New Mexico

Keys to Success for Arizona Wildcats as they Face New Mexico Lobos

Published

2 years ago

August 27, 2024

Keys to Success for Arizona Wildcats as they Face New Mexico Lobos

New coach Brent Brennan is seeking his first win as Arizona Wildcats head coach when they host the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday.

The Wildcats are facing a Lobos team they used to be rivals with in the Western Athletic Conference nearly half a century ago.

The Lobos are coming off a deflating loss to FCS No. 4 Montana State, 35-31, this past Saturday. What made it worse was New Mexico should have won the game, as they blew a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter.

That loss should make New Mexico a little hungrier than the typical opening opponent, and it also means the Wildcats have to be on alert in a game where they should be heavily favored.

Here are three keys to success for Arizona as they face the Lobos on Saturday.

Arizona’s depth chart at running back was, well, interesting.

Four players were listed at the top with the dreaded “or” on the chart. That list included Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Quail Conley, Kedrick Reescano and Rayshon Luke.

The question is which of these backs — and it’s unlikely to be just one — can replace the production of Jonah Coleman, who transferred to Washington with former coach Jedd Fisch. Coleman rushed for 871 yards and five touchdowns a season ago.

In fact, none of the Wildcats’ top three backs from a season ago are back.

This is opportunity for these four runners to prove their credentials against a defense that allowed 362 net rushing yards last week. With that opportunity is a chance to establish the run against an opponent the Wildcats should beat and start to sort out the running back rotation.

New Mexico didn’t have a great offensive game against Montana State last week, and the run defense left a lot to be desired. But one thing the Lobos did do well was create turnovers.

Against the Bobcats, New Mexico forced two fumbles and returned them for touchdowns. It helped the Lobos build a 17-point lead going into the fourth quarter, though New Mexico wasn’t able to hold onto the lead.

But, if Arizona gives up a turnover or two early in this one, all that does is give New Mexico hope they can win the game.

Protecting the ball allows the Wildcats to avoid that issue.

The Lobos rushed for 152 yards on 28 carries last week, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. But New Mexico only scored once on the ground.

Arizona’s easiest path to win this game is to stop the run the way it did a season ago.

The Wildcats gave up an average of 118.2 yards per game, which was No. 25 in the country. This early in the season, relying on a hard-nosed game plan that limits the run is an easy way to lengthen the game for their offense.

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New Mexico

New Mexico Forward Party moves toward recognition as minor party

Published

5 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

New Mexico Forward Party moves toward recognition as minor party

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New Mexico

Route 66 Visitors Center hosts free New Mexico concert series in Albuquerque

Published

17 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Route 66 Visitors Center hosts free New Mexico concert series in Albuquerque

BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. – Bernalillo County says the reopened Route 66 Visitors Center will host free Saturday concerts for eight weeks featuring New Mexico artists.

The concert series starts Saturday April 11 at 12 p.m. The New Mexico Music Hall of Fame will present the shows.

The lineup for the opening event includes Ivon Ulibarri and Café Mocha followed by Son Como Son. The release says local food trucks and Tractor Brewing will provide food and drinks.

The programs will run every Saturday in April and May beginning at 12 p.m. Other performers include Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra, Mariachi Promesa, Picoso, Red Wine Band with David Nunez, Sorela, Hillary Smith & Chill House, Animated Jukebox and others.

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New Mexico

Rain and thunderstorm chances increase across New Mexico Friday

Published

1 day ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Rain and thunderstorm chances increase across New Mexico Friday

Grant’s Thursday Evening Forecast

Showers and storms will become more widespread across New Mexico Friday afternoon and continue into Saturday. Windy weather will then return Sunday and early next week.

Upper-level moisture is increasing across New Mexico Thursday, leading to a few isolated showers and thunderstorms. Unfortunately, the air near the ground is still very dry, so much of that rain is evaporating before it reaches the surface. That is also creating some locally gusty winds. Thursday has been even hotter statewide, with more of New Mexico climbing into the upper 70s and 80s.

The isolated showers showing up on radar will fade overnight, but cloud cover will continue to increase. Better low-level moisture will move into New Mexico tonight and Friday, helping produce more showers and thunderstorms by Friday afternoon. With that increase in moisture, more rain will make it to the ground Friday afternoon and evening. A couple of storms could become strong in far eastern New Mexico. Rain chances in the Albuquerque Metro will increase after 3 p.m. High temperatures will stay very warm to hot across the state.

Rain will continue overnight into early Saturday morning in parts of New Mexico. That broader area of rain will weaken through Saturday morning, with a few isolated showers and thunderstorms lingering into midday. Areas that miss out on overnight rain will have a better chance of seeing storms Saturday afternoon. A few storms could become strong to severe in eastern New Mexico, with gusty winds and small hail as the main threats. Temperatures will be cooler Saturday afternoon.

Drier air moves in Sunday, leaving just a couple of showers possible in northwest and northern New Mexico. Winds will start to increase Sunday afternoon, with the strongest winds expected Monday. Southwest wind gusts Monday afternoon could reach 45 to 55 mph. Rain chances will return to western, central, and northern New Mexico Monday into Tuesday as a strong Pacific cold front sweeps across the state. Cooler temperatures will follow Tuesday afternoon. Warmer, drier, and calmer weather returns later next week.

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