Rick Scibelli Jr./Special to the Tribune

Senior wideout Travis Brown is tied for the Mountain West Conference lead with five touchdown catches. He and teammate Marcus Smith have a shot at being the University of New Mexico's first pair of receivers to gain 1,000 yards receiving apiece in a season.

Rick Scibelli Jr./Special to the Tribune

Senior wide receiver Marcus Smith leads the Lobos with 762 receiving yards this season and has paired with Travis Brown to form a potent pass-catching duo. Smith is also tops in the Mountain West Conference in catches per game, with seven.

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It's like a perfectly choreographed ballet.

Travis Brown and Marcus Smith always move fluidly together.

They know their steps, know how to complement each other on and off the football field.

Individually, each shines in his own right as a standout wide receiver with strong chance at making the NFL.

Together, they are the most prolific receiving tandem in school history, gunning to lead the Lobos to another bowl berth. They are poised to become the first pair of Lobos to earn 1,000 yards receiving apiece in a season.

"It just works," Smith said. "We know each other so well and push each other to be better. I think we're better together than we would have been apart."

The dynamic duo didn't meet until they reached the University of New Mexico, but Brown said it seemed they were destined to be close friends.

"A lot of things about us are different, but we have similar backgrounds so that really helps us understand each other," Brown said. "I think we know we can go to each other for support when no one else gets what's going on in our lives."

Both players were raised by single mothers in southern California.

"We both saw our moms struggle sometimes to take care of us," Brown said. "They were always there for us, and we're both really driven to give back to them."

The bond made Brown uniquely qualified to stand by Smith's side when he endured the worst pain of his young life.

His mother, Sheila Smith, died earlier this season. Smith had to juggle school, practice and planning his mother's funeral.

"I felt so bad for him, but he's smart and he's strong," Brown said. "He's handling it better than anyone else could. He is focused on doing everything right in honor of his mom."

Smith's effort earned him a nomination for the FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award and the adoration of football fans throughout the country, who were impressed with the composure he maintained after suffering such a traumatic loss.

"I couldn't have gotten through anything without the support of all my brothers on the team, especially Travis," Smith said. "He knows exactly what to say and what to do. He gets me. He knows when I need my space and when I need someone around to help me out."

They may get each other, but Smith and Brown are by no means identical.

Smith is the bold and brash, with confidence born from his mother's endless praise and loads of success on the football field.

He didn't take up the game until he was in the ninth grade, but his blazing speed immediately marked him as special player.

Smith was a shifty running back who rumbled for more than 1,800 yards and 30 touchdowns in two seasons at Morse High in San Diego. He was a first-team all-Western League tailback and second-team free safety.

He was recruited by several schools and chose to be a running back for the Lobos.

When Smith arrived, he found a crowded field of running backs, led by star DonTrell Moore, stealing all the playing time he wanted.

"I was mad," he said. "I pouted, I got angry, I wanted to give up. I thought I deserved to have the ball in my hands, and I couldn't let go of the idea that I was the star."

Smith wanted to quit when UNM coaches moved him to wide receiver, but his mother told him to stick with the Lobos.

He stayed but still struggled.

There were times when he hated his new job, especially when the dropped passes started piling up. It took time to learn to catch the ball before darting down field, and the importance of running precise routes.

"I finally had to look at Travis and other guys like Hank Baskett to figure it all out," Smith said. "Once I got my head on straight, it was great. I love my job on this team, and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

While Smith was all swagger, Brown was the feisty runt just trying to play football.

Brown is calm and quiet, with a fierce competitive streak simmering just below the surface.

He earned first-team All-Conference honors as a senior after catching 38 passes for 680 yards and seven touchdowns at Los Altos High in West Covina, Calif. His potential was lost in the crowded field of California athletes, and he didn't land a scholarship from a Division I school until late in the recruiting season.

The Lobos offered, and Brown immediately accepted.

While Smith has a powerful frame at 6-foot-2, 214 pounds, Brown is 6-foot-3 and had to work his way up to 202 pounds.

He compensated for his size by working relentlessly at his job.

Brown's middle name might as well be consistency, a welcome trait in a wide receiver. He has caught a pass in 31 consecutive games, which ranks second in school history.

"Travis is really focused and pays attention to all the details," Smith said. "You know he's going to always be in the right place at the right time and do whatever it takes to get the job done."

Smith and Brown eventually found equal footing on the UNM roster. They have found ways to help make each other get better, rather than trying to steal the spotlight.

"We're competitive in practice and want to push each other to be better, but we definitely are happiest when we've both had a good game," Smith said. "We both really want to get to 1,000 yards this year because it would be really special for us and for the team."