Sophomore quarterback Casey Kelly threw two touchdown passes and UNM held the nation's leading rusher to 93 yards in a 20-15 victory over San Diego State University Saturday night at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
After trailing 7-0 early in the game, the Lobos outscored the Aztecs 17-3 in the second quarter. Kelly hit wide receiver Dwight Counter with a 36-yard touchdown pass and added a 61-yarder to senior wide-out Joel Baker, both in the second quarter, as the Lobos took a 17-10 halftime lead.
UNM field goal kicker Vladimir Borombozin added a 37-yard field goal after a partially blocked punt by wide receiver Derrick Shepherd gave UNM the ball at the Aztecs 18-yard line.
The Lobos (4-4, 3-2 in the Mountain West Conference) used a tough defense that held San Diego State to just 204 yards in total offense.
UNM held Aztec star running back Larry Ned in check for much of the game. Ned leads the nation with an average of 146 yards rushing per game for San Diego State, but had only 93 yards on 27 carries. He didn't score a touchdown.
San Diego State (2-7, 1-4), which lost its fourth straight game, scored its only touchdown on quarterback Lon Sheriff's 4-yard pass to Gray McNeill in the first quarter.
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San Diego State field goal kicker Tommy Kirovski added field goals of 42 and 36 yards.
The Aztecs closed to within 17-15 in the fourth quarter when linebacker Jerome Haywood came on a blitz and sacked Kelly in the end zone for a safety. But the Lobos recovered a fumble by SDSU senior punt returner Dante Gamble and Borombozin added to the UNM lead by kicking a 37-yard field goal with 2:06 left.
Gamble fielded the punt near the SDSU 35-yard line, but fumbled as he attempted to tuck the ball away.
Lobo reserve linebacker Shannon Kincaid recovered the fumble at the Aztec 38-yard line. Five plays later, Borombozin connected on his second field goal of the night and 14th consecutive conversion overall.
Senior defensive end Brian Johnson sacked Sheriff with 1:14 remaining in the fourth quarter on a fourth-and-seven play from the Aztec 47-yard line to secure the Lobos' victory. It was Johnson's first sack of the season.
The Lobos won for the third straight time in San Diego and improved to 3-2 in the Mountain West Conference, tied with Colorado State University for third place
Kelly finished 11-of-32 passing for 208 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception, while Counter led the Lobos with four receptions for 69 yards.
For the Aztecs, Sheriff was 13-for-35 passing for 135 yards and a touchdown, while senior receiver Derrick Lewis and junior receiver J.R. Tolver finished with six catches apiece for 79 and 75 yards, respectively.
The Lobos return to action next weekend when they play the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (3-6; 2-3) Saturday for the first of a three-game homestand. Kick off is slated for 5:07 p.m. at University Stadium.
Staff and wire reports
