by Daniel S. Archuleta
Daily Lobo
The UNM football team's suitcases have gotten a lot of use in the past five weeks.
For the fourth time in five games the Lobos will be on the road as they face San Diego State University on Saturday.
The Lobos are 4-0 in San Diego and 15-8 in the month of October.
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SDSU and UNM are in a four-way tie with Brigham Young University and Wyoming for third place in the Mountain West Conference.
The Aztecs boast the league's second-best pass defense, allowing only two touchdown passes. The pass defense also has eight interceptions.
UNM quarterback Kole McKamey said throwing the ball shouldn't be a problem - he just has to be smart about it.
"It's going to take good decisions, keeping the composure and good pass protection," he said.
McKamey was sidelined with a mild concussion in the second quarter of Saturday's 27-24 win against Wyoming.
Despite the injury, McKamey said he is feeling better than expected.
"I feel really good, actually," he said. "There is no doubt I'm going to be ready for Saturday."
San Diego State's offense is a three-headed beast with one of those heads having an able-bodied substitute to carry some of the weight.
The two-headed running attack is led by Lynell Hamilton, who has 404 yards on 100 carries and six touchdowns. Hamilton is backed up by Brandon Bornes, who has 263 yards on 71 carries with one touchdown.
UNM head coach Rocky Long said the Aztecs are one of the most gifted teams in the MWC.
"They are very talented," he said. "They are very physical at the line of scrimmage. They have two really good running backs, a young very talented quarterback and a great wide receiver in Jeff Webb."
SDSU quarterback Kevin O'Connell is 130-of-193 for 1,429 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Last week, O'Connell threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns against Utah. Webb leads the MWC in receptions with 50 for 609 yards and four touchdowns.
Safety DeAndre Wright said in one word what the Lobos need to stop the Aztecs' high-octane offense.
"Concentration," he said. "That's it."
Wright said stopping O'Connell is the key.
"We've seen him on film," Wright said. "He's a little shifty. All we have to do is just wrap him up and just get a bunch of bodies on the ball and we should be fine."
The Lobos have an offensive weapon of their own in running back DonTrell Moore, who has been running wild of late.
Moore has rushed for more than 100 yards in four of the last five games. Three of those games were on the road.
"I just try to get ready each and every week and that's the truth," he said. "Once you start rolling, you start feeling good, things just start happening for you."
However, the Aztecs are the only MWC team that Moore has not rushed for more than 100 yards against. In 2003, he gained 87 yards in San Diego.
"We have to take care of our business," he said. "They are a really talented group, but I think that if we do the things that we do, we'll have success against them."
