Tough Loss

by Phil Parker

Daily Lobo

The Lobos fell to BYU 10-7 in a tightly-contested game of field position Saturday night at University Stadium. The loss marked the 21st defeat in the last 23 meetings between UNM and the Cougars.

Trouble started for the Lobos on the third series of the game. Lobo punter Tyler Gaus's kick appeared to hit the BYU return man, then was nabbed by UNM and run into the end zone. Though replays were inconclusive, the touchdown was waived and the ball was awarded to the Cougars.

On the next play, BYU halfback Reynaldo Brathwaite took the handoff, ran left into a crowd of defenders, switched directions and streaked down the right side of the field for a pick-up of 89 yards. The Lobos would hold the Cougars to a field goal, but the three points put BYU up for good.

The Lobo offense, excellent in their first two games, couldn't do any damage in the first half. Long said the loss was due to a mixture of tough defensive play from BYU and bad execution by the Lobos.

"They're big and strong up front so we couldn't run the ball as well as we have the first two games," he said. "We didn't throw it or catch it very well."

Hard rushing by UNM tailback DonTrell Moore and short passes from quarterback Casey Kelly were able to move the ball somewhat. However, every drive in the first half, with the exception of a fumble by tailback D.D. Cox was capped with a Gaus punt.

The Cougars, on the other hand, managed a touchdown before the half ended when quarterback Matt Berry hit tight end Phillip Niu for a 30-yard score, giving BYU a 10-0 advantage.

Momentum switched to the Lobos in the third quarter when Kelly connected with receiver Adrian Boyd on a screen. Dodging tackles and following blockers, Boyd turned the short pass into a big gain. He scrambled 66 yards to the BYU three-yard line.

"The lineman did a great job of getting downfield and setting up their blocks," Boyd said. "I was just able to weave in and out off their blocks."

Boyd's run was the play that got Lobo fans back into the game.

"I felt the crowd getting louder and more excited as I ran," Boyd said. "I was glad I could bring a little momentum back to our sideline."

Two plays later, Moore took an option pitch from Kelly and ran the ball in for the team's only score of the night. Rushing on a sore ankle, Moore finished the game with 104 yards and one touchdown.

On UNM's next possession, Kelly and Moore took their time driving down the field to the BYU 28. Once there, however, the offense stalled.

When Kelly's pass to Boyd on fourth down was one yard short, the Lobos were done for the night.

The loss has put the Lobos at 0-1 in the conference. Long's team was in a similar situation last year when they lost the third game to Air Force.

"I don't want to play conference games early because you don't really know the personality of your team yet," he said. "You learn the personality of your team after you play four or five games."

Next up for UNM is another Cougar team, Washington State University. Kick off will be at 3 p.m. in Pullman, Wash.