The UNM football team looks to end a 31-year losing streak in Provo, Utah, Saturday.
In fact, the last time the Lobos beat BYU in Utah, head coach Rocky Long was UNM's quarterback.
Long doesn't remember much from the game in 1971 but does remember that the Lobos were able to run the ball effectively in a 14-0 victory.
Long also believes that all things must eventually come to an end.
"I think that they're playing their best football of the year," he said. "And I think both teams are going into the game confident. That streak has to end sometime and it would be great if it was this week."
It would be especially great for UNM because next week it faces Mountain West Conference leader Colorado State University in what would be a must win game if the Lobos lose Saturday. UNM needs to win two of its final three contests to remain bowl eligible.
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BYU dominated the MWC last year reaching the top-15 until a late season debacle. This year the Cougars got off to a fast start, once again beating Syracuse in their opener but quickly dropped off the list of the elite. BYU struggled in defeating Utah State 35-34 and lost its first three conference games of the season. However, the Cougars have bounced back the past couple of weeks beating the University of Wyoming 35-31 and San Diego State University 34-10. BYU also seems to have found its offense, putting up 935 yards of total offense in the past two games.
Leading the Cougars' potent offense has been the hard-nose running of halfback Marcus Whalen.
"He's big and strong and he's got good speed and he doesn't make you miss much, but he'll run by you and through you," Long said of Whalen.
The Lobos are on their first winning streak of the season at two games. UNM beat SDSU 15-8 last week and the University of Utah in overtime two weeks earlier. The Lobos overcame three fumbles and a botched punt last week in a crucial victory over the Aztecs. They will need to play a more effective game this week if they plan on ending BYU's dominance in Provo.
"It's more important to get a win," UNM quarterback Casey Kelly said. "In order to get that win we're going to have to get the BYU monkey off our back. It's going to be big this week to come out of there with a win."
Defensively, UNM has been terrific over the past game and a half. After giving up 28 points to Utah in the first half of that game, the defense shut out the Utes in the second half. Similarly, in the SDSU game, the Lobos' defense was tenacious, holding the Aztecs' fifth-ranked offense to just eight points.
Linebacker and emerging star Billy Strother had a huge game for UNM against SDSU. He blocked a punt in the first half that led to the Lobos' first score. He also forced the Aztecs into a safety late in the game and knocked down SDSU's last pass on fourth down. Strother, who was named the MWC defensive player of the week, isn't buying into the hype surrounding the Cougars 14-0 record over the past 14 games in Provo.
"I don't see it as motivation, I see it as another game," Strother said. "I see it as a football game. They can come here or we can go there, it doesn't really matter. What really motivates me is playing on Saturday and getting another win."
Kickoff is set for 4:07 Saturday afternoon at the LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. The game can be seen on KRQE channel 13.
Notes: Senior cornerback Brandon Gregory will be starting for just the second time in his career. Also, third string quarterback Kole McKamey will be unavailable after suffering an injury during practice.
