Nov. 18, 2006

Recap |  Final Stats

TEAM

-UNM intercepted two John Beck passes, giving the Lobos' 12 on the year...it matched the most interceptions Beck has thrown this year...he had thrown just 4 INTs coming into today

-After five games (3-2 record) decided by a total of 17 points, New Mexico suffered its worst defeat of the season (25 points)...the Lobos need to defeat San Diego State in the season-finale in Albuquerque to become bowl-eligible for a sixth straight season.

-BYU's 653 yards are the most against New Mexico since 1991 when the Cougars gained 659 in a 41-23 win in Albuquerque...BYU had 419 in the first half, 234 in the second.

-New Mexico's 418 yards of total offense are the most against BYU at home this year, a total of six games.

INDIVIDUAL

-Sophomore TB Rodney Ferguson rushed for a game-high 138 yards on 20 carries...it was Ferguson's second 100-yard rushing game of the year and the most yards against the Cougars this year...Ferguson matched his career-long with a 45-yard run in the third quarter to set up a Lobo TD.

-The MWC's leading rusher, Ferguson is now 78 yards from 1,000 for the season

-Ferguson also had 3 catches for 23 yards for 161 total offense yards...it was his 4th game over 100 yards rushing/receiving this year.

-Senior Lobo (safety) Quincy Black recorded a game-high 10 tackles and returned his third interception of the year 88 yards for a TD.

-It was Black's 2nd career INT return for a TD...he also had a 31-yard pick and score last year at Utah...Black has 138 yards on his 3 INTs this year (46 avg.)...the 88-yard return ranks as the 8th longest in school history

-Black notched his MWC-leading 8th game with double digit tackles, giving him a career-high 104 on the year...he is the first Lobo to post 100 tackles in a season since LBs Daniel Gawronski and Billy Strother recorded 100 apiece in 2003.

-Junior WR Travis Brown notched his 2nd 100-yard receiving game of the year, finishing with 6 receptions for a game-high 116 yards, including a 35-yard TD.

-Brown moved into 10th place on the UNM all-time list with 96 career receptions (1,060 yards)...he has caught at least one pass in 23 consecutive games and 28 of his 31 career games.

-Senior QB Chris Nelson made his fifth start of the season and seventh of his career, finishing with 245 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs on 22-38 passing.

-The passing attempts and completions were both career-highs for Nelson who completed passes to 8 different receivers - a season-high for the Lobos.

-Senior K Kenny Byrd, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, connected on his only field goal attempt from 31 yards out...the MWC Special Teams Player of the Year candidate has hit 23 straight from inside 40 yards over his career...he ranks fifth on the UNM single season list with a MWC-high 16 field goals this fall.

-Byrd also sent all 4 kickoffs into the end zone and recorded 2 more touchbacks to give him a MWC-high 26 on the year.

-He is 4th all-time at UNM with 30 FGs

-He has 85 career PATs, tied for 3rd all-time at UNM

-Senior TE John Mulchrone tied a career-high with 3 receptions for 27 yards...Mulchrone's 19 receptions for 273 yards this season are the most by UNM tight end since David Sloan had 24 for 320 in 1994.

MISC.

-Today's attendance of 63,814 was the largest crowd UNM has played in front of since the 1998 season when 64,118 watched BYU down the Lobos 46-21.