list and; 8th on the career yardage chart
Senior DE Michael Tuohy (All-MWC Candidate) picked up another sack and now has 19.0 for his career, tying John Wingate (1994-97) for 6th on the UNM all-time list and that is also one shy of the MWC record…it’s the most at UNM since half sacks began to be tallied in 1992…Tuohy has 36.5 career tackles for loss to rank 7th all-time at UNM…he has a career-high 12.5 TFLs (9 solo, 7 assists) this year and has a TFL in 5 straight games
Senior DE Tyler Donaldson (All-MWC Candidate) has a career-high 12.5 tackles for loss on the year and has notched a stop in the backfield in 8 of 11 games…Donaldson’s last 2 games: (6 tackles), 4.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks…3 more tackles would give him 61, the most by a UNM defensive lineman since 1995 (Steve Malonson – 73)
Junior CB Glover Quin (All-MWC Candidate) was thrown at 3 times and did not allow any long passes (15+ yards)…he has 6 pass break-ups, all coming in the last 6 games, and has not allowed a TD pass all year
Senior WR Travis Brown (All-MWC Candidate) was held to 2 catches for 23 yards at Utah, but still managed to surpass the 2,000-yard mark for receiving…he is 6th at UNM with 2,017 yards on 168 catches (3rd all-time)…Brown has caught a pass in 36 consecutive games, tied for 6th longest active streak in NCAA
Sophomore QB Donovan Porterie’s completion percentage of 58.9 ranks 4th for a season at UNM…the season record is 62.3 by Kole McKamey in 2005…he has completed 205 passes in 2007, the 4th-highest total in school history…Porterie’s 2,437 passing yards ranks 8th for a season by a UNM quarterback