The Lobos almost shut out the nation's No. 3 rushing attack in their 24-12 win over the Air Force Falcons Saturday at University Stadium.
UNM dominated from the first snap and never let up. The Falcons' only touchdown came on a 1-yard rush with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
"That's a good offensive football team," UNM head coach Rocky Long said. "I was disappointed they scored at the end and so were our defensive players. I thought we were going to keep them out of the end zone. That's as good as we can play."
UNM held the renowned Falcon rushing unit to only 27 yards in the first quarter while the Lobos racked up more than 100.
After Air Force moved only eight yards on its opening drive, quarterback Casey Kelly and tailback DonTrell Moore took over for the Lobos to get four first downs and a touchdown on UNM's first possession.
Moore carried seven times for 40 yards and the score. Lobo kicker Wes Zunker added the extra point to give the Lobos a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.
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Moore eased into the end zone again in the first four seconds of the second quarter to score his 20th touchdown of the season. He finished with 188 yards on a career-high 36 carries and set the UNM single-season rushing record.
Air Force made its first appearance on the scoreboard with less than 10 minutes left in the half. Kicker Joey Ashcroft connected on a 25-yard field goal attempt and later hit another from 26 yards out to bring the Falcons within eight at intermission, 14-6.
But Zunker put the momentum back in the Lobos' favor, scoring on a 23-yard field goal early in the third quarter.
Kelly connected with senior receiver Adrian Boyd shortly after for UNM's final score of the afternoon and the pair's final touchdown play in University Stadium.
Kelly said he doesn't feel much different now than he did five years ago when he walked on to the team.
"I don't think it's really hit me yet," he said. "We'll look back years from now and remember good times, but we've still got one more game."
Kelly finished with 90 yards on five of 10 passing and was UNM's second leading rusher with 51 yards on 11 carries.
Junior linebacker Nick Speegle said he has been influenced by many of the seniors and has learned by watching them play. Speegle said he strives to match their intensity level.
"The other linebackers Billy (Strother) and Daniel (Gawronski) - they're really close friends," he said. "And Casey's just a skinny guy running around out there and he's doing such a good job. I love it."
Senior linebacker Billy Strother said the UNM defense played tremendous against the Falcons.
Strother finished with eight tackles while junior Terrell Golden added 10. But it was senior Daniel Gawronski who led the Lobos with 14 tackles.
"We knew that they were a running team so we knew we had to fly around and play aggressive," Strother said. "Every game I feel like our defense plays its best game."
With Saturday's win, UNM tied Air Force for second place in the MWC.
To become conference champions, the Lobos need two things to happen - they need to beat the Cowboys this weekend and they need conference leader Utah, to lose to Brigham Young this week in Provo.
The Lobos' last regular-season matchup will be Saturday in Wyoming. Kickoff against the Cowboys is scheduled for high noon.
