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Throwing the football is still an experiment for the New Mexico football team.
The Lobos don’t count on the passing game, but they might have to against Colorado State on Saturday at University Stadium.
The Rams have one of the better rush defense in the Mountain West Conference, ranking third behind Utah State and San Diego State, and are 32nd in the country allowing 139.5 yards per game.
Last year, CSU stifled UNM’s running game in a 24-20 victory in Fort Collins, Colo. The Lobos rushed for just 137 yards on 37 carries, but stayed in the game thanks to senior quarterback B.R. Holbrook, who completed 12 of 21 attempts for 205 yards.
“I hope we don’t have to. I wouldn’t mind running it 58 straight times,” head coach Bob Davie said. “I think we’ll have to throw it a little bit more. I think they’ll probably force us to throw it more.”
If UNM (3-6, 1-4 MWC) is forced to throw, that burden will fall on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback Cole Gautsche. On the year, Gautsche is completing 42 percent (29 of 69) of his passes for 506 yards with five scores. UNM has the 121st ranked passing offense in the nation, averaging just under 100 yards per game.
Davie said he’s not worried about Gautsche dropping back to pass, but he is concerned about whether or not the offensive line can hold up.
“I’m anxious to see us throw it more. Cole was a liability this time of year to throw it. He’s not a liability to throw it anymore,” Davie said. “Even when we’re behind or desperate we need to continue to run it so we can play action pass. If we have to drop back and protect we’re in trouble.”
Davie said CSU reminds him of USU, who stuffed UNM’s running game in a 45-10 win on Oct. 19, because of the Rams’ experience across the board. CSU returns 19 starters from last year’s 4-7 squad.
“Just big and physical. They’re (CSU) just a big strong physical team,” Davie said. “Just physically they remind me of a big strong Utah State team.”
Opposing teams have not been able to stop UNM’s vaunted triple option game, which ranks No 2 in the country with a 328.9 yards per game average. Only twice this season have the Lobos been held to under 200 yards rushing — the season opening 21-13 loss to the University of Texas San Antonio (193), and the defeat to USU (160).
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CSU (5-5, 3-2 MWC) boasts a solid running attack of its own that starts with sophomore tail back Kapri Bibbs, the second leading rusher in the conference at 114.8 yards per game. Bibbs is coming off a career-high 312-yards in a 38-17 win versus Nevada last week. UNM’s Kasey Carrier leads the MWC with 123.2 yards.
“He’s (Bibbs) a powerful guy. He’s probably a 205 or 210 pound back,” Davie said. “They also got that big strong offensive line so he’s going to have a chance to get started.”
