by Phil Parker
Daily Lobo
It was a game of New Mexico highlights when the Lobos met the Texas State-San Marcos Bobcats Saturday night.
They began with a stellar interception by safety Sidney Wiley and ended with kicker Katie Hnida making history as the first woman to score in a Division I-A game. The final score was a doozy, with UNM winning 72-8.
Though he was certainly pleased with the outcome, Lobo head coach Rocky Long had a different take on the blowout.
"I enjoyed the first part of the game but I didn't enjoy the rest of it," he said. "I don't like games like that. I've been on the other side of those games."
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Six plays into the game, Wiley made his pick off Bobcat quarterback Barrick Nealy.
Wide receiver and kick-return specialist Dwight Counter rushed for 40 yards on the Lobos' first offensive possession, and tailback DonTrell Moore took over from there, rushing the ball into the end zone untouched from 16 yards out.
The first quarter belonged to Moore. After just 15 minutes he had tied his career high of three touchdowns: from 16, 2 and 12 yards out. Moore finished the game with 109 yards rushing.
"The offensive line worked hard and we definitely appreciate what they were doing," Moore said. "We have a great line and it's a credit to them every time I get into the end zone."
In the second quarter it was quarterback Casey Kelly's turn to dominate. Kelly finished the game 12 of 16 for 165 yards.
Scattering passes all over the field, Kelly ended the second half with three touchdowns himself. He hit tight end Mike Augustyniak for a 16-yard score on the first play of the third quarter. He later had touchdown strikes of 32 yards and six yards to Counter and Bryan Penley, respectively.
The Bobcats got their lone score in the second. On fourth-and-three, Nealy completed a 70-yard bomb to receiver Johnny Tyson.
"We had a couple inexperienced corners," Long said.
The Lobos got burned on some deep passes, but Long said the game was a good experience.
Nealy hit another of his receivers, this time in the end zone, while fighting off a sack and throwing the 51-yarder. Texas State did not score again.
The second half started with Moore driving his team down the field and then scoring his fourth touchdown. From that point on, the Lobo reserves led and dealt out more of the same. Kole McKamey took over for Kelly and completed two of six passes, including one perfectly placed over Counter's shoulder for 43 yards.
Quarterback Tali Ena stepped in for a play in the fourth and was perfect, throwing one pass for 20 yards and a touchdown. Hank Baskett made the leaping snag for the score.
It was after that touchdown that Lobo fans who stuck around witnessed a landmark moment for college football. Hnida came into the game and connected on her extra point attempt. She would add another after the next touchdown.
This weekend the Lobos will face Texas Tech in Lubbock. The Lobos will look for revenge after losing to the Red Raiders last season at home.
