New Mexcio opened their football season Saturday with an impressive win over an out-manned Southern U.Jaguars. The Lobos dominated Southern from beginning to end, taking a 45-6 halftiime lead and coasting to a 66-21 point victory. Before Lobo fans get too excited, we have to put the game in perspective. The Lobos, by most accounts, were expected to win this game. Southern, an FCS school was 4-7 last year, came to Albuquerque with very little expectations, other than a $350,000 pay out.
Regardless,a win is a win and this win will go a long ways to start the rebuidling process left in the wake of Mike Locksley's disasterous 3 years at UNM. After induring 3 long years of horrendous football, Lobo fans were apprehensive before the game and were hoping for nothing more than an honest effort, fewer mistakes, and a win.
Lobo fans were treated to that and more. What really surpised everyone, was the final score. The 66 points put up by the Lobos is almost half of what they put up the entire 2011 season. Even more pleasing is the discipline the Lobos displayed throughout the game. Give ALL the credit to 1st year Coach Bod Davie and his staff. Their leadership has appeared to turn the once hapless Lobo program around 180 degrees.
The Lobos were called for one penalty for 5 yards the entire game. That is a stark turn-around from 3 straight years of putting up with Mike Locksley coached teams plagued with a lack of leadership and sorry coaching that resulted in poor discipline that reflected both on and off the field. The Lobos showed improvement in all areas Saturday.
Even though B.R. Holbrook started the game, and played well by the way, it was true Freshman QB Cole Guatsche that shined. The Lobo quarterback of the future ran the Pistol offense to perfection, scrambled for 88 yards and tacked on 2 touchdowns from 7 and 47 yards out. The real measurement of how far the team has progressed will come next week when they travel to Austin, TX to take on the Texas Longhorns. There are no expectations to come out of Austin with a win. But, based on what we've seen in the Lobos first game of the season, these Lobos aren't going roll over without a fight.
