New Mexico Lobos vs. Fresno State Bulldogs
When/Where: 6 p.m., Friday — Branch Field at University Stadium
On The Air: ESPN2; 770-AM KKOB/Lobo Radio Network
GoLobos.com: Game Story, LoboTV, Stats, Quotes, Game Notes
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
The game between New Mexico Lobos and Fresno State Bulldogs has a sharp edge. Lobo Coach Bob Davie doesn’t deny it. He remembers the cut.
The scar from the wound inflicted a season ago in Fresno, Calif., still aches and here comes the Bulldogs trying to ruin the Lobos’ Homecoming game.
“This one is personal,” said Davie of Friday’s kickoff with Fresno. “They put it on us as bad as they could (last year). We just got pounded.”
The scoreboard and the feelings shared by all Lobos as they pulled out of Fresno last year should be motivation to change results. The Bulldogs beat the Lobos 69-28. They moved the ball at will and did it right up to the end. You could say the Bulldogs didn’t call off the dogs.
“I don’t think we have to say a word (to the players),” said Davie. “If you were on that trip, if you walked up that tunnel, up that hill, with all their fans outside that fence. If I have to say something to our guys about that, then we have the wrong guys, because we just got whipped, whipped, whipped.
“It was unbelievable, an unbelievable deal up there last year. That was personal. That was a beating.”
The Fresno ‘Dogs rolled out 820 yards last year in Fresno. They were picked to win the Mountain West’s West Division in 2014, but bring a 1-3 record onto Branch Field. This is the conference opener for both teams. You have to look at the Bulldogs’ schedule to put those losses into perspective: at USC, at Utah and vs. Nebraska.
The Bulldogs’ got their growl back last week in a 56-16 romp over Southern Utah. They ran for 389 yards and scored 35 unanswered points. The Bulldogs surely are hot to throw out a two-game win streak and continue to put points up on the board. They have some proving to do.
In a way, this game looks a lot like New Mexico’s win over New Mexico State. There will be two offenses that can move the football and two defenses that bend and break too frequently. The Lobos have the No. 2 rushing team in the nation averaging 349.7 yards per game. The Lobos ran for 432 yards in their 38-35 win over NMSU.
The Lobos’ challenge is on defense. They gave up 499 yards to the Aggies. They are 117th out of 125 teams in total defense yielding 518.3 yards per game. Davie went into the season preaching how his defense needed to make stops and get off the field. That is not happening enough. The Lobos are last (125th) in the nation in 3rd down conversion defense giving up a 57.4 percent rate to the opposition.
“I talked to our defense exactly about that point,” David said referring to third-down stops. “We’ve used all of our energy on getting lined up; being late getting lined up. Then we miss a tackle. We can’t get off the field because we don’t execute. We’re always just one play behind and it’s so frustrating. It’s so frustrating.”
Obviously, the Lobos need to get off the field vs. Fresno State. The Bulldogs took some early lumps but still have the Mountain West run to prove they are an exceptional team.
The ‘Dogs have been struggling to find a substitute for graduated quarterback Dereck Carr, who was the league’s MVP in 2013. That offense looked good against Southern Utah rushing for 389 net yards and passing for 291 yards. Brian Burrell went 13-of-20 for 131 yards and Zack Greenlee went 4-of-7 for 109 yards. Brandon Connette, a transfer from Duke, went 5-off-11 for 51 yards.
The Bulldogs had three touchdowns by land and four by pass. They used three quarterbacks, in part, because they had the luxury of a big lead. The Lobos used three QBs in Cruces for other reasons.
The Lobos played without Cole Gautsche in the second half at New Mexico State. UNM was worried the pulled hamstring that kept him out of the Arizona State game had seen enough stress in the first half. The junior is expected to start Friday vs. Fresno. Senior Preston Mitchem and freshman Lamar Jordan also are healthy and ready to go.
We got a bunch of good kids in there led by Cole who is one of the most unselfish guys ever,” said Davie.
An obvious key Friday is how long Gautsche will stay on the field. Another big key is how long the Lobos’ defense will stay on the field.