by Daniel S. Archuleta
Daily Lobo
The Lobos kept their bowl hopes alive with a home win over San Diego State on Saturday night.
Despite getting only two points in the second half, the Lobos (4-4, 2-2) held off a late surge by the Aztecs (2-5, 0-3) to come away with a 19-9 win.
The win puts the Lobos in fourth place in the Mountain West Conference and in a good position to go to their third-straight bowl game.
Lobo quarterback Kole McKamey played consistently.
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"It feels good to get back in the groove," McKamey said. "It feels good to lead this team again."
McKamey finished 10-for-17 for 106 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for one touchdown and did not throw any interceptions.
The Lobos' defense was solid and preserved the win.
Linebacker and team captain Nick Speegle contributed to the organized chaos of the Lobo 3-3-5 defense.
"The thing about our defense is that we can disguise it and confuse young quarterbacks," he said.
The Lobo defense tied a season high with five sacks and forced SDSU freshman quarterback Kevin O'Connell to throw two interceptions. O'Connell was 16-for-32 for 165 yards and one touchdown.
The Lobo defense also picked up a safety in the second half, after SDSU punter Michael Hughes couldn't handle the snap and was forced to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone.
Lobo defensive back Kevin Walton picked up his first career interception in the game.
"It felt great," he said. "It's been a long time coming."
Walton intercepted a pass last year that he returned for a touchdown, but that score was called back.
After scoring 17 points in the first half, the Lobos couldn't get anything going.
Head coach Rocky Long attributed the lackluster second half to the SDSU defense.
"They probably have the best defense in our league, so you have to give them some credit too," he said. "We just didn't get enough points the second half. It shouldn't have even been close."
Freshman Marcus Smith had a prominent role in the Lobo's game plan. The running back who turned wide receiver has seen a lot of playing time in the last two games.
"It feels good just to be able to get in and to make plays," he said.
Smith, who had a 65-yard touchdown run last week against UNLV, almost returned a kickoff for a touchdown after the SDSU safety.
With two wins and three games left to play, UNM's postseason fate is up in the air. Long said Saturday's game against Colorado State will start to clear up the bowl picture.
"One team will still be in the hunt," he said.
