Beginner Dynasty

[nredfoot]

Heartbreaker in Albuquerque


Syracuse's Shamarko Thomas picks off Holbrook's pass in the 4th

Albuquerque, NM -- Entering the contest Saturday, New Mexico was looking to take get their 2nd win of the season. BR Holbrook would get his first career start over struggling sophomore Tarean Austin. On the other side Syracuse's outstanding starting QB Ryan Nassib was out for 9 weeks with a shoulder injury. John Kinder, a redshirt freshman, was playing in his place. Kinder struggled last week in the Orange's loss against Wake Forrest throwing 2 picks. On the outside were three very talented wideout in juniors Marcus Sales and Alec Lemon along senior Van Chew. Behind Kinder in the backfield Syracuse relied on solid senior running back Antwon Bailey. On the defensive side of the pall Syracuse has a pair of outstanding linebackers. What early on looked like it might heading to a blowout took a drastic turn in the final quarter

Defense set the tone early in the game and really for most of the game. Neither team was able to score although the Orange offense did get in field goal range. However they would miss both of them. The big news of the quarter would be Antwon Bailey suffering a knee injury knocking him out of the game. Fortunately for Syracuse his backup Princetyson Gulley would put together a very solid day. The first quarter would end scoreless with Syracuse attempting to drive

Ugo Uzodinma smothers RB Antwon Bailey in the backfield

Syracuse would pick up a quick first down but Kinder would make a mistake on the next play. Dropping back looking for Chew over the middle, Kinder would not see junior outside linebacker Spencer Merritt dropping back. Leaping up the Lobo defender would haul down the INT and give the Lobos outstanding field position.

Merritt makes the crucial INT setting the Lobos up nicely

However something that the Lobos would struggle with all day would be finding the endzone. A critical drop by Lamaar Thomas on 3rd down would force James Aho to kick a 43 yd FG, giving the Lobos the first score of the game. 3-0 New Mexico. Syracuse would try and strike back. The Lobos would force a third and long but Kinder would find his favorite target of the day WR Marcus Sales for a big 22 yd pickup and the first down. But again their drive would die at midfield. The two teams would exchange punts but on one 3 and out Gulley would have to leave the game because of a wrist injury. He would return 2 quarters later. Then the Lobos would go on the move again. Big pass plays to Myles Daughtry and Thomas would put the New Mexico offense into Syracuse territory. But the drive would stall when Demond Dennis dropped a sure 1st down. Aho would again come through knocking another one in, this time from 37 yds out. 6-0 Lobos. With very little time on the clock it appeared that's where the score would finish for the half. But disaster on the ensuing kickoff for the visiting team. Ravonne Carter would fly down on coverage and lay a lick on Sales the return man. WR Quintell Soloman would scoop and score extending the Lobos lead to 13-0. Syracuse would choose the safe option with their 3rd string RB now in the game and run the clock out.

Soloman scoops up the fumble and races in for a late half Lobos score

Lobos would get the ball to open the 2nd half. After struggling with his accuracy in the 1st half Holbrook would attempt to settle by opening with a big screen pass to Ty Kirk. Later, stuck in no man's land the Lobos would go for it on first down but again Thomas would drop a crucial drive saving pass resulting in a turnover on downs. Finally Syracuse would put it all together. Cutting the Lobos secondary up with slants, screens, and flat passes working the ball deep into Lobos territory. Then Kinder would find Sales for the 6 yd TD pass finally putting the Orange on the board. 13-7 New Mexico. The defense would hold the rest of the 3rd ending the quarter with the Lobos attempting another drive

Sales cuts back on the Lobos defender to score first Orange TD

The 4th would be a wild finish. The Lobos would finally get the ground game rolling mixing it up with Wright and Dennis. Also a crucial 3rd down conversion seam pass to Kirk. Dennis would finish the drive off with a TD scamper from 3 yds out. 20-7 Lobos. Gulley would return to the field for the Syracuse and with him the Orange's offense. Wasting no time Syracuse would respond with a scoring drive of their own. On 4th down and on the 30 yd line Coach Doug Marrone would opt out of not kicking the FG and go for it. Turned out to be a great call as Kinder would roll right to avoid the pressure and hit Steve Rene over the top for a 30 yd TD pass. 20-14 Lobos. Then the big turnover would finally happen for New Mexico. Holbrook all game had struggled but he had avoided the big mistake. It finally came on the first play of the ensuing drive. Attempting a screen pass Holbrook would be hit as he released it. Unfortunately for the home crowd the ball would go backwards resulting in a fumble. DE Mikhail Marinovich would make the play of the game, scooping the ball up and rumbling in from 11 yds out for the go ahead score. 21-20 Syracuse.

New Mexico would attempt to find some magic on the ground. Dennis would make some gashing runs picking up some yardage for the Lobos offense. However again the drive would die and New Mexico would fail to convert on 4th down. Then Gulley would strike for the Orange. Unable to get a stop or a turnover the Lobos D would sell out against the run trying to get the ball back for their offense. Gulley would take a handoff off tackle, beat one defender on slick juke and then out run the Lobos D to the endzone 28-20 Syracuse. With just over a minute to play the Lobos would have a chance. On first down Holbrook would overthrow a wide open Ty Kirk. 2nd down he would find Kirk for a huge pickup but Kirk would get clocked and be knocked out of the remainder of the short game. Then BR would make his 2nd mistake of the day. Trying to hit Daughtry over the middle Shamarko Thomas would leap in front and take the ball and the game for Syracuse. 2 kneel downs later and the Orange had compeleted the comeback.

Final Score: Syracuse 28 at New Mexico 20

It was a silent lockerroom after the game. "It sucks." said junior running back Demond Dennis. "We had em and let it slip away. We shouldn't of lost this game." Coach Redfoot after the game said that next week he would go with the 2 QB system. Holbrook would get the start and first series. If he had success he would stay in. If not then Austin would get the next series and he would continue to swap till one stepped forward to claim the job. He also said he hasn't ruled out 3rd string senior Brad Gruner. New Mexico finishes their 3 game homestand against defending national champs TCU who have struggled this season without Andy Dalton and crew. The Lobos fall to 1-2 while the Orange move to 2-1

Player of the Game: #54 Mikhail Marinovich 5 tackles 3 TFL FR TD

Key Stats
(NM) BR Holbrook 9-26 149 yds INT fumble
(NM) Demond Dennis 17 rushes 74 yds TD
(NM) Lamaar Thomas 4 rec 54 yds
(NM) Ty Kirk 3 rec 62 yds
(NM) Emmanuel McPhearson 7 tackles TFL
(NM) Carmen Messina 6 tackles 2 TFL
(NM) Freddy Young 6 tackles
(NM) Spencer Merritt tackle TFL sack INT

(SU) John Kinder 19-29 235 yds 2 TD INT
(SU) Princetyson Gulley 13 rushes 117 yds TD
(SU) Marcus Sales 7 rec 79 yds TD
(SU) Van Chew 4 rec 67 yds
(SU) Malcolm Cater 11 tackesl
(SU) Shamarko Thomas 6 tackles INT
(SU) Kevyn Scott 6 tackls

UP NEXT: TCU 2-2 (1-0)

[nredfoot]

Again #1 Falls

- #1 USC life at the top spot is short lived with loss at #10 Stanford 37-25
- #4 West Virginia get stomped at home by #25 LSU
- #20 Tennessee knocks off #13 Georgia 10-9
- Florida continues struggles dropping to 1-3 after losing at home to #22 Auburn
- #16 Oklahoma State loses heartbreaker in Wako to Baylor 20-18
- #18 Mississippi State take 31-3 beating in Starkville to #14 South Carolina
- Florida State moves into top 25 after knocking off #19 Oklahoma
- Missouri and Baylor move back into top 25
- #12 Kansas State is somehow upset by Lousiana Lafayette
- #15 Nebraska continues a rough day for Big 12 losing to Wyoming 27-17
- Bama will now try to hold on to the elusive #1 ranking and Boise once sitting quietly at #2

[nredfoot]

Swing and Miss! Lobos Come That Close To Taking Down TCU


James Ducks Under Rainey's Tackle

Albuquerque, NM -- Last season the TCU Horned Frogs rolled straight through New Mexico on their way to the 2010 crown. It's been a different story in 2011. It appears Gary Patterson's squad is better at being the hunter than the hunted. Last year they were #1 in defense, points per game, and turnovers differentiated. This season they are #84 in defense, #111 in points per game, and dead last in turnover differentiation. Andy Dalton, Ed Wesley, and Jeremy Kerley have all moved onto the NFL. Also out due to injury starting RB Matthew Tucker along with 2010 All-American guard Kyle Dooley. Instead it would be sophomores QB Casey Pachall, HB Waymon James and senior WR Antoine Hicks. New Mexico decided to start BR Holbrook but were going to rotate QBs during the game. And what a game it turned out too be....

TCU struck first. After picking up a first down on option pitch Waymon James struck big. Last year Ed Wesley rushed for over 300 yds against the Lobos defense. James wouldn't get that much but he would put together an outstanding performance. Waymon would take the handoff and go left, break through one tackle, cut back across field and race 40 yds for the first TD of the game. 7-0 TCU. Lobos would go 3 and out and the Horned Frogs would move again. Pachall would put together a 10 play 49 yd drive that ate up 3:04 of the game clock but the drive would die at the 18 and TCU would settle with 35 yd FG. 10-0 TCU. New Mexico would open their ensuing drive with play action pass to Lucas Reed who would shrug off two tackles and for big gain. After a negative rush and sack, Holbrook would find Kirk for big pickup and 1st down. The quarter would end with New Mexico inside the 20 yd line.

James Breaks Away From Messina's Tackle And Races Away For 40 yd TD

The first play of the 2nd quarter would end with an injury. After getting rid of the pass under pressure, Holbrook would be rocked by star TCU linebacker Tank Carter, knocking the junior out of the game. That would mean that embattled sophomore QB Tarean Austin would have to take the helm. He would come in and promptly throw 2 incomplete passes. A 29 yd FG would cap off an impressive 11 play 69 yds 2:49. 10-3 TCU. Next series it would look like the Lobos defense was going to force a 3 and out but on 3rd and short Pachall would play fake and hit his fullback Luke Shivers on the flat. He would break 2 tackles and go for 71 yds and the score. 17-3 Horned Frogs. But New Mexico would come right back. On the 1st play of the following drive Tarean Austin would scramble left and find the sideline uncontested. He would finally be run down all the way at the 3 yd line after scrambling 74 yds. It would take 4 plays but eventually Demond Dennis would reach paydirt. 17-10 TCU. After 2 punts TCU would finish the half with a FG putting the halftime score at 20-10 TCU.

Shivers Shakes Free From Lobos Defender On His Way To 71 yd TD

Austin would finally complete a pass in the 2nd half. After going 0-4 in the 1st half, Austin would connect with Myles Daughty on a hot route for 62 yd TD pass. 20-17 TCU. Again Gary Patterson's unit would respond. This time after a few solid pickups backup tailback Dwight Smith would break free for a long TD. 27-17 Horned Frogs. New Mexico would respond again with a drive of their own that would die in TCU territory. James Aho would hit another FG putting the score at 27-20. On the following possession it looked like New Mexico had gotten a key stop when Ugo Uzodinma would be called for facemask after making the 3rd down tackle. The quarter would end with TCU threatening.

Daughtry Dives Into Endzone For TD

On 2nd play of quarter Johnathan Rainey would get his 2nd sack of the day on forcing a 3rd and 10. Mills would make a great play to swat the ball away from TCU wideout in the endzone forcing 42 yd FG. 30-20 TCU. New Mexico would take field for crucial drive. Dennis would get it started with some solid runs. Then Austin would make some short passes moving into TCU territory but a big sack would kill the drive. Jame Aho would miss his first FG of the year falling short on a 49 yd FG. It wasn't looking good for the home team but the Lobos defense would step up. Two runs would be stuffed and then Hooks would drop an INT on 3rd down forcing a punt. With 4:30 left Austin and the Lobos would take the field. On 4th and 11 Austin would make another big play through the air. After overthrowing Kirk and Thomas on previous 2 pass play, Austin would set his feet and deliver a strike to star junior wideout Thomas. Thomas would do the rest of the work for 66 yd TD. The Lobos had pulled the game within three. 30-27 TCU.

Thomas Cruises In For Important Score

The following TCU possession would be a drive only a championship team can make. 2 runs early in the drive would lead to 3rd and long. Pachall would find James on and out pattern and pick up the first down. Then two plays later Rainey would pop James in the backfield forcing the fumble. But TCU's right tackle would jump on the ball saving the day. But it would still be 3rd and long when Josh Boyce would make the play of the game. Dropping back Pachall would get rid of the ball just before getting drilled by Rainey. Leaping up Lobo's nickel corner Emmanuel McPhearson would swat the ball away however Boyce would readjust and somehow pull the ball in giving the Horned Frogs the first down and the game. TCU would kick one more FG as time expired and sealing the win for the Horned Frogs.

Josh Boyce Hauls In The Ball After McPhearson Deflected It

Final Score: TCU 33 vs New Mexico 27

Tough loss for the New Mexico Lobos. After the game Coach Redfoot would sound disappointed, "We're so darn close to being a real good team. Could be sitting here at 3-1 and instead 1-3. We gotta figure out how to get that winner's edge about us. Two back to back tough games to swallow." Coach Redfoot also said that Austin had earned the start for next week in BYU. TCU moves to 3-2 and 2-0 in MWC while New Mexico falls to 1-3 (0-1).

Player of the Game: Waymon James 26 carries 191 yds TD 4 rec 36 yds

Key Stats
(NM) Tarean Austin 8-19 195 yds 2 TD 3 carries 63 yds
(NM) BR Holbrook 4-6 69 yds
(NM) Demond Dennis 17 rushes 61 yds TD
(NM) Lamaar Thomas 4 rec 90 yds TD
(NM) Ty Kirk 3 rec 47 yds
(NM) Myles Daughtry 2 rec 79 yds TD
(NM) Johnathan Rainey 11 tackles 7 TFL 2 sacks FF
(NM) Carmen Messina 10 tackles TFL
(NM) Freddy Young 6 tackles 2 TFL FF

(TCU) Casey Pachall 16-23 265 yds TD
(TCU) Dwight Smith 3 rushes 60 yds TD
(TCU) Antoine Hicks 3 rec 40 yds
(TCU) Luke Shivers 2 rec 78 yds TD
(TCU) Trenton Thomas 7 tackles
(TCU) Jurell Thompson 5 tackles
(TCU) Tanner Brock 5 tackles


UP NEXT: BYU 2-3 (0-2)

[nredfoot]

Around the NCAA
- #1 Alabama escapes the Swamp beating Florida 30-27
- #3 Virginia Tech wins big in top 5 matchup with #5 North Carolina 34-7
- #4 Iowa loses top 10 matchup against #10 Wisconsin 29-13
- #17 Auburn leaves Columbia with a W after 45-27 win over #12 Gamecocks
- #8 Ohio State falls at home to undefeated Michigan State
- #7 USC continues its fall from the top spot losing by 3 to Arizona State
- Rutgers knock off #11 West Virginia
- Texas Tech beats #21 Oklahoma State in Stillwater
- #18 LSU pounds #22 Mississippi State 31-7
- Virginia Tech swaps places with Boise State; Northern Illinois now up to #12
- Clemson and Michigan State join the top 25
- LaMichael James now on top of early Heisman ballots

[nredfoot]

Close Battle Under The Mountains

BYU QB Heaps Was Left Sprawled On His Back Many Times Saturday

Provo, UT -- Last season BYU won a thriller in Lavell Edwards 34-31. In 2011 New Mexico returned to the beautiful stadium looking for revenge against the 2-3 (1-1) Cougars. Starting star running back JJ Di Luigi was not available for BYU due to a knee injury. Last year Di Luigi tore up the Lobos defense on his way for an over 200 yd rushing performance. New Mexico really needed a win after losing 3 of their first 4 games. Coach Redfoot would start Tarean Austin at QB after an admirable performance last week.

The defensive tone was set early in the game as both teams opening drives ended in punts. However BYU would strike first. On an impressive drive that saw the Cougars offense convert three times on 3rd down. The final third down conversion resulted in a TD as sophomore QB Jake Heaps would find his FB Zed Mendenhall (cousin of head coach Bronco Mendenhall) on a play action pass for a 27 yd TD. 7-0 BYU. The rest of quarter would belong to New Mexico as they would put together a time consuming scoring drive. It started rough for the away team. A negative yd rush and a sack would put the Lobos at 3rd and 17. Austin would find Quintell Soloman across the middle for a clutch first down. Then Demond Dennis would gash the BYU D for a long run. Then again after Austin got sacked he would complete another long pass this one to TE Lucas Reed. Dennis would finish the drive and quarter off with a 4 yd TD run. 7-7

Dennis Drags BYU Defenders In For The Score

New Mexico's defense would come to play in the 2nd quarter holding the Cougars scoreless. The Lobos would add a 38 yd FG early in the 2nd quarter to give New Mexico the early lead. 10-7. It appeared that this is where the score would stay for the half. But with under 30 seconds left and New Mexico attempting to just run the clock out, Demond Dennis would make a big time run. Taking the handoff, Dennis would run straight into 3 BYU defenders at the line of scrimmage. The junior tailback would shrug off all 3 and race away. BYU's backside corner would make a TD saving tackle but not after Dennis picked up 52 yds. The Lobos would make one attempt for the endzone but it would fall incomplete so the Lobos would settle for the long 48 yd FG to close out the half. 13-7 New Mexico

Dennis Breaks Free From Multiple BYU Defenders On His Way To A 52 yd Run

New Mexico would receive the second half kickoff and do nothing with it. BYU would then put together a long 13 play 81 yd drive that ate up 3:37 of the 3rd quarter. However the Lobos defense would hold up inside the 5. Twice stopping the Cougars D on the 1 yd line including stuffing Kariya in the backfield by Kennedy. On 3rd down Heaps would look for Jacobson in the corner of the endzone. Hooks would make a great break on the ball and swat it away. BYU would settle for 18 yd FG. 13-10 New Mexico. That's where the score would stay for the rest of the quarter.

Rainey Rides Heaps To The Ground For One Of His 2 Sacks

To open the 4th New Mexico would force the Cougars in a turnover on downs. Two plays into the ensuing drive Dennis would make the play of the game. A simple stretch play to the left, and Dennis had a clear lane all the way to the endzone for a 61 yd TD. 20-10 New Mexico.

Dennis Sprints Away From BYU D For 61 yd Score

Then things would get crazy. BYU would put together an incredible 16 play drive that overcame 3 sacks to get inside the 10 yd line. Again the Lobo's goalline defense would step up forcing the Cougars to go for it on 4th down. Great pressure would force an errant pass and a turnover on downs. However on the first play of the Lobos drive Dennis would get stuffed in the endzone for a safety. 20-12 New Mexico. With 1:21 left and on their own 35 yd line BYU would try and put together a game tying scoring drive. And what a drive it was. 4 times the Lobos defense forced a third down. All 4 times the Cougars converted and on the last one Heaps would find the endzone through the air. With no time left the Cougars would have to go for 2. BYU would run the option. Faking to Kariya, Heaps would try to take it himself but Freddy Young would come screaming in and drop the QB short of the goalline. Lobos escape!

Final Score: New Mexico 20 at BYU 18

After the game Coach Redfoot was elated. "We really needed that win. Very proud of these kids and the way they fought today. Fell just short last year but we got em this year." The story of the day was the Lobos defense espcially on the goaline and the defensive line. 7 sacks along with 3 goaline stands resulted in a great day for the Lobos unit. "We knew we needed to step." Senior RE Johnathan Rainey said after his 2 sack performance. "We've been soundly beaten too many times by some good offenses it was time we did something about it." New Mexico earned their first MWC win of the 2011 campaign moving to 2-3 (1-1). Meanwhile BYU fell to 2-4 (1-2).

Player of the Game: Demond Dennis 13 carries 167 yds 2 TD

Key Stats
(NM) Tarean Austin 8-18 108 yds
(NM) James Wright 4 rushes 24 yds
(NM) Ty Kirk 4 rec 32 yds
(NM) Lucas Reed 2 rec 43 yds
(NM) Carmen Messina 10 tackles TFL sack
(NM) Johnathan Rainey 8 tackles 3 TFL 2 sacks
(NM) Spencer Merritt 7 tackles
(NM) Ugo Uzodinma 6 tackles 3 TFL sack

(BYU) Jake Heaps 28-40 298 yds 2 TD
(BYU) Bryan Kariya 22 carries 123 yds
(BYU) Cody Hoffman 7 rec 82 yds
(BYU) Mike Muehlmann 4 rec 63 yds
(BYU) Zed Mendenhall 4 rec 58 yds TD
(BYU) Aveni Leung Wai 6 tackles 2 TFL
(BYU) Matt Putnam 5 tackles 2 TFL sack


UP NEXT: Wyoming 4-2 (1-1)

[nredfoot]

Around the NCAA
- #4 Stanford pounds #17 Washington 35-9
- #9 Auburn ends #12 Northern Illinois’s perfect season
- #20 Spartans are on fire opening season 5-0 and with a 21-9 win over #14 Ohio State
- #8 North Carolina falls hard to #25 Clemson
- Arkansas givens #10 Tennessee it’s first loss of the season
- Texas Tech and Arkansas move into top 25
- Stanford leap frogs Boise and VT moving to #2 ranking
- Wisconsin sophomore James White moves atop the Heisman ballots this week

[Knickerbocker91]

Way to bounce back from the tough TCU game by beating BYU.

Looking at the Around the NCAA part is going to give me a heart attack, VT smashed UNC but then gets jump by Stanford.

[nredfoot]

Quote: Originally Posted by Knickerbocker91

Way to bounce back from the tough TCU game by beating BYU. Looking at the Around the NCAA part is going to give me a heart attack, VT smashed UNC but then gets jump by Stanford.

Thanks! I needed that win. And for some reason the ACC is getting no love. VT, FSU, and Clemson are all undefeated but not getting much love in the polls