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Stevens: Lobos-Cowboys game should be one to watch
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The chip-on-the-shoulder thing is there if the Wyoming Cowboys or University of New Mexico Lobos choose to use it.
Yeah, it's personal.
The Cowboys aren't real happy after posting a 14-10 win over the Lobos last season in University Stadium and then getting "hometowned" by the New Mexico Bowl, which wisely snubbed Wyoming and invited the Lobos.
The Lobos aren't happy with that 14-10 kicking on Lobos soil.
"That was our homecoming weekend last year and I remember feeling pretty sour about that," said UNM senior lineman Vince Natali.
"I think they do have a chip on their shoulders (about losing the bowl bid to UNM). They might be a little sore about that. But that was last year and this is this year, so last year doesn't really matter any more."
That's a fact.
The thing about Saturday's 12:06 p.m. kickoff in Laramie's War Memorial Stadium is that it could have dramatic impact on both 3-2 Lobos and 4-1 Cowboys.
Wyoming is 1-0 in the Mountain West after a home win over Texas Christian University. Wyoming is receiving votes in three national polls, the only MWC team getting any votes. The Cowboys are thinking about winning the league title.
Or at least earning a bid to a bowl.
The Lobos coughed up a huge home game to the Brigham Young Cougars and UNM's hopes for a MWC title surely would crash with a loss to Wyoming which would leave UNM 0-2 in league play.
The past three MWC champs have finished 8-0.
"There is pressure, but we are up to the challenge," said Michael Tuohy, a senior defensive lineman. "We've gone on streaks before. It seems like every year I'm here, we've put our backs to the wall."
Another thing: The Lobos and the Cowboys aren't always the most talented teams in the MWC, but they play intense, especially on defense.
They play the game like mean, mother dogs.
"At Wyoming, they have a never-say-die attitude," Natali said. "We have to bring that in there, too.
"There are some tough guys over there and we have to match their intensity, match their toughness. We have to be ready for a long, hard-fought game. We have to get our minds right for that."
There are other similarities to these teams, too.
The Cowboys' first option usually is giving the ball to junior halfback Devin Moore, who tops the MWC with 114 yards rushing per game. Wyoming has rushed for more than 200 yards in its past two games.
The Lobos love to establish a running game behind bullish senior Rodney Ferguson, No. 2 in the MWC at 112 yards rushing per game.
"We like to run. They like to run," said Lobos coach Rocky Long.
An interesting note: Wyoming has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 12 straight games. Ditto for UNM in seven straight.
Statistically, Wyoming shows an edge running the ball with a 184.4 yard average to 155.6 for UNM.
And the Cowboys' running game might be a more important aspect of their offense. Wyoming averages 193.6 yards passing a game. UNM, behind the receiving tandem of Marcus Smith and Travis Brown, averages 273.4 yards per game. Smith and Brown rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the MWC in receiving.
On defense, Wyoming has the statistical edge - 84.4 rushing yards given to 89.8 for UNM; 267.8 total defense to 345.4.
The Lobos average about 51 more yards on offense and the Cowboys yield about 77 fewer yards on defense.
The stats say to expect an even game, but Natali thinks emotion will be a huge key, too.
"It's going to be the team that plays the hardest and the toughest and makes the fewest mistakes," he said.
"This is big. We have to win this game and get some momentum going for the next few weeks."
Richard Stevens is The Trib's deputy sports editor. You can reach him at 823-3663 or rstevens@abqtrib.com.
