The UNM football team will try to redeem itself after losing to No. 9 BYU by 18 points.
The Lobos will maintain the same Rocky-ball game plan - running the ball and controlling the clock - against another Mountain West Conference opponent Saturday when San Diego State stumbles into Albuquerque.
Air Force pummeled San Diego State with a 35-10 victory this past week.
The Falcons' triple-option running attack racked up 401 yards against the Aztecs' defense.
The Lobos will try to use this as an advantage with their own triple-running attack led by senior tailbacks Rodney Ferguson and Paul Baker and freshman James Wright.
Ferguson, who saw limited action in two out of the last three games, continues to dominate on the ground.
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He leads the MWC and is 24th nationally, averaging 101.5 yards per game. Ferguson is averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He has rushed for 608 yards and six touchdowns off 128 carries.
Two years ago, during San Diego State's last visit to Albuquerque, Ferguson ripped apart the Aztec defense, pounding out a career-high 210 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.
Baker, too, hopes to complement Ferguson against San Diego State.
Baker has been a big contributor to the Lobo offense. He helped stamp out wins against NMSU and Wyoming.
On the season, Baker has 88 carries for 344 yards, and one of his two touchdowns was the game-clincher against New Mexico State.
Wright has also provided a spark to the Lobo offense: He has rushed 30 times for 203 yards, two touchdowns and 6.8 yards per carry.
However, the Lobos' passing game struggles to continue.
Freshman quarterback Brad Gruner and walk-on sophomore Tate Smith combined for 155 passing yards against BYU last week.
In the last three games, the pass offense has netted 243 yards.
Despite blowing out his knee at Tulsa, Donovan Porterie still leads all Lobo quarterbacks in passing attempts, yards and completions.
Gruner said the Lobos could have more success in the passing game against BYU.
"I still need to improve in the passing game," Gruner said. "There are still a couple of passes against BYU that I could've completed, but I didn't. I still have room to improve, and I think the more games I play in, the better I will get."
Gruner shared time with Smith against BYU. But Smith didn't mind.
"It is not bad that Brad and I both play in the game," Smith said. "It brings two different things to the game at any time. People feel that (Gruner) is the running quarterback and that I am the passing quarterback, but we have to take over both duties at the same time."
Smith said Gruner is a true option quarterback and the best running quarterback in the country.
The Lobo defense pushed the Cougars' buttons several times Saturday, but BYU escaped with a win in its lowest-scoring effort of the season.
BYU averaged 41.5 points per game before playing UNM.
San Diego State is injury riddled and has struggled most of the season.
But head coach Rocky Long said the Aztecs are a talented and athletic team capable of making plays.
"At times San Diego State looks like the best team in the league, but other times look like they really struggle," Long said. "The biggest concern for me is that they hit their stride and play really well
against us."
