Still trying to recuperate after last night’s
football game
as it had all the excitement, hard hits, and drama that any sports fan
would
love. A high scoring affair with Air Force supposed dead “Trippple
Option” and
a battering running game by the boys in the red uniform.
The
Lobos received the opening drive on national TV and
imposed their will on the Air Force Academy defense with an 11 play 71
yard
drive that featured Rodney Ferguson, Travis Brown, and Donovan Porterie
as
Rodney punched it in 4th and goal in an exciting drive.
Rodney looks towards the goal line
The Lobos followed that offensive display with a
strong
defensive effort against Air Force and getting the ball back. Could the
Lobos
roll the Falcons early? Porterie sent a bomb to Jermaine McQueen who
was wide open.
Unfortunately, McQueen wasn’t able to corral the pass and it was
incomplete.
The next play a ball bounced off Marcus Smith’s hands into an AFA
player and
the Academy was in business for a quick TD drive!
The
Lobos being the Lobos didn’t panic and were able to
mount an answering FG drive as John Sullivan popped another field goal
between
the uprights. Air Force isn’t a slouch, they are a good team and their
offensive scheme is really difficult to slow down much less stop as the
shootout was on Air Force scores another TD early in the 2nd
quarter
for a 14-10 lead.
On the
ensuing drive the Porterie dropped back and was
smothered by the Falcon defense forcing a fumble that AFA recovered.
They
scored one player later as Falcon superstar Chad Hall looked like a
F-22 Raptor
jet. The dude can flat out motor going from zero to 60 in one step.
Hall is by
far one of the most impressive football players that we have seen all
year
long, and the Lobo crowd was stunned as Air Force had an 11-point lead.
The
Lobo defense went to work and stuffed AFA 3 and out
giving the Lobo offense the ball back to chip away at the lead. Which
they did
as John Sullivan ran out to the field to knock in his 2nd of
4 field
goals of the night.
With a
spark of excitement the oft-maligned Lobo kicking
team came out on the field and Jordan Scott sent the kick off flying
towards
the end zone. As the Falcon receiver made his move, Lobo defender Nicky
Lawson
forced a fumble that was picked up by Tyson Ditmore deep in Falcon
territory.
The Lobo offense went right back on the field and went for the throat
as
Donovan Porterie hit a wide open Chris Mark for a 12 yard touchdown.
Big
question. Go for the extra point or the deuce? The Rock opted for the
deuce and
once again Porterie hit a wide open Chris Mark to tie the game up.
Bedlam in
‘Burque as these resilient Lobos once again came back from an 11 point
deficit!
Sylvester Hatten keeps the passing lane open
The 2nd half started with AFA scoring
on a field
goal and shutting down the Lobo offense and forcing a Jordan Scott
punt. The
punt hit the ground and Chad Hall was screaming for Falcon players to
vacate
the area. Fortunately, the ball makes funny hopes and hit a Falcon
player on
the back of the hand. Ian Clark scooped up the loose ball and ran it in
for a
touchdown igniting crowd once again… Unfortunately, you can’t advance a
muffed
punt so Coach Baldwin unleashed the Ferguson Beast on the hapless
Falcons as he
crushed them 4 plays for a touchdown.
Air
Force would not go away however as they scored on the
next drive, making it look somewhat easy as they made it a 3 point
game. With
the Academy score the Lobos looked once again to Rodney, as he was the
warhorse
not workhorse carrying the ball 7 times against the AFA defense as UNM
tied the
game up.
The
Lobo kicked off, and 2 players later AFA QB Sean Carney
had his center buttocks shoved into him as he was pulling out from
center
putting the ball on the turf and Wesley Beck was able to recover. John
Sullivan
popped another field goal and the score was 34-31.
The
game went back and forth as both defenses toughened up
and field position became important. It looked like whoever had the
ball at the
end of the game was going to win this one… Until the Lobo defense once
again
came up with huge plays. First AFA had a little of the Superman juice
run out
as he fumbled a ball that was recovered by Frankie Solomon.
Unfortunately,
John Sullivan lined up and missed his first
field goal since the first game of the year as the 32 yard attempt
sailed wide
right. Still the Lobo defense was up to the task of shutting down the
Academy.
As
“Mr. Forced Fumble” Herbert Felder in consecutive weeks
forced a big time fumble in the open field. This time Felder added a
little
bonus as he not only forced the fumble, but he recovered it as well.
The
Lobos run out the clock and let the celebration and Lobo
Leap begin!
Random Thoughts
Fergalicious! Rodney had 41 carries and looking
like he
looked like he was getting stronger with each carry!
Great call to set up
Chris Mark’s TD, what a play by the big
fella!
John
Sullivan 4-5 isn’t bad from field goal range. Why did
that darn newspaper reporter talk to him? Never talk to kickers!
Jordan
Scott was great tonight. I know he had a couple go
out of bounds, but I truly thought he had a spectacular night.
Directional kicking
is never easy and Jordan did well. Don’t get hung up on the 2
negatives,
instead look at all the positives.
Jake Bowe with the tackle!
Special teams coverage was huge once again. They
really made
some sweet plays, I can think of Ian Clark, Jake Bowe, Nicky Lawson,
and Tyson
Ditmore really tearing it up, and I know I’ve missed plenty others.
Tonight's
interviews with Rudy C.
Rocky Long
Ian Clark
Rodney Ferguson
Donovan Porterie
If you listen to
tonight’s podcast I have to say the
“impending doom” feeling that Lobo fans seem to be born into here is
now gone
from my life. I 100% believe this team can and will do whatever it
takes to
win. They are winners! If you can’t get behind this team, you seriously
need to
have your heart checked. What a great game, great season, and great
time!
Click here to listen to our podcast
Special thanks to all the Lobo football players for all your
hard work! This has to be the best season ever for us in The Red Menace
section! Your pointing, clapping, high fiving, Lobo Leaping really has
the
people jazzed up and excited. You have really created a winning
tradition at
UNM and I for one love it!
Click here to watch
Thursday Night's Lobo Leap
all photos courtesy of
NewMexicoSportsNews.com