by Phil Parker
Daily Lobo
The Utah State Aggies come to town this weekend for UNM's annual Homecoming game.
After winning last weekend against NMSU, the Lobos hope to put together a win streak and also avenge one of their tougher losses last season.
Last year, in Logan, Utah, the Aggies tied a hard-fought game with a Hail Mary pass in the final seconds of the game. Both teams scored in overtime, but UNM sophomore Kenny Byrd missed the extra point and USU won 45-44.
"It was a devastating loss last year," running back DonTrell Moore said.
Defensive end Daniel Kegler said he is looking forward to another chance to beat the Aggies.
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"The loss has been in the back of our minds up until this point," he said. "We let them slip through our hands last year."
Head coach Rocky Long said that the Utah State offense will offer a distinct challenge this year.
"They are the most complicated, formation-changing oriented football team I have ever tried to defense," he said. "They shift and motion every single snap."
In order to throw off opposing defenses, Long said Aggie players line up wherever they want to on the field, and then shift to where they're supposed to be before the snap. Then someone always goes in motion.
"It makes it almost impossible to have any extra stuff on defense or be complicated on defense," Long said. "And we are a complicated defense."
The Aggie defense runs a fairly simple scheme that Long said is fundamentally sound. He said they don't give up big plays and they are much better this year than they were last year.
A big question for the Lobos after beating NMSU last week concerns their quarterbacks. Even though backup Kole McKamey started the second half, in which UNM rallied from a seven-point deficit to win, Long said there are no plans to put him in the game this weekend.
"I won't hesitate to put him in there if Casey (Kelly) is having a bad night," Long said. "But we could struggle on offense and Casey not be having a bad night."
Injuries have also been a big factor this year, but the Lobos have reason to be optimistic on that front.
Though senior tackle Jason Lenzmeier won't play this weekend, he appears to be set to return for the team against San Diego State on Oct. 18.
Moore, who's been playing on a sore ankle, said he will not be slowed down by the injury.
"I am getting there," he said. "It's not my ankle anymore, it's my foot. It's the bone and the only way for bone to get better is to rest it, and in this business you don't get to rest it. I just have to wrap it up and give it my all and it will be 100 percent before too long."
The Homecoming game against the Aggies will start tomorrow at 6 p.m. at University Stadium.
The Lobos have a bye next weekend before heading to San Diego state the following week.
"We can get two wins in a row," Moore said, "and have confidence and momentum going into the bye week."
