Lobos to face USU in their final non-conference game

The resurgent UNM football team plays its final non-conference game Saturday against Utah State University in Logan, Utah.

The Div. I Independent Aggies (1-5) have only beaten Division I-AA Idaho State University this year. USU lost its first four games against Division-I teams by a total of 178-61. But the Aggies nearly defeated Brigham Young University on Oct. 4., falling 35-34 after leading 35-7 at halftime.

USU (3-4, 1-1 MWC) is led by senior quarterback Jose Fuentes and wide-out Kevin Curtis. Fuentes and Curtis lead a passing attack that is 18th in the nation, averaging 276.83 yards a game. Curtis will likely be drafted in the first three rounds of the NFL draft, said UNM Head coach Rocky Long.

UNM's offense showed a new wrinkle in its 25-16 win over the University of Nevada at Las Vegas last week. Senior Justin Millea gained 148 yards in leading UNM to 257 yards on the ground - its highest output of the year. That bodes well for the Lobos, since the Aggies rank 112 out of 117 D-I teams in rushing defense.

UNM also has a change of leader on offense. Junior quarterback Casey Kelly returns from his arm injury this week. Long said that Kelly will start but Millea will also get time on the field as well - though not always at QB.

"One of them might be a wide receiver, we can run the option and pitch it to one or the other," he said. "There might be some times in short yardage that Millea might be in the game, or when we think we might need a little different outlook on the game."

Kick-off is set 3:05 p.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on 770-AM KKOB and televised on tape-delay basis on KRQE, Channel 13, at 4 p.m.