Oct. 23, 2004
By PETE HERRERA
AP Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Kole McKamey ran for a touchdown and threw for another and New Mexico's defense again put on a dominating performance in a 19-9 win over San Diego State Saturday night.
McKamey, who has battled through a pair of concussions this season, threw a 21-yard screen pass TD to halfback DonTrell Moore in the first quarter and scored on a 3-yard run late in the second quarter.
The defense did the rest as New Mexico (4-4, 2-2 Mountain West) won back-to-back games for the first time this season and handed the Aztecs (2-5, 0-3 MWC) their fourth straight loss.
The Lobos' defense, which forced six turnovers last week in a 24-20 win at UNLV, had a season-high five sacks, intercepted two passes, held the Aztecs to minus 19 yards rushing and 146 total yards.
New Mexico's offense had two solid drives in the first half when the Lobos took a 17-0 lead, but struggled through the second half. It didn't matter the way the defense played.
San Diego State quarterback Kevin O'Connell, who was 16-for-32 for 165 yards, had to throw several passes away and was on the run or throwing off his back foot most of the game. The Aztecs failed to convert a third down through the first three quarters and finished 2-of-11.
New Mexico scored on its first possession for the first time this season, with Moore taking McKamey's pass on third-and-13 and weaving his way through several Aztecs with 10:51 left in the first quarter.
McKamey set up his scoring run by completing passes of 25 yards to Hank Baskett and 21 yards to Moore.
O'Connell, in his first start of the season, threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Robert Ortiz on fourth down with 8:02 left in the game. The Aztecs' only other points were on a safety, with linebacker Heath Farwell tackling Moore in the end zone early in the third quarter.
New Mexico also got a safety later in the third quarter when the ball was snapped over the head of San Diego State punter Sean Henschel and into the end zone. Henschel beat the Lobos to the ball and kicked it out of the end zone.
San Diego State crossed midfield three times in the first half but failed to score.
The Aztecs' got to the New Mexico 20 on their first possession of the game, but the drive stalled there and Garrett Palmer's 40-yard field goal attempt was wide left. Another San Diego drive that got to the New Mexico 27 ended near midfield after O'Connell was called for intentional grounding.