by Brandon Call
Daily Lobo
EL PASO - The first game of the season has been a dark cloud hanging over UNM the past couple years.
Last year, the Lobos took a 17-6 loss to Division I-AA Portland State in the season opener.
This year was no exception. UNM fell 10-6 to UTEP on Saturday at the
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Sun Bowl.
In a game lacking big plays on both sides of the field, UTEP tailback Terrell Jackson broke free from the 36-yard line to put his team up 10-6 with 14:08 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The run would cost UNM the game.
"Our defense gave up one big play in the game," head coach Rocky Long said. "We called a blitz and the safety missed the tackle. When you blitz as much as we do, you are going to give up a big play now and then. Tonight, that was the difference in the game."
Before a crowd of 43,326 - the second largest for a Lobo-Miner game - UTEP was the first to put points on the board when Miner Jose Martinez kicked a 51-yard field goal on the first possession of the game.
The Lobos tied the game at 3 on a 20-yard field goal by senior John Sullivan with 1:09 remaining before halftime.
Sullivan, who was 2-for-4 on field goal attempts in his UNM debut, put the Lobos ahead with a 40-yard kick with 14:29 remaining in the game.
But that was all the offense UNM could muster. For the second-straight year, UNM didn't score any touchdowns in the season opener.
The Lobos were in the Miners' red zone four times during the game but managed only six points.
"I didn't think Donovan (Porterie) played well," Long said. "Their defense was playing well, but our offense didn't execute. Our offense moved the ball OK, but we couldn't score any touchdowns."
Porterie finished with 190 passing yards, connecting 25 of 39 attempts.
Junior Rodney Ferguson, who ran for 128 yards on 32 carries for the Lobos, said some positives can be taken from the game.
"We went out and played hard," he said. "Everybody gave it all they had. There weren't very many mental errors, and I think we played smart."
Up next for the Lobos is in-state rival NMSU. The Aggies were a 35-14 winner over Southeastern Louisiana on
Thursday.
Ferguson, who posted his fourth-straight 100-yard game Saturday, said the rivalry will bring out the best in the Lobos.
"The atmosphere gets really exciting for that game," he said. "We're done with this game. Chalk it up as a loss. We're getting ready for State. It's an important game, and we're going to go out there and try to avoid the mistakes we
made tonight."
Football vs. NMSU
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
University Stadium
