by Daniel S. Archuleta
Daily Lobo
Coming home and getting out of Texas will bring relief to the UNM football team as it squares off against conference foe Brigham Young University on Saturday.
The state of Texas was not pleasant for the Lobos.
Coming off losses to Mountain West Conference newcomer Texas Christian University and the University of Texas-El Paso, UNM will look to start a crucial MWC run.
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Saturday will be the 81st Homecoming game for the Lobos. They are 40-37-3 and on a six-game winning streak for Homecoming games.
The Lobos (3-2, 1-1 MWC) and BYU (1-3, 0-2) are in a similar position. Both teams are coming off two-game losing streaks.
"In order for us to stay in the conference race, we have to win this game, and so do they," head coach Rocky Long said. "I think both teams are going to come into the game with a lot of emotion, and the one that makes the fewest mistakes will probably win."
BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall was a former defensive coordinator for the Lobos from 1998-2002. Long and Mendenhall perfected the 3-3-5 defensive scheme while at Oregon State together when Long was defensive coordinator and Mendenhall was coaching the defensive line.
Long said playing his old buddy will have no effect on the outcome of the game.
"It's nothing special," he said. "I want him to do well, but I sure don't want him to beat us."
Individually, three Lobos are in the top 10 in the nation in rushing, receiving and defense.
DonTrell Moore, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in the past three games, is the eighth-leading rusher. Wide receiver Hank Baskett is fourth in receiving yards, and cornerback Gabriel Fulbright has the most interceptions in the nation.
BYU has one of its own national breadwinners.
Quarterback John Beck has the 11th most passing yards in the country and the most in the conference.
UNM safety Aleem Harris, who leads the Lobos in tackles with 38, said the keys to stopping BYU's gunslinger are simple.
"We just have to go out there and execute the scheme," he said. "We have to do our assignments and do what we are supposed to do."
Even though UNM and BYU run the same defensive schemes, the offenses aren't going to have an easy time on the field, Harris said.
"The scheme is always the ideal thing to go out there and execute," Harris said. "We know what to do."
BYU's defense gave up 508 yards in a 31-10 blowout loss to San Diego State on Saturday.
Lobo quarterback Kole McKamey said the Lobos know how important Saturday's game is.
"It's huge," he said. "Right now, our backs are against the wall. Both teams have to have a win."
McKamey said he plans to sling the ball all over the BYU secondary.
"I feel real good about the matchup," he said. "They've got a real good scheme and some pretty good athletes, and we've got a good scheme and athletes. It's going to come down to who does the right thing."
McKamey said he feels even better about rushing the ball on BYU.
"I'll tell you right now, I think we can run the ball on anybody in the country," he said. "They are really having to put an emphasis on stopping our run."
