UNM interim head coach George Barlow said he is going to do everything in his power to help the UNM football team get the first win of the season against UNLV.
And that could include gambling early.
“I can’t say I won’t go for it on fourth down,” he said. “Let’s just say this: I will definitely be out there trying to play to win if it comes to a situation to do that. If (defensive coordinator) Doug (Mallory) and coach (offensive coordinator Darrell) Dickey feel good about it, then we are going to go with it.”
The Lobos need to get it done this weekend, because it might be the last chance for a victory this season. Including Saturday’s game against UNLV, UNM has six games left.
UNM (0-6) is winless for the first time since the 1987 season and riding a 10-game losing streak dating back to last season. The Lobos have lost six consecutive Mountain West Conference games since 2008, too.
Enter the Rebels — currently 2-5 and a team that has given up more than 30 points in six of its seven games.
But the Lobos aren’t fooled by the Rebels’ record, Barlow said.
“On paper it looks like a better opportunity, a better chance to win,” he said. “They are a pretty good team when they put it all together. I am sure they are going to come and be ready to play.”
UNLV has some playmakers, specifically wide receiver Ryan Wolfe, who has hauled in 50 receptions for 539 yards and a touchdown this season.
Wolfe, a preseason All-American candidate, is a tremendous route runner and has great hands catching the ball in traffic.
To stop Wolfe and the rest of the Rebels, cornerback Anthony Hooks said the Lobos will have to take the field at full speed.
“He is a big and really physical receiver,” Hooks said. “We are just going to have to come out there with our A-game and see what we do against him. We just got to be on top of our stuff.”
Barlow said the bye week helped the Lobos get back to the basics and shape up for the homecoming game.
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“What we tried to do was see what we were doing well on both sides of the ball,” he said. “We tried to stick to that and that’s what we are going to try to stick with against UNLV this week. We also tried to see what we are doing well, especially with young kids who haven’t played a whole lot (this season).”
Barlow’s had double duties this week, coaching the defensive back and the team as a whole because of head coach Mike Locksley’s 10-day suspension. But even with the added pressure, cornerback Nathan Enriquez said Barlow is committed to commanding the secondary’s attention.
“We see what we have to do this week with coach Barlow in charge,” he said. “He is doing a great job keeping us focused and not thinking about other things outside of what we have to do on the field and at practice.”
*Football vs. UNLV
Saturday
6 p.m.
University Stadium *
