New Mexico Football Postgame Notes vs. UTEP
Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007 - El Paso, Texas (Sun Bowl)

Recap |  Final Stats |  Quotes

TEAM
- New Mexico lost for the first time in 15 games when not committing a turnover -Last loss without a turnover was in the 1999 season opener at UTEP (13-10).
- UNM had been 16-1 under Rocky Long in games without a turnover
- New Mexico Defense:

  • Held opponent under 200 yards total offense (195) for 2nd time in last 5 games (TCU - 192)
  • UTEP has averaged 228 yards of total offense in last 3 games against UNM and 213.5 in last 4 in the series.
  • Limited UTEP to one trip inside the red zone which resulted in a punt
    - New Mexico Offense:
  • 90 total plays the most since Oct. 22, 2005 (95 in 47-24 win at San Diego State)
  • 2006 season-high was 76 plays in New Mexico Bowl loss to San Jose State
  • 2 of 4 in the red zone -New Mexico leading rusher versus UTEP last four meetings:
  • Rodney Ferguson 128 in 2007 (El Paso) - Ferguson - 162 in 2006 (Albuquerque)
  • DonTrell Moore - 161 in 2005 (El Paso)
  • Jarrod Baxter - 184 in 2001 (Albuquerque)

    INDIVIDUAL
    Junior TB Rodney Ferguson (Doak Walker Award Candidate)
    - 128 rushing yards on 32 carries...4th consecutive 100-yard rushing game and 5th of his career
    - 578 rushing yards (144.5 per game) in his last 4 games -1,410 career rushing yards ranks 22nd all-time at UNM

    Senior WR Marcus Smith
    - Career-high 11 catches for 77 yards; most catches by a Lobo since Hank Baskett had 11 vs. BYU in 2005

    Junior CB DeAndre Wright
    - Sixth career interception and second in last three games (2nd INT in the Sun Bowl) - 2 break-ups and no long passes allowed (15+ yards)

     

     

    Senior WR Travis Brown - 5 catches for 25 yards
    - Extended his consecutive games with a catch streak to 26 (has a catch in 31 of his 34 career games)

    Senior DE Tyler Donaldson
    - Most tackles (9) in 8 games along with a sack and 2.0 tackles for loss

    Sophomore QB Donovan Porterie
    - Career-highs in both pass attempts (39) and completions (25)...190 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs

    Junior TE Chris Mark
    - Career-high 4 catches for 34 yards...entered the night with 1 for 20 in his previous 12 career games.

    Senior K John Sullivan
    - Fifth-year senior who made his collegiate debut tonight and is playing with a torn ACL in his left (plant leg) knee
    - 2-4 on field goal attempts

    Junior TB Paul Baker
    -Career-highs of 54 rushing yards on 13 carries off the bench.

    MISC.
    - UNM now 63-43-3 in season openers, but just 3-6 in its last 9
    - UNM now 11-25-1 in road season openers with 4 straight losses
    - New Mexico has lost 3 straight in El Paso, last winning in 1997 (38-20).
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