by Daniel S. Archuleta
Daily Lobo
With their starting signal-caller back in place, the Lobos head to Las Cruces for the 95th meeting of UNM and NMSU football teams.
Lobo quarterback Kole McKamey suffered a concussion in last weekend's game but is doing fine now.
"I feel so much better today," McKamey said on Tuesday. "I'll be ready to go. I feel like my normal self."
McKamey completed 4-of-12 passes for 10 yards against OSU before his injury.
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The Lobos won the last contest in true rivalry style, coming from behind at home to win 24-17.
This game will be different because it will be played at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces. The Aggies came out on top the last time the teams met there by dominating the Lobos, 24-13.
"That's one of the harder places to be the visiting team," head coach Rocky Long said.
After a 17-7 loss to Oregon State, the Lobos are sitting on a 1-2 record.
The Lobo defense is what kept that game close. Safety Josh Bazinet scored the only touchdown for the Lobos by returning a fumble 70 yards. Bazinet is coming off two tremendous games and looks to have another.
"I think (winning comes down to) everyone's attitude and effort - just going out there and playing as tough as you can, whether it be 10 plays or 90 plays, however long it takes," Bazinet said.
The Lobos safety said he is also excited about the game in Las Cruces.
"Every year since I was a little kid, I have been coming to this game," he said. "Both teams go out with a different attitude and play a lot harder for this game."
The Lobos had a rough weekend against Oregon State. Their offense was held to only 114 yards by the Beavers.
DonTrell Moore, who had 247 yards coming in to the game, was held to only 22 yards on seven carries. Moore, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, is still chasing UNM's record career yardage.
NMSU also has a 1-2 record and is fresh off a come-from-behind victory over Troy State, 22-18.
The Aggies are led by senior quarterback Buck Pierce, who has already thrown for 469 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. Pierce was 22-of-34 for 219 yards with two touchdowns.
NMSU's Paul Dombrowski will also see time at quarterback and a couple of other positions as well.
"They're using both quarterbacks more at the same time," Long said. "Dombrowski is being used as a running back, a wingman, a wide receiver, an h-back, a roving tight end - he's being used a lot of different places. All they do with Buck Pierce, if he's not at quarterback, is to put him at a wideout, but he's a decoy."
