Sept. 25, 2008
Lobo Football
Saturday: Lobos at New Mexico State
When: 6:05 p.m. (MDT)
Where: Aggie Memorial Stadium
Television: Aggie Vision (also broadcast on Fox Sports Arizona) – Comcast Ch. 10 & 77 in Albuquerque, DirecTV Ch. 699, Dish Network Ch. 447, ESPN Gameplan/ESPN360.com
Quick fact: UNM has won five straight
Next up: Wyoming at Lobos (Oct. 4), 7:30 p.m.
By Richard Stevens
Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
Maybe this new quarterback thing is a secret weapon Lobos coach Rocky Long throws at the New Mexico State Aggies rather than an apparent weakness for the Aggies’ to stab at on defense.
The Lobos will step into Aggie Memorial Stadium Saturday with rookie QB Brad Gruner getting his first-ever start for the University of New Mexico. Not exactly what a Lobos fan, or a Lobos coach, might want prior to the big game to establish football bragging rights for a year between those who love Lobos and those who love Aggies.
But recent history suggests that this quarterback issue isn’t always a huge factor when it comes to Lobos beating Aggies. The Lobos often win with team play, defense, depth, running the football and old fashioned, smash-mouth football that creates NMSU turnovers.
Gruner will be the third UNM quarterback in as many years to start against NMSU and both previous scores of 44-34 and 34-28 leaned in favor of New Mexico. Last year, Donovan Porterie got his first start against the Aggies and looked awesome, going 17-of-24 for 342 yards with no interceptions and two TDs in UNM’s 44-34 win in Albuquerque. Porterie was lost to UNM for the remainder of the 2008 season after suffering a knee injury last week in the 56-14 loss at Tulsa.
In 2006, Kole McKamey made his third straight start against the Aggies, but that seemingly positive scenario took a sharp turn for the worse when McKamey went out on the third snap of the game with a career-ending knee injury and backup Chris Nelson had to take over the huddle. Nelson went 11-of-26 for 283 yards with no interceptions and three touchdowns in the Lobos’ six-point win in Las Cruces.
You can also jump back to 2003 to find UNM quarterback woes against the Aggies. Senior Casey Kelly was the starter in that 24-17 UNM win in University Stadium, but with the Lobos trailing 14-7 at the half, the struggling Kelly was replaced by McKamey, who led UNM to the win.
The point here is that UNM has several times faced QB problems or QB question marks going into the Aggies’ game, but the Lobos still sit on a five-game winning streak. The Aggies last win was 24-13 in 2002 in Las Cruces.
There obviously is some concern over Gruner taking over the huddle from the experienced Porterie. Gruner is a redshirt freshman looking at his first collegiate start, but he did play the second half against TCU and the second half against Tulsa.
Kole McKamey’s third start against NMSU ended three plays into the 2006 game with a career-ending knee injury |
UNM’s recent history suggests the odds are in Gruner’s favor to have a winning outing. The past 12 UNM quarterbacks are 8-4 in their first starts with wins going to Porterie (2006 vs. UNLV), Nelson (2005 vs. Utah), Justin Millea (2002 vs. UNLV), Kelly (2001 vs. Wyoming), Sean Stein (1999 vs. SDSU), Graham Leigh (1997 vs. Northern Arizona), Donald Sellers (1995 vs. NMSU), Scott Peterson (1995 vs. NAU).
The four losses went to McKamey (2004 vs. Washington State), Rudy Caamano (2000 vs. Oregon State), Jeremy Denson (2000 vs. Texas Tech) and Eric Jaworsky (1999 vs. UTEP).
Gruner hasn’t looked all-world in his second-half performances for UNM – 10-of-26 for 191 yards, 4 interceptions, 1 TD – but Gruner has been handed the huddle both times during emergency situations after a Porterie injury. The NMSU game gives Gruner a full week of preparation with the first unit. One other thing, too: he will not be pushed into the game with the Lobos trailing by double digits on the scoreboard.
“I’m going to put everything on the line,” said Gruner. “It’s my turn to go. My name’s been called.”
Long said the offensive plan against the Aggies will be re-tooled to take advantage of Gruner’s abilities.
“They will try to lighten the load,” said Gruner.
That could mean a lot of things, but it could mean UNM will attempt to lean on the bullish runs of senior Rodney Ferguson, who is averaging 118.5 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry.
The unknown factor here is what NMSU’s first-year defensive coordinator, Joe Lee Dunn, will do with his defense. Dunn is a former UNM defensive coordinator and Lobos head coach.
There is a chance Dunn might pack the line of scrimmage to soften the Ferguson factor and force UNM to use Gruner’s arm to move the football.
“I’ve been under a good deal of pressure (before),” said Gruner. “I know I can play a lot better. Knowing my (offensive) package will help me.”
Gruner’s confidence also appears to be high. When asked about the difference between his abilities and the abilities of Porterie, Gruner said: “For the most part, I don’t think there is too much separation.”
Sound like an Aggie slayer?
Editor’s note: Richard Stevens is a former Associate Sports Editor and sports columnist for The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net. Previous articles are available at The Richard Stevens Corner