Lobos in search of a rivalry win
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Former WAC foes
WEEK 3: New Mexico Lobos versus the Texas El Paso Miners
WHEN: Saturday, September 17, 2022, 6:00 MST/8:00 EST
WHERE: College Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
WEATHER: Sunny, with a excessive close to 89. Mild south wind rising to 10 to fifteen mph within the morning.
TV: MW Community My50-TV
RADIO: RADIO: Lobo Radio Community 77KOB Albuquerque; KLAQ 95.5 El Paso
SERIES RECORD: UNM leads 43-33-3
LAST MEETING: UTEP gained 20-13 in El Paso (09.25.21)
WEBSITES: golobos.com; utepminers.com
FEI PROJECTION:
The UNM Lobos and the Texas El Paso Miners will sq. off in Albuquerque Saturday night at College Stadium in what needs to be a well-attended recreation.
The Lobos host the eightieth assembly between New Mexico and the UTEP Miners, with kickoff slated for six pm Saturday at College Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico will likely be honoring three previous groups with a profitable Lobo soccer historical past, not only for Lobo followers however for head coach Danny Gonzales.
The 1962 WAC Champions: The 1962 staff was UNM’s second title and the primary of three straight; that title was the primary for the reason that 1938 Border Convention title. The 1962 staff went 7-2-1 total and 2-1-1 within the WAC.
The 1982 “Justice Bowl” Champions: The 1982 Lobos went 10-1, the one 10-win staff in class historical past.
The 1997 Mountain Division Champions: A staff wherein Danny Gonzales was a participant, this Lobo staff went 9-4, hammering Tulsa (there’s your justice) 51-13 to clinch a spot within the WAC title recreation, the place UNM misplaced to Colorado State. The Lobos went on to play within the Perception.com Bowl, UNM’s first bowl recreation in 36 years.
Head Coach Danny Gonzales has made it a Lobo worth if you’ll about honoring Lobos of the previous, the current, and the long run
Keys to Victory
1) Include the Miner’s offense, Awatt & Hardison
The Miners are coming off a win in opposition to its arch-rival, the New Mexico State Aggies, 20-13, and look good on Protection however look to enhance on offense.
Operating again Ronald Awatt was their main rusher going for 110 yards on 21 makes an attempt for a mean of 5.2 yards per carry.
Quarterback Gavin Hardison went 13/27 for 158 yards passing and one landing. He had a really spectacular ranking of 109.5 with out throwing an interception.
The Miner protection gave up 213 on 40 makes an attempt or a mean of 5.3 yards per run allowed, so search for the Lobos to take advantage of this with their very proficient working backs.
The Miners have a complete of 977 complete yards for the season and are balanced within the scoring with two dashing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns.
The unfavourable for them is that they have turned the ball over 4 occasions this season and are 96th in NCAA D1 Division in permitting their opponents scoring and dedicated 16 penalties this 12 months for over 155 yards.
2) Get the soccer into the explosive playermakers palms
The UNM Lobos come into the sport at 1-1 and are coming off a loss final week to Boise State, 31-14.
Lobo QB Miles Kendrick (one landing) ended that recreation with solely 98 yards on 9 of 28 with a Quarterback ranking of 73.3, the optimistic he didn’t throw a decide.
Kendrick was pressured by the very giant Boise State Bronco Defensive entrance for many of the recreation, therefore the low numbers and QB ranking.
Sherod White ran the ball simply twice for 22 yards ending the sport with a powerful 11 yards per carry.
This Lobo offense regarded strong in opposition to FCS Maine Black Bears however struggled final week to maneuver the ball all through the sport in opposition to Boise State.
It was clear that there was a big disparity in expertise and measurement from the Black Bears to the Broncos the next week.
The underside line is that some groups with a weaker opponent could be a little bit of idiot’s gold, and you actually understand how good you’re once you play a division opponent within the MWC.
For the season, the Lobos are scoring 27.5 factors per recreation and are averaging 280 complete yards per recreation on offense per recreation.
Now this staff is evening and day totally different when it comes to athleticism, measurement, expertise, and energy.
They rush for 146 yards per recreation as they’ve good working backs in Sherod White, Nate Jones, freshman sensation Christian Washington, and Chad Alexander.
Sherod White as he at present leads the staff with 80 yards and two touchdowns. New Mexico solely averages 124 passing yards per recreation however failed to maneuver the ball in opposition to the Broncos.
And viewers of final week’s recreation received a brief burst of the potential they’ve in watching Christian Washington’s two kickoffs, one for 31 yards and the opposite for 100 yards.
For that effort, Washington earned his first weekly honor as he was named Mountain West Freshman of the Week.
Huge receiver Geordon Porter has regarded very spectacular and, in my view, may play on Sundays; he’s that good.
UNM should discover a option to get their playmakers the ball, particularly with the deep pictures down the sphere.
UNM nonetheless has two of the perfect broad receivers within the Mountain West Convention in Luke Wysong, Porter, after which throw in explosive Bobby Wood.
One other issue could possibly be Trae Corridor, former QB who Offensive Coordinator Derek Warhime transformed to a large out, who will likely be again for the Lobos this recreation.
So search for the Lobo offense to bounce again this week, and Miles Kendrick will begin and regardless of final week’s recreation has 268 yards passing and three touchdowns this season.
3) Make the Miners flip the ball over!
The Lobos sit 86th within the nation, averaging 27.5 factors per recreation. All through the season, the Lobos at present have a complete of 268 yards by way of the air and a mean of 134.0 passing yards per outing, which has them sitting 122nd within the nation.
The New Mexico Lobos maintain a mean of 280.0 yards per outing, rating them 122nd in Division 1.
On Protection, this Rocky Lengthy 3-3-5 has regarded strong and held Boise State final week for about three quarters earlier than getting drained within the 4th quarter.
The Lobos have given up a complete of 170 yards on the bottom, 85 yards per outing, and 0 touchdowns through the push this season.
They’ve allowed the opposition 3 touchdowns by way of the air, and 133.0 yards/recreation, rating them twelfth in Division 1.
The Lobos protection has taken the sphere for 110 performs, which ranks twelfth within the nation. The Lobos are surrendering 15.5 factors per recreation, rating them fortieth in Division 1. All through the season, they’ve relinquished 31 factors in complete
This Danny Gonzales & Rocky Lengthy Defensive Combo is paying huge dividends and offers followers hope for the long run.
So the underside line is when the Lobo offense begins to make some noise and rating factors, this Lobo staff will little doubt be a contender within the MWC.
Any fan watching the Lobos this 12 months can see a a lot greater high quality of effort, energy, and explosiveness so far as staff play is anxious.
Danny Gonzales’s constant preaching on effort, doing issues proper on and off the sphere, and being so optimistic is now infecting this Lobo staff.
I predict that the Lobo Protection will include this Miner offense and search for Danny Gonzales to assault the playmakers on offense and put plenty of stress on them.
On this recreation, we’ll see Offensive Coordinator Derek Warehime have a strong recreation plan to run the ball proper on the Miner’s Defensive entrance to dominate the road of scrimmage and arrange the downfield pictures to WR Porter or WR Wysong, and the Lobos have a breakout offensive recreation.
Enjoying final week’s robust division foe, Boise State pays dividends on this recreation.
UNM Lobos 35 Utep miners 14.
