New Mexico Lobos vs. San Diego State
When/Where: 7:30 p.m., Friday – Branch Field at University Stadium.
On The Air: ESPNU, 770-AM KKOB/Lobo Radio Network
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By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
It’s a homecoming of sorts for the enemy from San Diego called Rocky Long and the Lobos in the house on Friday night would love to see this former Lobo make a little history.
And lose back to back Mountain West games for the first time in his tenure as head man for the San Diego State Aztecs.
It’s a pivotal game for Bob Davie’s Lobos and Long’s Aztecs. Both teams will step onto Branch Field at University Stadium looking to even out their season records at 3-3. UNM is 2-3 on the year and 0-1 in Mountain West play. SDSU is 2-3 and 1-1 in league play, but coming off a critical loss at Fresno State.
The obvious thing for both teams is that there is still enough time and enough games to become bowl eligible. This game could be pivotal in making postseason a reality. The Aztecs have reached the postseason for four consecutive seasons. The Lobos have not played in a bowl since Long coached the Lobos.
The reality for Long’s defense is he has to stop the option. So, will he change up a few things on his defense to adapt to UNM’s three-pronged ground attack?
“All of these teams to a degree have adjusted to us. Rocky won’t,” said Davie. “Rocky does what Rocky does and that’s why he’s a great coach.”
The Aztecs beat UNM 35-30 last year in San Diego.
Long probably needs an outstanding effort from his defense to win this game. He is going with a true freshman at quarterback and that freshman experienced some bumps and bruises in SDSU’s loss at Fresno. Nick Bawden threw two interceptions and he fumbled the ball away after a scramble. That is the only fumble loss for SDSU on the season — so far.
Quarterbacks need to honor possessions, so this was not a good outing for the Aztecs’ rookie. But he has taken a lot of snaps in practice this past week in preparation for the Lobos. He should be better.
The Lobos are coming off a 21-9 win at UTSA and Coach Davie credited his defense for keeping the Roadrunners from throwing up big numbers on the scoreboard. UTSA had one touchdown. You win a lot of games if you only allow one touchdown. The Lobos did a better job distorting the line of scrimmage in San Antonio and came up with turnovers and tackles for a loss – and two big interceptions.
That aggression needs to achieve at a similar level vs. the Aztecs.
“Most of it is getting teams into third down,” said Davie. “And executing our third-down package.”
That should be a key against Bawden and the SDSU offense. You want a freshman quarterback facing the pressure that comes with third down. Aggressive pressure can lead to mistakes – and punts.
The Lobos will have a freshman facing that kind of pressure, too. Davie said Cole Gautsche likely will get the start, but Davie expects redshirt freshman Lamar Jordan to see a lot of snaps. Jordan was the highlight of the Lobo offense in the win at UTSA.
“Lamar does a couple of things,” said Davie. “I think number one, he’s a great scrambler. I think that he has that knack to be able to scramble, but to also to scramble and look to make the throw. He’s pretty confident.”
Jordan is the type of athlete who can have success on broken plays. He is instinctual. He is quick. But the Lobos also need their option to run machine-like. Long’s defense will be trying to make sure this doesn’t happen.
UNM’s top rusher is Jhurell Pressley with 387 yards on an 8.4 average per carry. Crusoe Gongbay has 354 yards, but is nursing a foot injury. Gautsche has 265 yards on only 23 carries for an 11.5 average per tote. Jordan has 207 yards.
Lobo linebacker Dakota Cox has 73 tackles. The next best UNM total is 27.
“He really does have a nose for the ball,” said Davie. “He playes amazingly hard every play. That’s just what he is. He’s a unique guy. These are legitimate stats. It’s really kind of remarkable.”
Long comes into University Stadium as the all-time Mountain West leader in wins with 92. He has earned 27 as an Aztec and the rest came when he patrolled the sidelines as a Lobo. The 1974 UNM graduate has never been on the losing sidelines of a Lobo/Aztec game in 12 games.
“I have a lot of respect for Rocky,” said Davie. “He’s a heck of a football coach. He’s got a unique style with the way he coaches. He’s got a unique scheme. I know this is a big game for him to come back here, but, man, it’s a big game for us too.”
The Aztecs’ defense is pretty solid in 2014. That unit gave up 315 total yards to Fresno State. The Lobos gave up 593 total yards to the Bulldogs. SDSU forced two turnovers and had nine tackles for a loss. The Aztecs were doomed by their turnovers.
SDSU’s opponents have failed to reach 400 yards in four of the Aztecs’ five games this season. Their 369.6-yard yield per game is No. 50 nationally. The Lobos average 412 total yards on offense with 322.4 coming on the ground. Long traditionally like to gamble a bit, attack the line of scrimmage and disrupt timing.
The Lobos’ offense might have Long’s defense lean more to assignment football, but expect the SDSU defense to aggressively attack the corners.
The Aztecs average 189 passing yards per game and182.8 rushing yards. It’s reasonable to expect Long to emphasize the running game early to try and take some of the pressure off his young quarterback. The Aztecs’ go-to back is Donne Pumphrey, who has 561 yards for an average of 112.2 per game and 5.7 yards per carry. The Aztecs average 23.8 points per game and give up 21.4 points. UNM is averaging 26 points and allowing 33.6 points per game.
Editor’s Note: Richard Stevens is a former national award-winning Sports Columnist and Associate Sports Editor at The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net.