by Phil Parker
Daily Lobo
A record crowd of 44,075 was on hand to watch UNM rally from a seven-point halftime deficit against NMSU Saturday at University Stadium.
Turnovers were key in the 24-17 Lobo win.
The Lobos were down 14-7 to start the third quarter, but it didn't take long for UNM to fight back.
Lobo safety Sidney Wiley intercepted Aggie quarterback Buck Pierce's second pass of the half deep in Aggie territory. Five rushes later, DonTrell Moore took a pitch heading left and scored the tying touchdown from 11 yards out.
NMSU took over with the score tied. Four plays into the Aggies' next drive Pierce threw another interception, this time to Lobo cornerback Gabriel Fulbright. Fulbright started running after coming down with the leaping pick, but fumbled just as he seemed to gain full possession of the ball. Safety Brandon Ratcliff, trailing the play, scooped up the fumble and took off, dodging and weaving for a 46-yard return.
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"I was just trying to get the receiver and I saw the ball pop out," Ratcliff said. " I didn't wait for anything. I just picked it up and started running."
Wes Zunker's 43-yard field goal put the Lobos up for good.
The Lobos' final score came off another turnover. Just as the third period ended, Aggie return man Ronshay Jenkins fumbled Tyler Gaus's deep punt. Martin Lovato knocked the ball out just as Jenkins began running, and Lobo Kevin Walton recovered the ball at the NMSU 8-yard line.
"These things usually come in waves," UNM head coach Rocky Long said. "It's about changing momentum."
After two runs by Moore, Lobo quarterback Kole McKamey hit receiver Hank Baskett with a lob in the back corner of the end zone.
The fade pass was one McKamey relishes.
"I love the fade," he said. "I made a living on that play in high school."
McKamey said it's a nice way to surprise a defense near the goal line, when they're expecting smash-mouth runs.
"That play takes the pressure off our line and off our running backs," he said. "Plus the fact that I'm throwing to a 6-foot-4 receiver who can jump makes it an easy play."
Sophomore Baskett is a former high school high jump champion.
The touchdown gave the Lobos a 24-14 lead. NMSU would add a field goal late to produce the final score.
"Casey (Kelly) was making mistakes and giving them momentum," Long said.
He added that the change was not permanent, just one he felt needed to be made after Kelly threw 7 for 15 with two interceptions in the first half.
"It happens," Kelly said. "This is just football. I'm more excited about the win than anything else."
The UNM defense severely limited the Aggies scoring abilities in the first half. The two NMSU touchdowns came on deep passes of 39 and 72 yards, both from Pierce to a streaking Jenkins.
Jenkins had eight catches for 200 yards.
Moore finished the game with 113 yards and two touchdowns for UNM. He had 30 carries, tying a career high.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Lobos.
UNM welcomes the Utah State Aggies to University Stadium for the Homecoming game this weekend. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.
