On the air: Lobos look to end BYU win streaks

ALBUQUERQUE — While New Mexico is off to a 3-1 start (the second-best for a Rocky Long-coached Lobo team) and boasts a Mountain West Conference-leading three-game winning streak, it will be looking to end some dubious streaks and trends Saturday night when BYU comes to town.

UNM has not beaten the Cougars at University Stadium in 10 years; Long is 0-4 against BYU at home; and the Lobos are a dismal 1-6 in MWC openers. What's more, with a win, New Mexico would knock off the 2006 league champions and snap the Cougars' nine-game MWC winning streak.

"We're awful excited about starting into conference play, and playing the defending champs probably makes it a little bit more special," Long said.

If that weren't enough, BYU clinched the outright title last season with a 42-17 rout of New Mexico in Provo. A sellout crowd of 40,000 is expected Saturday to see if the Lobos can avenge that loss and take a huge step toward a 2007 conference championship.

BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, who served as New Mexico's defensive coordinator from 1998-2002, is impressed with the Lobos.

"It's a typical coach Long defense. They play hard, they play aggressive and they play fast," said BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall. "They are playing with an edge to them, similar to how coach Long coaches. They're tough. It is going to present a number of challenges. With the start they are off to, I think New Mexico could weigh in heavily in terms of how this conference races shapes out."

The Lobo offense has been productive all season, but it scored only six points in a season-opening loss at UTEP. Since that setback, New Mexico has beaten New Mexico State, 44-34, defeated Arizona (in Tucson), 29-27, and, last week, drubbed Sacramento State, 58-0. UNM is eyeing its fourth straight game with more than 400 yards of total offense for first time since 1996.

"I think our offense isn't close to what it can be," Long said. "We're getting better every week."

New Mexico boasts two speedy receivers, Marcus Smith and Travis Brown, and the conference's top rusher, junior Rodney Ferguson, who averages 118 yards per game on the ground.

"With each game they are making strides and making improvements at a very fast pace," Mendenhall said. "From an offensive standpoint they are very talented. Both receivers that are returning have tremendous speed. They're a formidable opponent, and I know how their program is coached."