New Mexico Lobos Football at New Mexico State
When/Where: 6 p.m. — Aggie Memorial Stadium
On The Air: 770 KKOB-AM, Lobo Radio Network; ESPN3.com
GoLobos.com: Game Story, Stats, LoboTV
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
As always it is a draw-a-line-in-the-dirt kind of game. It’s a geographical challenge. It’s a prideful battle for soil. In a way, it’s North vs. South, but the winner gets the bragging rights on all sides of the compass.
Of course, it’s a big game because it’s New Mexico Lobos vs. Aggies. However, there is more on the line than merely Rio Grande Rivalry points or state pride – although those things do matter.
The Lobos need a win. The Lobos need a win badly. They are 0-2 and a 1-2 mark would look so much sweeter than 0-3 especially if the win came at Las Cruces against Aggies. “It’s a big game, obviously, for us,” said Davie.
It’s a big game for New Mexico State, too. The 2-1 Aggies need to continue their good start. They reversed UNM’s 0-2 start, but then lost at UTEP 42-24. Still, Aggie Coach Doug Martin has his young Aggies motivated. He is preaching that a bowl-eligible season can be reached as long as the Aggies avoid a losing streak the rest of the way in.
That means they have to beat the Lobos Saturday at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
“I think it’s pretty neat,” said Lobo Bob Davie of the intensity of Saturday’s game that tends to turn all New Mexico fans into either Lobos or Aggies for a day. “Our football team understands what this rival is. They understand how important it is to win this game.”
Coach Davie says “They are a lot like we are, to be honest,” referring to NMSU’s experienced coaching staff, but that statement can carry over to the youth on the NMSU roster and the rebuilding chore that Martin has shouldered in Cruces.
The Aggies are young. The Lobos are young. Both teams have proven so far in 2014 that they
can move the ball and put up points. However, both defenses have shown vulnerability that has both head coaches concerned. There have been bends and breaks.
“The biggest thing that they are (on defense) is they are incredibly disciplined,” said Bob DeBesse, UNM’s offensive coordinator. “They don’t try to baffle you a lot. They are extremely sound.”
Both teams would be willing to forgive some bending on defense as long as there weren’t too many breaks – as in giving up points. .
“We’re both playing with younger players on defense,” said Davie. “They’re a lot like we are. They have got some weapons on offense and they are trying to accelerate their growth on defense. “
Youth makes mistakes. Youth misses tackles. Youth gives up points. The UNM pistol offense should have good moments against the NMSU defense and the Aggies spread offense should have good moments against UNM.
The Aggies like to spread out teams, create gaps in the defense and exploit those gaps with astute and quick reads from sophomore quarterback Tyler Rogers. He also needs to throw it well. He is 65-of-111 on the year for 723 yards and really is the key to the NMSU offense because of his arm and his reads.
“The quarterback is a solid guy, a good operator,” said Davie.
The spread offense also gives the stable of Aggie running backs, keyed by Larry Rose III, plenty of space that they possibly can turn into one-on-one battles with UNM defenders. “He’s a quick sudden-change kind of running back,” Davie said of Rose. “That’s really what you are looking for in these spread run games.”
The Aggies will throw out a variety of formations trying to confuse the young Lobo defense. The Aggies will use tight ends and five-receiver looks. UNM needs to put pressure on Rogers while not getting burned by Rose.
“We need to spend our time on tackling and getting in the proper position to make plays,” Davie said of his team’s defensive preparation for NMSU.
The Aggies try to create advantages by creating gaps and one-on-one duels. The Lobos’ option gives them an advantage in numbers (bodies) on the ground attack.
The UNM pistol leans to the option attack and should do that whether or not Cole Gautsche (pulled hamstring) is leading the charge. If Gautsche does not play, or is limited in minutes, it will be interesting to how Davie uses senior Clayton Mitchem and freshman Lamar Jordan.
Mitchem still has the experience over Jordan and Mitchem has talent. He probably is the better passer of the three quarterbacks. However, Jordan might have the best balance as a run-pass threat. For sure, the Lobos will try to establish a running game in Cruces.
Davie said he is preparing like Gautsche will not play. Martin says he anticipates that Gautsche will play.
The Aggies young defense will be severely tested by UNM’s option, but NMSU played Cal Poly in the Aggies’ opener and had to deal with a polished run attack. “They played it pretty good,” said Davie.
The Lobos should be able to do things – and stop things – that they weren’t able to do or stop against Arizona State. If you factor in the score of last year’s game – a 66-17 Lobo win over NMSU – you have to figure that UNM is a bit ahead in the rebuilding process.
“You know they’re going to talk about that score all week,” said Davie. “They’re going to put that up on signs.”
Then you factor in other things like Aggie Memorial Stadium and that line in the dirt and state pride. A former Lobo once said, “If we lose, we’ll never hear the end of it.”
Really, that’s how it is for both Lobos and Aggies. That’s how it should be.
Editor’s Note: Richard Stevens is a former Associate Sports Editor and national award-winning sports columnist for The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net.