Nov. 3, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

New Mexico looks to stave off postseason elimination Saturday when it travels to Las Vegas to face a much-improved UNLV team. Kickoff is 8:06 p.m. Mountain Time - 7:06 in Las Vegas - from Sam Boyd Stadium. The game will be televised by The mtn., Channel 276 on Comcast Cable in Albuquerque and Channel 616 on DirecTV.

The Lobos (4-6, 2-4 MWC), who have won three straight against UNLV at Sam Boyd Stadium, dropped their second straight game last Saturday, a 13-10 decision dealt by 10th-ranked Utah at University Stadium.

It was an old-fashioned slugfest that went down to the final minute. New Mexico, limited to 119 rushing yards by the Utes, has not lost three straigt MWC games since the last three games of the 2000 season (San Diego State, at UNLV, at BYU).

UNLV (3-6, 0-5 MWC) was handled by No. 12 TCU 44-14 last Saturday in Las Vegas. The Rebels have lost five in a row. Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes to lead the Horned Frogs. TCU ran for 259 yards, led by Aaron Brown's 60. UNLV managed just 175 yards against the No. 1 defense in the country.

SERIES HISTORY

It's the 16th meeting is a series that started in 1978 with a 24-0 New Mexico victory in Albuquerque. The Lobos have a 9-6 series lead, including a 27-6 victory last year in Albuquerque and a thrilling 39-36 overtime win two years ago in Las Vegas. New Mexico has won 4 straight and 6 of 7 since 2001.

The series is tied at 3-3 in Las Vegas, although the Lobos have won their last three against the Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium. Rocky Long is 7-2 in his coaching career against UNLV, 4-1 in Albuquerque and 3-1 in Las Vegas.

LAST YEAR IN ALBUQUERQUE

Marcus Smith caught a 63-yard touchdown pass from Donovan Porterie and Rodney Ferguson had 117 yards rushing as New Mexico ended the regular season with a 27-6 win. Smith also returned the second-half kickoff 82 yards, setting up a 1-yard TD plunge by Ferguson for a 24-6 lead. Smith finished with eight receptions for 130 yards and Porterie was 18-of-32 for 199 yards passing. Kicker John Sullivan made two 45-yard field goals, boosting his national-best total to 26 on the season.

The Rebels managed just 233 total yards and finished the season with a 15-game losing streak in Mountain West road contests. New Mexico has won six of the past seven in the series. The Lobos survived two fumbles by Ferguson and two interceptions by Porterie on a chilly night. Porterie's second interception came just before the break, on third-and-2 at UNLV's 4-yard line. Mil'Von James stepped in front of a pass intended for Matt Quillen in the right corner of the end zone.

It spoiled a great setup by New Mexico's Glover Quin, who leaped to intercept a throw by UNLV's Travis Dixon at midfield and returned it to the 23. Quin added a late interception that set up Sullivan's second field goal.

TWO YEARS AGO AT LAS VEGAS

Kenny Byrd kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime and Michael Tuohy recovered a fumble on UNLV's first play in the extra session to give the Lobos a 39-36 victory.

New Mexico gave up 28 second quarter points, but rebounded to hold UNLV to eight the rest of the game. The Lobos forced four turnovers after halftime, converting them into 16 points. The final turnover came on the game's last play when Major Mosley forced UNLV quarterback Shane Steichen to fumble. The ball was kicked to around midfield and recovered by Tuohy for the win.

Byrd kicked a career high four field goals, all after halftime, and New Mexico overcame a 14-point deficit. Cody Kase's 47-yard interception return and Martelius Epps' 4-yard touchdown run helped give New Mexico a 36-28 lead with 2:32 to play. But Steichen threw a 9-yard touchdown to Ryan Wolfe and then connected with Renan Saint Preux for the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 36 with 1:03 to play.

New Mexico found the end zone on its first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead. Rodney Ferguson scored on a 9-yard run and Donovan Porterie threw an 8-yard scoring strike to Thomas Wilson and the Lobos defense held the Rebels to a pair of three-and-outs. But Steichen replaced starter Rocky Hinds at the end of the first quarter, leading UNLV to touchdowns on four consecutive series. Steichen passed for five touchdowns and 295 yards, opening the scoring for the Rebels with a 30-yard scoring pass to Ronnie Smith, also connecting with Aaron Straiten for a 14-yard touchdown.

UNLV's 28 unanswered points in the second quarter were five less than the Rebels scored in their last four games. Steichen went 9-for-12 for 188 yards passing in the quarter, including a 75-yarder to Wolfe that gave the Rebels a 21-14 lead.

NOTES TO KNOW BEFORE THE GAME

• New Mexico needs to win its last two games - both on the road - to extend a pair of streaks currently unmatched by any other MWC school: 1) bowl eligibility every season since 2001; and 2) a non-losing record in MWC competition every year since 2001...UNM's last losing record in conference play was 3-4 in 2000

• UNM has lost 4 straight conference road games for the first time since the Mountain West Conference started in 1999

• UNM senior TE Chris Mark is a 2004 graduate of Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman HS...a two-year starter, Mark has played in 35 games with 19 starts...he has 20 career catches for 259 yards and 5 TDs, the most among all current Lobos...Chris' father, Bruno, played offensive guard at UNLV in the early `70s

• Although he has not returned a punt the past 2 games due to injury, junior lobo Ian Clark leads the nation in punt return average at 21.2 yards...the single-season school record is 19.4 yards by Bobby Lee in 1953...UNM's punt return average is 16.0 yards...the school record for punt return average in a season is 14.8 in 1953

• UNLV has played four games decided by 7 points or less, including a pair of overtime wins against Arizona State and Iowa State

• New Mexico is averaging 212.2 rushing yards a game - 3rd in the MWC and 15th nationally...the Lobos have averaged 250.5 yards the past 6 games...UNLV is 115th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 232.4 yards a game

• Senior TB Rodney Ferguson is 2nd in the MWC and 28th nationally in rushing at 99.9 yards a game...a two-time all-league performer, Ferguson has 15 career 100-yard rushing games...his 3,356 career rushing yards rank 2nd in the MWC record book and 3rd at UNM...he is 103 yards from becoming the third Lobo to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons...DonTrell Moore had 4 in a row from 2002-05 while Mike Williams did it 3 straight from 1976-78

• New Mexico and UNLV are the only two MWC teams that did not play a FCS (Football Championship Series formerly NCAA I-AA) opponent in 2008

• Redshirt freshman QB Brad Gruner has not thrown an interception in his last 88 attempts...his last pick came in the 2nd quarter at New Mexico State on Sept. 27...Gruner has completed 68% (40-59) of his passes for 426 yards, no interceptions and a TD the past 4 games...that compares to 25-61 (41%) for 279 yards, 5 interceptions and 2 TDs his first 4 games

• The UNM defense has allowed only 1 TD in the 1st half of the past 5 games, by BYU

• New Mexico is averaging 41.3 points in its 4 wins, but just 10.3 points in its 6 losses

• Senior CB Glover Quin leads the MWC in interceptions (4) and is tied for 1st in passes defended with 12...Quin had 2 picks in last year's win against UNLV...with 28 career pass breakups, Quin needs one to equal the school record set by Stephen Persley from 1998-2001

• New Mexico is 9th in the nation both in punt return average (16.0) and kickoff return average (25.1)

• Senior LB Zach Arnett is 1st in the MWC and tied for 5th in the nation in fumbles caused with 5...that's the most by a Lobo since former All-American Brian Urlacher had 5 in 1999, and is tied for third on the UNM single season list

• New Mexico has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 14 games, since Colorado State's Gartrell Johnson gained 172 last year

• Nov. 1 is the earliest date UNM has ended a home season since 1980 when it closed out against UNLV, also on Nov. 1...that was not a good day 28 years ago as the Rebels handed New Mexico a 72-7 loss, still the worst home defeat in school history

• In UNM head coach Rocky Long's tenure at New Mexico, the Lobos have a 47-12 record when they have fewer turnovers than their opponent, 9-47 when they have more

• UNM junior QB Donovan Porterie was lost for the season late in the 2nd quarter at Tulsa on Sept. 20...he suffered a torn right ACL and MCL on a pass play...Porterie, who had surgery Oct. 22, does not have a redshirt year

GROUND GAME PICKING UP STEAM

The Lobos enter the UNLV game 3rd in the MWC and 15th in the nation in rushing offense at 212.2 yards a game, but they have averaged 250.5 yards over the past 6 games. The current average of 212.2 would be UNM's highest in a season since 244.7 in 1996. The best rushing average for a season under Rocky Long is 210.0 yards in 2003.

New Mexico had 419 yards rushing against San Diego State, the highest total for a Rocky Long-coached Lobo team and the most since 434 yards against New Mexico State in 1997.

LOBOS KNOWN FOR STRONG FINISHES

The Lobos hope the 2008 season continues a near decade-long trend of them being a better team in the second half of the season. Since 2001, New Mexico is 31-13 in regular-season games played on Oct. 12 or later.

LOBOS HAVE TOUGHEST SCHEDULE AMONG MWC TEAMS

According to this week's NCAA stats, New Mexico continues to have the toughest schedule among the nine MWC schools. Based on past and future opposition, the Lobos' schedule has a winning percentage of .568, which is the 24th hardest in the nation and the most difficult of all non-BCS teams. Colorado State is at No. 31.

UNM's non-conference opponents - Texas A&M (4-5), Arizona (5-3), Tulsa (8-1) and New Mexico State (3-5) have a combined record of 20-14. Three of the Lobos' 2008 opponents are currently ranked in the top-20 of both major polls: Utah, TCU and BYU, while Air Force, Arizona and Tulsa are receiving votes.

The combined record of the six teams UNM has lost to is 45-10: TCU (9-1), Texas A&M (4-5), Tulsa (8-1), BYU (8-1), Air Force (7-2) and Utah (9-0).

EARLY END TO THE SEASON AND NO OFF WEEK

New Mexico will be the first FBS school to complete its 2008 regular season when it plays at Colorado State on Nov. 15. Every other team finishes Nov. 22 or later. Nov. 15 is UNM's earliest date to end a regular season since Nov. 13, 1943.

The Lobos are also one of only two FBS schools that do not have an open week in 2008. Purdue also plays 12 straight weeks from Sept. 6 to Nov. 22.

YOUNGSTERS MAKING PRESENCE FELT

A number of true and redshirt freshmen are really making a positive impact on the 2008 season:

K James Aho: 14-19 FGs and 22-22 PATs...tied school record with 5 FGs in Arizona win, 4 from 40 yards or more

QB Brad Gruner: 3-3 as a starter...averaging 5 yards per carry, including team-high 52-yard rush against Wyoming

OT Byron Bell: started every game at RT...1st freshman to start at OT since 1994

S Bubba Forrest: played in every game on special teams...has 4 tackles

CB Anthony Hooks: 4 tackles in 3 games after being pulled off his redshirt year.

NT Brett Kennedy: 1 interception for a TD and 1 caused fumble that resulted in a TD for Jaymar Latchison against San Diego State

DE Jaymar Latchison: 15 tackles, 3 TFL, 1.5 sacks and leads UNM with 2 fumble recoveries, one returned 28 yards for a TD

LB Carmen Messina: played in every game...27 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries

DE Johnathan Rainey: 10 tackles and a caused fumble in 9 games as a reserve end

WR Michael Scarlett: started 5 games...3 catches for 27 yards at BYU and a 40-yard pass completion against San Diego State

S Mica Williams: 14 tackles, primarily on special teams

TB James Wright: 348 rushing yards in 6 games...6.5 yards per carry and a pair of 100-yard games on the ground

K Drew Zamora: Primary kickoff man

UTAH RECAP

Louie Sakoda kicked two field goals and No. 10 Utah scored its only touchdown off a little trickery to keep its BCS bowl hopes intact with a 13-10 win over New Mexico on Saturday night.

Utah struggled on offense as the Utes came into the game averaging a conference best 39 points. The defense made up for it with key stops. The last two stopped Lobo drives at midfield, one on downs with 3:46 left in the game and the other as time ran out.

New Mexico gave the Utes all they could handle and stayed within upset range late into the game behind a 10-yard touchdown run by Rodney Ferguson and a 38-yard field goal by James Aho.

Sakoda remained perfect on the season making a 43 and 38-yard field goal. He has yet to miss this season from inside 47 yards.

The Utes got their only touchdown when quarterback Brian Johnson threw a short pass to wide receiver Jereme Brooks, who then lateraled to Brent Casteel to complete the 7-yard scoring play with 3:23 left in the third quarter.

New Mexico came right back with a 9-play, 80-yard drive, with Ferguson and quarterback Brad Gruner taking turns finding holes in Utah's front line. Ferguson scored on the final play of the third quarter after the Lobos caught a break.

Ferguson fumbled at the Utah 10 and Ute cornerback Sean Smith recovered it. But the officials reversed the initial call, ruling the Lobo halfback was down before the ball came loose.

Utah lost a chance to gain some breathing room when Lobo cornerback DeAndre Wright intercepted a Johnson pass in the end zone on the Utes' ensuing drive. Wright got inside position on wide receiver Freddie Brown to kill an impressive Utah drive that started on the Utes' 5-yard and included three plays of 20 yards or more.

New Mexico's defense repeatedly blitzed Johnson and it kept the Utes offense off stride most of the night. Sakoda's 38-yarder as time expired gave Utah a 6-3 lead at halftime, the fewest points the Utes have scored in the first half this season.

Aho's field goal finished off New Mexico's only sustained drive in the first half as the Lobos drove from their 19 to the Utah 21.

UTAH POSTGAME NOTES

• UNM is now 2-2 against nationally-ranked Utah teams

• The average starting field position of the Lobos' six drives in the second half was their own 14-yard line...Utah P Louie Sakoda had two punts downed on the UNM 2 and 1, respectively

• The Lobos played turnover-free football for the second time this season (Wyoming)...UNM had been 19-2 under Rocky Long when not committing a turnover

• New Mexico had won 8 straight games decided by 3 points or less

• Utah came into the game leading the conference in scoring at 39 points a game...the Utes were held to a season-low for points...their previous low was 25 at Michigan

• The Lobos trailed 6-3 at halftime, holding Utah to a pair of field goals...it's the fewest points Utah has scored in the 1st half this season...

• New Mexico was limited to 284 yards of total offense, but in the 1st quarter the Lobos had 0 first downs, 3 yards rushing, -4 yards passing and -1 total yards

• In its last 8 home games, New Mexico has allowed averages of 13.5 points and 271.8 yards...UNM has not allowed a TD in 4 of those games

Senior RB Rodney Ferguson
• season-lows for carries (13) and yards (32), plus 1 TD
• passed Winslow Oliver for 3rd place all-time at UNM with 3,358 rushing yards
• moved into 4th place in MWC history with 33 career rushing TDs
• moved into a tie for 3rd place in MWC history with 36 career TDs overall
• moved into 4th place in MWC history with 216 career points for a non-kicker

Redshirt freshman QB Brad Gruner
• a career-high 16 carries for 62 yards on the ground
• a career-high 165 yards passing on 16 of 25 attempts with 0 interceptions
• 40-59 (68%) passing for 426 yards and 0 interceptions the past 5 games

Senior CB Glover Quin
• had 6 tackles and 1 pass breakup, giving him 28 for his career, tying Steve Bradshaw (1971-73) and Eric Jack (1990-93) for No. 2 all-time at New Mexico...the record is 29 by Stephen Persley (1998-2001)
• No long passes allowed

Senior CB DeAndre Wright
• started his 40th consecutive game • 6 tackles, a 2-yard tackle for loss and his 10th career interception in the end zone, tying Utah's Andre Dyson for 4th in MWC history • suffered a left shoulder injury on the interception in the 4th quarter and did not return

Lobo Clint McPeek
• 11 tackles (8 solo, 0 missed), giving him a team-high 90 on the season...5th game with double-digit tackles in 2007

Freshman K James Aho
• 1-2 on FGs, connecting from 38 yards; he had a 41-yard attempt blocked
• 14 of 19 FGs on the season; the freshman record is 15 by David Margolis in 1989

Redshirt freshman LB Carmen Messina
• recovered his 2nd fumble of the season on a muffed punt, tying fellow redshirt freshman Jaymar Latchison for the team lead