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GAME 12: New Mexico Lobos vs. Nevada Wolf Pack
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 17, 1:36 p.m. MT
WHERE: Branch Field at University Stadium – Albuquerque, NM (39,224)
CONFERENCES: Nevada & New Mexico - Mountain West Conference
WEB SITES: New Mexico Football | Nevada Football
2012 SEASON: UNM 4-7, 1-5 MWC) | Nevada 6-4, 3-3 MWC
COACHES: New Mexico: Bob Davie 4-7 at UNM (1st year), 39-31 overall (6th year) | Nevada: Chris Ault 232-107-1 at Nevada (28th year), 232-107-1 overall (28th year).
TV: Comcast Ch. 77 (Albuquerque); Charter Cable (Northern Nevada)
WEB STREAMING: none
RADIO: UNM - Lobo Radio Network / KKOB 770 AM (Flagship, English) | ESPN Deportes ABQ (KRZY)1450 AM (Flagship, Spanish) | Nevada – Wolf Pack Radio Network / Flagship Station, ESPN Radio 94.5 FM/630 AM) (Flagship)
LIVE STATS & AUDIO WEBCAST: UNM – golobos.com | Nevada – nevadawolfpack.com
SERIES RECORD: 5th meeting. New Mexico leads 2-2-1
LAST MEETING: 2011 in Reno, NV – UNR 49, UNM 7
WHAT ABOUT NEVADA: Like the Lobos, the Wolf Pack enter Saturday’s game on a losing streak. UNM’s skid is at four games after their 28-23 loss to Wyoming last week while UNR’s skid stands at three. The Wolf Pack lost to Mountain West co-leader Fresno State last week 52-36 – and Air Force and San Diego State before that.
Nevada’s confounding losing streak comes after a 6-1 start with the only blemish to that point being a close loss to South Florida.
The good news for Wolf Pack fans is that UNR has been great on the road this season, going 3-1. Nevada needs a win to get better placement in the post season, though the Wolf Pack have to guard against looking past New Mexico to their last opponent of the regular season – long time rival Boise St. at home in Reno.
ON OFFENSE: Nevada comes into the game with the nation’s most prolific offense. The Wolf Pack are first in the nation in Total Offense, averaging 511.3 yards per game. UNR is also ranked ninth in the nation in Rushing Offense, averaging 253.50 yards per game. The headline attraction of the Nevada Pistol offense is Doak Walker semifinalist Stefphon Jefferson, the nation’s leading rusher with an average of 143.60 yards per game.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo ranks 10th in the nation in Total Offense, averaging 323.11 yards per game and seems to be fully recovered from midseason injuries. Nevada tight end Zach Sudfeld, who was recently a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, averages 3.7 catches a game for an average of 44.4 ypg. Nevada receiver Brandon Wimberly has caught a pass in all 37 games of his career – the sixth-longest streak in the nation. He averages 5.5 catches a game and 71.5 ypg.
ON DEFENSE: UNR ranks near the bottom of the conference in Total Defense, allowing an average of 438.8 ypg. Their rushing defense is fifth in the conference allowing an average of 199.1 ypg – a particular concern considering UNM’s proficiency at the run. Albert Rossette is tied for second in the MWC for tackles with an average of 9.8 per game. Duke Williams and DeAndre Boughton are also in the top 20 in the league with averages of 8.1 and 6.67 tackles per game respectively. Punt returner Khalid Wooten is second in the nation in yards per punt returns averaging 18.92 yards per game.