Nov. 16, 2008
MISC.
- New Mexico finishes the season 4-8 overall, 2-6 in the MWC…it’s only the 2nd losing season in the past 8 years for the Lobos…UNM lost its final 4 games of the season – the longest losing streak since dropping the last 4 in 1998.
- New Mexico is the first FBS team to finish its season…the Lobos opened on Aug. 30 and played 12-straight weeks without a bye…Purdue is the only other team to play the entire season with an off-week.
TEAM
- CSU’s Gartrell Johnson (127 on 30 carries) becomes the first player in 15 games to rush for over 100 yards against the Lobo defense…Johnson was also the last to go over 100 against UNM (172 on Nov. 10, 2007)…Johnson also had the 1st rushing TD against UNM in 9 games…he and TCU’s Joseph Turner are the only players to rush for over 100 yards against New Mexico in the past 26 games
- 24:21 time of possession was the lowest of the year
INDIVIDUAL
Senior RB Rodney Ferguson – All-MWC Candidate
- -85 rushing yards on just 14 carries (6.1 avg.)…just 3 rushing attempts in the 2nd half…98 yards from scrimmage (13 receiving)
- -Finishes his career 3rd at UNM and 2nd in the MWC in rushing yards (3,564)
- -1,105 rushing yards in 11 games this season – his 3rd straight 1,000-yard season
Senior CB Glover Quin – All-MWC Candidate
- Interception on the Lobo 7-yard line and a pass break-up in the end zone on a 4th-and-goal play -No long passes (15+ yards) allowed for the 4th straight game
- All 7 career INTs came in his final 14 games, including a career-high and MWC-best 5 in 2008
- Extends his school record for career PBUs to 31…MWC-best 16 passes defended in ’08
Senior LB Zach Arnett – All-MWC Candidate
- -8 tackles and his MWC-best 6th forced fumble of the season…it’s the most forced fumbles by a Lobo since 1990 (Steve Vaipulu) and 1 shy of the school record
- -35 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 QB hurries and 2 forced fumbles in his final 4 games
Senior CB DeAndre Wright – All-MWC Candidate
- After missing the previous game at UNLV he made his 41st and final career start two weeks after suffering what was believed to be a season-ending dislocated left shoulder…has also played much of the season with a damaged right shoulder that will require offseason surgery…last week was the first game he’s missed in his career (48 games).
- 2 tackles and 0 long passes allowed despite very little strength or range of motion in his arms
- Just 1 long pass allowed in his final 7 games of the season
Junior lobo (S) Clint McPeek – All-MWC Candidate
- First career interception comes in the end zone…finishes the season with a career-high 10 passes defended (9 PBUs)
- 7 tackles, including a TFL…finishes with a career-high 4.5 TFL in ’08
Senior S Blake Ligon
- Ties his career-high with 3 pass break-ups, including 2 in the end zone…0 long passes allowed
- Finishes with 7 PBUs this season and just 1 long pass allowed in the final 7 weeks
Redshirt Freshman QB Brad Gruner
- Season-highs for passing yards (204), completions (23) and attempts (39)
- Completed passes to 7 different receivers
Redshirt Freshman K James Aho
- 2-3 on field goals (lone miss from 46)…4th multiple FG game of the year
- Extends his UNM freshman record to 18 FGs (24 att.)
- Was 11-12 on 2nd half FGs this fall, including 5-5 in the 4th quarter
Sophomore WR Bryant Williams
- Ties career high receiving numbers with 5 catches for 54 yards
Sophomore WR Chris Hernandez
- Career-high 5 catches (51 yards)
Redshirt Freshman LB Carmen Messina
- Career-high 6 tackles, including 2 for loss
Senior RB Paul Baker
- Rushed for 27 yards on 5 carries…finishes with 1,007 rushing yards in his career