by David J. Chavez
Daily Lobo
The UNM football team has one last chance to prepare for conference play on Saturday against old rival UTEP.
Head coach Rocky Long said he's going to use this game to get backup quarterback, Donovan Porterie, some time on the field.
"Chris (Nelson) is the starting quarterback, and he'll play most of the game," Long said. "But if the situation in the game is like we think it might be, Donovan will get a series or two in the game. The team needs a little experience with the backup quarterback."
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Nelson took over starting quarterback Kole McKamey's job after McKamey suffered a season-ending knee injury against NMSU two weeks ago.
Nelson and Porterie will see if they can help a UNM team that is in desperate need of a win at University Stadium. The Lobos have lost their last five home games.
In those home losses, UNM has been outscored 97-27 in the second half, including 73-15 in the fourth quarter.
Lobo Quincy Black said the defense has to be consistent for a whole game.
"We just have to bring the same intensity we've had in the first three quarters to the fourth," Black said. "It's going to take some guys making some big plays with a couple of stops - some losses and no gains - because those are huge in the fourth quarter and wears on the opposing offense's psyche."
UNM and UTEP will be playing for the 74th time, making it UNM's second-longest series behind its one with NMSU.
The UNM and UTEP rivalry started in 1919.
The two teams played against each other every year from 1955 to 1999, before renewing the rivalry last year in El Paso, Texas. The Lobos lost that game, 21-13.
The Lobos and the Miners were part of the same conference twice in the past. From 1935 to 1950, they were in the Border Conference, and from 1968 to 1998, they were members of the Western Athletic Conference.
Long said the matchup will become more competitive over the next few years.
"I think it's going to get back to a rivalry game as soon as we start playing each other every year," Long said. "But we went four years without playing each other. None of the players in either program consider it a rivalry yet, but three years from now, it will be a rivalry game."
UTEP is missing one of its key players, too. Linebacker Jeremy Jones, the Miners' leader in tackles, is out for the season with a broken leg.
The Lobos and Miners have posted similar offensive stats this season. UNM is averaging 69 yards rushing and 253 yards passing per game, while UTEP's season average is 75 yards on the ground and 294 yards in the air.
The Lobos have a small advantage on defense, allowing 387 yards and 24 points in the first three games. UTEP has given up 431 yards and 32 points per game.
A stat that differs greatly is sacks allowed, with UNM quarterbacks going down a total of 15 times. That sack total ties for the most in the nation with the University of Miami-Ohio. On the other side, UTEP has not allowed a single sack this season.
Sophomore tailback Rodney Ferguson said everybody has to pitch in to protect the quarterback.
"I need to step up and protect better when I'm not running the ball," Ferguson said. "We have to help each other out there to make sure it gets done this game. The running game also opens up the pass, and the pass opens up the running game, so it's important to get a good start."
BOX
Football vs. UTEP
Saturday, 3 p.m.
University Stadium
Televised on CSTV
