sports@dailylobo.com
It’s not often that a college football team challenges two Texas schools in two weeks.
That is the task the Lobos (1-1) face as they travel to Lubbock, Texas to play Texas Tech University (2-0) on Saturday.
UNM is coming off a 45-0 blowout loss to the University of Texas at Austin, and head coach Bob Davie said this Texas road trip is the toughest of the season.
“We all know what a challenge it is to go to Lubbock, Texas,” he said. “I was at Texas A&M for nine years, and never did we play at Austin and at Lubbock in the same season; they always split those two up. So to play both of them back-to-back weeks, it’s a heck of a challenge.”
UNM lost senior starting quarterback B.R. Holbrook and senior wide receiver Lamaar Thomas against the Longhorns. Holbrook went out in the second quarter after he took a shot to the ribs, while Thomas withdrew with an apparent shoulder injury.
Davie said Thomas will be out for the game against Texas Tech, but UNM announced on Wednesday that Holbrook is “highly probably,” going to play. Davie said Holbrook makes the Lobos’ passing game a threat.
“With (Holbrook), we’re fairly balanced and pretty good schematically,” he said.
The Lobos’ offense hasn’t been balanced this season, being dubbed the No. 11 rushing attack and the No. 123 passing attack in the nation.
Junior running back Kasey Carrier said running the ball has been the strength of UNM thus far, but the passing game needs to catch up.
“It’s very good actually, it’s a nice system to play in as a running back,” he said. “It functions around the running game more than the passing game.”
The state of Texas has not been kind to UNM, as the Lobos have lost 14 straight games to schools from Texas. Their last win over a Texas team was against UTEP, when UNM beat the Miners 26-13 in 2006.
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Last year at University Stadium, the Red Raiders beat the Lobos 59-13 and Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege completed 40 of 44 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns. The Red Raider offense hasn’t missed a beat this season with the No. 4 passing attack in the nation and an average of 363 yards per game.
Senior strong safety Matt Raymer said in order to stop that kind of aerial show again, the Lobo defense has to be on top of the ball.
“We have to make sure we’re set, know the calls and stay on top as a defensive back, because they’re very pass-efficient but they can also run the ball,” he said.
Davie said the key to stopping the Texas Tech offense is by shutting down Doege.
“He’s been sacked one time all year and (Texas Tech has) punted one time all year,” Davie said. “They have the perfect quarterback because his release is so quick — some guys are back there in the shotgun and they’re a little bit robotic, but he catches it and it’s out there.”
The Red Raiders are coming off a 58-10 win at Texas State and have outscored their opponents 102-16 in their first two games.
Red Raider head coach Tommy Tuberville said the option offense that the Lobos run will cause the most trouble for Texas Tech.
“Yeah, it’s different because it’s assignment football. It slows you down. On the snap of the ball, you’re not attacking the line of scrimmage much. You’ve got to work more lateral, depending on what the guy in front of you does,” he said. “You’ve got the fullback coming through first, and you’ve got quarterback, and you’ve got the pitch guy, so it makes you think a lot more.”
