Thursday, December 25, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

SECOND TIME AROUND: Lobos' focus gets blurred

New Mexico's return trip to bowl ends with another rout

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

New Mexico's attitude appeared different this year.

On their visit to the Las Vegas Bowl, the Lobos seemed intent on making this a business rather than pleasure trip.

All that extra focus got them was a 55-14 loss to Oregon State on Wednesday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"When you get beat that bad, it can't get any more disappointing than it is no matter what you did going into the game," New Mexico coach Rocky Long said.

This wasn't what the Lobos planned for this year's bowl. They came to Las Vegas last year seemingly more happy to be here than serious about trying to beat UCLA. New Mexico, which was making its first bowl appearance since 1997 and second since 1961, was beaten, 27-13.

The return trip was supposed to be about proving something, which a victory would have done. New Mexico hadn't won a bowl since 1961 and hadn't been in back-to-back bowl games since 1947.

The players talked about being more focused this time, but that didn't seem to matter.

"We'd definitely like to go out on a better note," said Lobos quarterback Casey Kelly, who completed 4 of 12 passes for 32 yards and one touchdown. He also was sacked four times. "As far as where this program is going, I don't think this is going to take away from it. This program is on the rise. We have to get over that hump of playing the big teams in the big games."

New Mexico's best chance to win figured to lie with tailback DonTrell Moore, but the Beavers held him to minus-1 yard on seven carries by halftime, and he finished with 5 yards on 11 rushes.

Was Oregon State too fast up front?

"Or too physical," Long said. "We tried to run right at them, too. We didn't try to outrun them. If we got a block, we didn't maintain our blocks. They got off blocks and made tackles."

It was a far cry from the running game the Lobos were used to. Moore led the Mountain West Conference with 1,438 yards rushing and 19 TDs in the regular season.

"They're a fast team, but we just didn't have it tonight," Moore said. "I don't know why. I don't know what reason. Maybe it's them. I give them a lot of credit."

As if that wasn't bad enough, the Lobos' usually suffocating defense was dominated. New Mexico gave up an average of 266.4 yards over the regular season's final seven games. Oregon State had 308 yards by halftime and ended with 540.

The worst for New Mexico might have occurred in the third quarter when coaches sent guard Claude Terrell to the locker room for the rest of the game. Terrell refused comment, and Long was vague about what happened.

"He lost emotional control, so we sent him in," Long said. "He was not making any sense on the sideline."