BCS: Nevada Wolf Pack vs New Mexico Lobos at New Mexico Bowl
New Mexico Lobos will host the Nevada Wolf Pack on December 22 in the New Mexico Bowl at the University Stadium.
The New Mexico Lobos finished with 8-4 this year, marking just the fourth time since 1965 that they have won eight games. New Mexico Lobos receiver Travis Brown admits there was some disappointment that the team will remain on campus rather than travel to a more prestigious bowl. “In a sense, we felt we should have had a — for lack of a better word — a better bowl game, but we’re all happy to be here. We would have loved to have been in San Diego or Las Vegas, but we’re here.” New Mexico Lobos receiver Travis Brown said.
Led by New Mexico Lobos quarterback Donovan Porterie and leading New Mexico Lobos rusher Rodney Ferguson. Lobos’ quarterback Donovan Porterie completed 58.6 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,652 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Lobos’ rusher Rodney Ferguson rushed for 1,177 yards and 13 touchdowns on 292 carries. His 98.1 yards-per-game average was fourth best in the Mountain West Conference.
New Mexico Lobos kicker John Sullivan was one of the most consistent players for this season who became just the second New Mexico player to be named a first-team All-American. Lobos’ kicker John Sullivan who has played despite suffering from a torn ACL in his plant leg, has converted on 26 of 29 field goal attempts and 28 of 29 PATs. New Mexico Lobos kicker John Sullivan 26 field goals are the second-most in the country, and he was also perfect on nine field-goal attempts between 40-49 yards long — tied for second-best in the nation.
The Nevada Wolf Pack has a record of 6-6, Nevada Wolf Pack averaged 36.3 points 18th in the country and 488.9 yards of total offense per game, seventh highest.
Much of the credit for the offense efficiency lies with
Leading the Wolf Pack in offense is Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the Western Athletic Conference freshman of the year. Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick took over for Nick Graziano, who injured a tendon in his foot on Oct. 6 and was lost for the year. Graziano was 2-3 as a starter, but it was under the redshirt freshman that the Wolf Pack really showed potential.
Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw for 2,038 yards, 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 10 total games, including nine touchdowns in his final four games. With him under center as a starter, Nevada averaged 39.1 points and 487.4 yards per game.
The Nevada Wolf Pack also has an equally dangerous running game. Nevada Wolf Pack running back Luke Lippincott ranks 17th in the country with 1,380 net yards on the ground, and his 15 rushing touchdowns tie him 16th nationally. Nevada Wolf Pack averaged 225.8 rushing yards per game — 12th in the country.
This is Nevada’s third consecutive bowl game. The Nevada Wolf Pack lost 21-20 to Miami in last year’s MPC Computers Bowl and the year before, they beat Central Florida 49-48 in overtime in the Hawaii Bowl. Overall, Nevada is 3-4 in its bowl history.
This is the third meeting between the Nevada Wolf Pack and the New Mexico Lobos. Nevada Wolf Pack won 26-7 in 1941 and the teams played to a scoreless tie the next year.
