Jake Schoellkopf/Special to The Tribune

New Mexico running back Rodney Ferguson smiles as he gets a pat on the helmet from teammate Vince Natali after Ferguson scored his fourth touchdown of the game in the third quarer against Sacramento State, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007. New Mexico won 58-0.

More LoboZone

• Richard Stevens: Faces I'll remember are the smallest ones
• Michael Garcia: Here's to you, athletes, coaches and friends. These memories - and lessons - will last forever.
• Tribune sports: Five faves

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

It was total domination.

And it was still special.

The University of New Mexico football team mauled Sacramento State, picking up a 58-0 win over the Hornets Saturday night in University Stadium. It was the most points scored by a UNM team since the Lobos trounced Texas State-San Marcos 72-8 in the 2003 season opener in Albuquerque.

Several UNM players had career nights, but it was the team's performance in the face of prosperity that made the win unique.

This year's Lobos overcame the role of favorite, a label that has been a major hurdle early in the season for their recent predecessors.

Instead of slugging it out with the Hornets, a team in the Football Championship Subdivision that was formerly known as a Division I-AA, the Lobos proved why they are in another class.

“I'm proud of our team because they showed some maturity (Saturday night),” Long said. “After two emotional wins, they could have not showed up tonight.

The Lobos improved to 3-1, tying their best start during Long's 10-year tenure. Sacramento State fell to 0-3.

UNM owned every element of the game, but the offense was a little shaky in the first quarter, considering its advantage.

The Lobos settled for three first-half field goals.

“We understood that it wasn't their defense that was keeping us from scoring touchdowns, we were keeping ourselves out of the end zone,” UNM quarterback Donovan Porterie said. “We decided that we had to come out much tougher in the second half to prove ourselves.”

The Lobos looked like Pac-Man after intermission, effortlessly chomping up yards.

UNM finished the game with 499 yards of total offense, including 232 rushing yards and 267passing yards. Junior running back Rodney Ferguson rushed for 129 yards and a career-high four touchdowns on 18 carries.

“Coach told us we were real lackadaisical in the first half, and we had to prove we were the better team,” Ferguson said. “We wanted to live up to the way our defense was playing on the other side of the ball.

The UNM defense obliterated Sacramento State.

The Lobos only gave up one first down and 37 yards total offense in the entire first half.

And by the end of the game, UNM gave up six first downs and 104 yards of total offense. The Hornets' tally was padded when the Lobos stopped blitzing in the fourth quarter to run time off the clock.

The defense also knocked out Sacramento State redshirt freshman starting quarterback Jason Smith, who left the game in the second quarter with an injured pinkie. Smith went three-of-seven passing for 18 yards.

Backup freshman quarterback Duncan White was left to pilot the Hornets, but he also struggled. White went one-of-seven passing for minus-3 yards and two interceptions.

Jake Schoellkopf/Special to The Tribune

New Mexico linebacker Zach Arnett, middle, reacts as he is congratulated by teammate Tyson Ditmore after Arnett's tackle of Sacramento State running back Travon Jones (9) in the third quarer, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007. New Mexico won 58-0.

Linebacker Zach Arnett said it was senior defensive end Tyler Donaldson who set the tone for the Lobos. Donaldson finished with eight tackles, but Arnett wasn't far behind with five.

“Tyler and our defensive line set the tone for us,” Arnett said. “Our pass rush was incredible from start to finish.”

The Lobos promise they won't celebrate this victory for long, setting their sights on defending conference champions BYU (2-2, 1-0 in Mountain West play). The Cougars picked up a 31-6 home win over previously undefeated Air Force Saturday night.

“It was a good game, but we know we can't relax,” Ferguson said. “We have to go out there and get ready for next week.”

Notes: Starters Devin Clark and Michael Tuohy did not start or play the first quarter because they were half an hour late for practice this week. ... Sophomore Erik Cook played four different positions on the offensive line, logging time at every spot except left guard. ... UNM has improved its security so much after its trouble with crowd control against New Mexico State, Athletics Director Paul Krebs was kicked out of the postgame interview room by security because he did not have proper credentials. Krebs took it well and was later allowed back in the interview room when football operations coordinator Gavin Bevis vouched for him. Krebs took it well and said he was glad the security guard was doing her job.