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NEW MEXICO BLANKS FOOTBALL IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
9/22/2007
ALBUQUERQUE — Rodney Ferguson rushed for three first-half touchdowns and finished the game with 129 yards and four scores to help lead New Mexico to a 58-0 victory over Sacramento State, Saturday night at University Stadium in front of 27,023 fans.
The Lobos improved to 3-1 on the season while the Hornets dropped to 0-3.
New Mexico scored on six of its first eight drives of the game to take control. John Sullivan put the team ahead with a 36-yard field goal on the game’s opening drive. Ferguson scored his first touchdown on a 6-yard run up the middle to make the score, 10-0, with 7:00 left in the opening quarter.
After forcing the Lobos to punt on their final possession of the first quarter, Sacramento State appeared to stop UNM on its following drive when Sullivan’s field goal attempt sailed wide right. However, a running into the kicker penalty was called against the Hornets and Sullivan made good on a 30-yard attempt.
Ferguson found the end zone two more times in the second quarter. The first came on a 10-yard run while the second was from four yards out.
The Hornets attempted to answer late in the first half but safety OJ Swift intercepted a pass and set up a 37-yard field goal from Sullivan to end the first half scoring. On the interception, freshman quarterback Duncan White — who replaced an injured Jason Smith — threw a pass to Tony Washington. However, Washington juggled the ball and it deflected to Swift for the turnover.
The third quarter proved just as kind to the Lobos as the team added a pair of touchdowns. Quarterback Donovan Porterie connected on a 24-yard pass to Travis Brown in the corner of the end zone and Ferguson added a fourth touchdown with a 17-yard scamper down the right sideline. New Mexico added two more fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 22-yard run from Roland Bruno and a 7-yard pass from Bryan Clampitt to Jonathan Brooks with 2:18 to play.
The Lobos dominated the statistics, tallying 499 yards of total offense while holding the Hornets to 104. Travon Jones and Eric Velez led Sacramento State with 33 rushing yards apiece. Three Hornet quarterbacks combined to complete just 5-of-15 passes for 27 yards. Proterie ended the night 19-of-26 for 229 yards before giving way to Clampitt who was 6-for-6 for 38 yards.
Defensively, Mike Brannon and Brent Webber led the team with nine tackles. Brannon’s total included a pair of tackles-for-loss.
Sacramento State will return to FCS play next week and host its first game of the season when it welcomes Northern Arizona. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
GAME NOTES: The game marked the second contest for the Hornets against a FBS team this season…Smith injured the pinky on his throwing hand in the second quarter and did not return…X-rays were negative…senior Jeremiah Mareko started the game at tackle after playing the first two games as a tight end…Cyrus Mulitalo saw some time at running back and compiled 11 yards on three carries, including two first downs.
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