The UNM defensive squad showed just how good it can be in it 23-0 shut out of Baylor University Saturday.
The Lobos D dominated, wreaking havoc on the Bears' offense all night. Good defense is something that UNM fans have gotten used to over the past couple of years, but that had not been the case in the first three games this season.
The Lobos defense struggled in the season opener with North Carolina State, giving up 34 points. In the second game, Division-I-AA Weber State moved the ball well and last week Air Force pounded the ball with its relentless triple option offense. But the Lobo D returned to form against the Bears.
"I think we played great of defense," Head coach Rocky Long said. "We executed much better, we didn't have any assignment errors and the kids came much harder on blitzes."
UNM was led by sensational sophomore linebacker Nick Speegle. Speegle recorded a team-high six solo tackles to go along with two sacks.
"It feels good that our defense is finally working together," Speegle said. "During the past three games we've been a little off. Tonight it felt like for the first time in three games that we were on as a defense."
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The Lobos set the tone early in the game. UNM punted the ball to Baylor after its first possession and forced the Bear returner to fumble. It was senior safety and special teams player David Hall who caused the fumble and recovered the ball to give the Lobos excellent field position. UNM took advantage of its good fortune and scored on its ensuing possession.
The Bears came into the game averaging 36 points per game and 474 yards of total offense per game. On Saturday they were shutout and had only 107 yards on offense - the lowest given up by a UNM defense since 1983. Baylor had only 10 first downs with just one of those coming via a running play.
In fact, the Bears running game was dominated throughout. Baylor had only 45 yards on 29 carries, an average of less than two yards per carry.
Coming into the game, the Lobos knew they needed to stop Baylor running back Jonathan Golden who had six touchdowns against Samford University - and they did exactly that, holding Golden was held to just 13 yards on 12 carries.
Despite UNM's dominating defense, it led by only seven points at half time. In the second half the defense went right back to work.
Early in the third quarter, Speegle sacked Baylor quarterback Aaron Karas moving the Bears back inside the 10-yard line. On the next play the defense stripped the ball and senior captain D.J. Renteria came up with it.
"We had the right defense at the right time," Renteria said. "Some of my teammates made the play, knocked the ball out and I was there, fortunately, to get on top of it."
