An Eye On The Lobos: vs San Diego State Preview

San Diego State vs. New Mexico

Gametime: 8:15 Mountain Time

Television: ESPNU

Radio: Lobo Radio Network/KKOB 770 AM/94.5 FM in Albuquerque

Well there is a game to be played Saturday night in what has become the most difficult week since taking over at New Mexico for Bob Davie. Davie’s team was thoroughly beaten last week at Utah State, losing 61-19, and could’ve been worse after trailing 52-5 at halftime. If that wasn’t bad enough, Davie’s Lobos have been in the news more for the wrong reasons. On Tuesday it was announced that linebacker Evah Tohi had been suspended after a physical altercation with teammate David Wilkins-Brown that sent Wilkins-Brown to the hospital with numerous injuries. Davie found out about the fight Sunday but waited until Tuesday to suspend Tohi.

Aside from that, the Lobos find themselves in the midst of a three-game losing streak, starting another quarterback, and welcoming back former head coach Rocky Long to town.

A season that once had promise, at one point the Lobos were 3-2 and 1-0 in the Mountain West Conference, has gone south in a hurry. During the three-game skid the Lobos have been outscored 119-44. Quarterback Sheriron Jones was benched last week during the blowout loss to Utah State in favor of Coltin Gerhart, who went on to go 8-for-12 passing with 110 yards and a touchdown. Davie will be giving the Senior Gerhart the start this weekend against the Aztecs. The start will be Gerhart’s second career start for the Lobos; he started last season against Tulsa, he went 9-of-14 passing with 108 yards an interception, he rushed 24 times for 156 yards and a touchdown in a 16-13 Lobos win.

The offense will be a little different from the one Gerhart ran in that win last season at Tulsa, but Coach Davie says he expects to have 35% of the offense this week to be triple option that Gerhart is used to running.

For San Diego State it’s another visit to Albuquerque for head coach Rocky Long, who used to coach the Lobos, and whose alma matter is UNM. This time his Aztecs could be putting the nail in the coffin for the Lobos tumultuous season and are looking to bounce back from a loss themselves.

Last week San Diego State fell for the first time in MWC play, losing 28-24 to Nevada in Reno. The loss drops the Bulldogs to one game behind Fresno State in the MWC’s West Division, and all but ended the Aztecs hopes for a New Year’s Six Bowl Game. However, the Aztecs still have a shot to make the MWC Championship Game, which makes this game really crucial on the SDSU schedule.

Lobo fans will get to see a mixture of running backs from the Aztecs. Juwan Washington will return from his fractured collarbone this week to see playing time, he will share the backfield with Chase Jasmin. Washington gained 513 yards in the first three and a half games this season before breaking his collarbone, and Jasmin has 545 yards on the season.

The Aztecs will also split time between two players at the quarterback spot this week. Christian Chapman returns from injury this week after missing the last six games. He’ll split the time with Ryan Agnew, who will start, and is 79-of-155 for 1,159 yards and seven touchdowns. He’ll be throwing the ball to a bevy of receivers that have potential to do damage. Fred Trevillion leads the Aztecs in receptions but has just three catches in the last two games combined. Tight end Kahale Warring led the team last week with six receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Also expect Jasmin and Washington to catch a few passes out of the backfield.

From an overview standpoint this isn’t the faced paced Utah State offense that the Lobos had to deal with last week. In fact, this offense that the Aztecs will come to Albuquerque with has yet to score over 30 this season. The Lobos have a ton of distractions going on right now, and the seat is almost scorching right now for Coach Davie. One way to calm it down is to win, and a win would be huge this week for Davie and company. One more loss might spell the end of the line for Lobos once promising season.