If a positive can be taken away from the Lobo football team’s 37-13 loss to Air Force on Saturday, it is James Wright’s running game.
By the second quarter, with the Lobos down 17-0, the coaching staff began digging through their back pockets for a player to bring something — anything — to the offense.
Backup quarterback B.R. Holbrook seemed the likely choice when he replaced Donovan Porterie, but he ended up getting picked off twice.
Finally, UNM found its ace in the hole.
Running back James Wright, who made only a single reception for six yards during last week’s game against Tulsa, broke free for 43- and 84-yard touchdowns.
“I saw a little life out of the team, and what we are going to do is build on that little bit of life I’ve seen out of our team,” said head coach Mike Locksley.
In all, Wright ran the ball only five times, but he compiled a game-high 126 yards, more than any tailback for the Lobos.
That comes out to 25.2 yards per carry, breaking a school record in that category. Compare that to the 1.6 yards per carry the Lobos averaged in the first two games this season. It was also the Lobos’ first 100-plus-yard rushing game so far.
Wright credited the offensive line with creating gaping holes, but he also gave himself a little credit.
“Scoring two touchdowns — we now know that we can do it,” he said. “We can trust the O-line up front and run the ball and build off that and do other things.”
His first dash came with 3:29 left in the first half. With the Lobos trailing 24-0, Wright found a hole on a handoff and barreled 43 yards for a touchdown.
His second and longest touchdown run came at the tail end of the game, with the Lobos trailing 37-6.
With three minutes left in the game, the Falcons leading 37-6, and the dwindling crowd expecting another three-and-out, Wright broke through the line and pumped 84 yards to the end zone, nearly getting knocked down by two Falcon defenders.
“Anytime you score touchdowns with (three minutes) left, you know guys are still playing hard,” Locksley said.
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A lot had to go right — or wrong — for Wright to get in position to make those two touchdown runs.
Wright entered Saturday’s game as the third-string running back, but because of starting tailback Demond Dennis’ misfortune, Wright got the nod on Saturday.
Wright filled in for Dennis, who had 53 yards but fumbled early in the game.
“All three of the backs ran well, but we can’t turn the ball over,” Locksley said. “When we do, like any other position, if we’ve got competition, we’ll make some changes there.”
As a redshirt freshman last year, Wright compiled 348 yards and two touchdowns. But in Locksley’s no-huddle, spread system, Wright hadn’t seemed to fit the bill of a three-dimensional, every-down back.
Admittedly, Wright said he needed to improve his practice habits and pass-catching ability. Wright had a 13-yard reception on Saturday, in addition to his long runs.
Locksley said Wright didn’t get discouraged even while riding the pine.
“Take a guy like James Wright who was third team on the depth chart,” Locksley said. “He could have sulked, put his head down and gave up. But the last two weeks I’ve seen James work. James was rewarded with some opportunities … He took advantage of his opportunities.”
And after Saturday’s performance, he has at least put his name into the running-back conversation.
“I should probably get more playing time,” Wright said. “But as far as starting and doing things like that, that’s up to the coaches. I’m going to keep practicing hard, and I’m up for the challenge.”
