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FORT COLLINS, Colo. — University of New Mexico football coach Rocky Long doesn't like talking about head games, psychology, off-the-field stuff.

Long is an Xs and Os guy; a block and tackle coach.

But this season, he is more than willing to show his pride in his team's never-quit attitude.

The University of New Mexico (5-4, 3-2) earned its third straight comeback win Saturday, knocking off the Colorado State Rams (4-4, 1-3) 20-19 on a last-second, 33-yard field goal by senior Kenny Byrd.

"It's hard for me to remember back eight years, but mentally, this is probably as tough a football team as we've had," Long said.

If this had happened once, Long said you call it fluke.

But his team has clawed back three times.

For a while, it appeared UNM might have pushed its luck too far at Colorado State. The Lobos looked flat, listless.

After jumping to a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, the offense took an extended halftime break.

UNM managed only three first downs in the second and third quarters, giving its defense difficult field position to defend.

The defense had trouble containing the Rams' resurgent offense, which scored 19 unanswered points.

"I don't know, I guess you could call it brain fart," sophomore running back Rodney Ferguson said. "We know what we're supposed to be doing out there. Our plays didn't change, and Colorado State's defense didn't change. That's just us not focusing and doing our jobs."

Redshirt freshman quarterback Donovan Porterie, who improved to 3-0 as a starter, finished the game 15-of-25 passing for 195 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

But during the Lobos' dry spell, Porterie looked anything but calm and cool.

He fumbled one snap out of the shotgun formation. Long said the fumble was caused by Porterie's trying to read the blitz and losing focus on the football.

The Lobos fumbled the ball two more times under center, but Long said it was impossible to tell who was to blame - quarterback or center.

Colorado State recovered one of those fumbled snaps. Long suggested Porterie might have had game-day jitters.

Porterie agreed.

"I felt pretty good in the first quarter, but I think I did get nervous and pressed too hard when things weren't going right," Porterie said.

UNM senior Quincy Black, who plays the Lobo position, said he isn't sure why the defense struggled.

But Black picked up a pivotal interception early in the fourth quarter to help set up seven of the 10 points UNM needed to make the comeback.

"We were there in zone coverage during the interception, and there was really nothing special we were doing to make it happen," said Black. "We just have to figure out how to put that kind of pressure on all the time."

Despite all the problems, the Lobos said they never doubted the comeback would happen.

Byrd spent the Lobos' final drive, which began with 3:16 left in the fourth quarter, picking out celebration poses to use after hitting the game winning field goal.

UNM started at its 20 yard line and fumbled the first snap of the drive. The Lobos then marched down the field to put Byrd in position for a 33-yard attempt.

"I know we didn't always look very good, but I also knew the offense would move the ball close enough for me to win the game," Byrd said. "This team is just different, and I knew we'd win."

The positive momentum has UNM coaches and players saying they don't want a bye week.

The Lobos have league bullies TCU (5-2, 1-2) and BYU (6-2, 4-0) next on the schedule, but first UNM has a week off.

But that might be good news. Long has a 9-0 record in games played after a bye week.

Long downplays that mark, but his players do not.

"We'd love to just keep going, but we'll never lose this confidence and we're awesome after the bye week," wide receiver Marcus Smith said. "So we have some time to let some people who are banged up get better and start preparing for TCU."

While Long likes the Lobos' mental strength, he said he appreciates the chance to correct problems and make adjustments.

UNM practices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, then takes the weekend off before resuming its regular practice schedule next week. Long said the coaches will use at least the first two days as training camp, focusing on correcting problems with fundamentals, including blocking and tackling.

"We've won three games in a row, but we need the extra work," Porterie said. "I made a bunch of mistakes, and I think a lot of other people did, too. We need to fix those, or we won't be able to keep winning."

Bowl boost: UNM is tied with Utah for second place in conference standings, while BYU is in first with a two-game lead.

The Lobos need only one win to become bowl eligible with three games left against TCU, BYU and San Diego State.

NCAA rules state all bowl committees, however, must take all 7-5 teams from conferences they have contracts with before looking at any 6-6 teams.

The forecast still looks good for UNM. It doesn't appear four teams will finish the conference with 7-5 records, which would allow the New Mexico Bowl to grab a 6-6 Lobos team.

If more than four teams get to seven wins, the Lobos probably will be one of those teams.

"We knew this game was huge for our bowl chances," Smith said. "I think we all understood what was on the line out there. It was more than just one game. We have to keep winning to erase any doubt, but I think we have a great chance of getting into a bowl game now."

Madsen hurt: Linebacker Brett Madsen suffered a high ankle sprain during UNM's win Saturday. Long said the bye week should give him plenty of time to recover.