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 4^th 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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