Gear up for gameday: New Mexico
LARAMIE -- Craig Bohl has only suffered three shutouts in his 18-year career as a head football coach.
The first came in the season finale back in 2005. His North Dakota State squad fell 9-0 to No. 11 Southern Illinois. Despite being ranked 20th in the FSC, his team missed the playoffs because the program was on probation.
Bohl's second blanking came five years later. The Bison dropped a 3-0 heartbreaker to Missouri State. The following week, NDSU took out some frustration on Robert Morris in a 43-17 win.
Wyoming's head coach was left scratching his head after Saturday's 17-0 loss to Fresno State inside War Memorial Stadium.
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The Cowboys reached the red zone just once all afternoon. Quarterbacks Sean Chambers and Levi Williams combined for five turnovers in the game. Wyoming's scoreless streak now sits at six quarters. Its losing streak, two.
New Mexico, the Cowboys opponent this Saturday in Laramie, might be just what the doctor ordered for a team that needs to get right -- and fast.
The Lobos, led by second-year head coach Danny Gonzales, have a five-game losing skid of their own. His team hasn't scored an offensive touchdown in two weeks. Last Saturday night in Albuquerque, the Lobos rolled up just 69 yards of total offense, statistically the worst outing in the 23-year history of the Mountain West Conference.
And you thought Wyoming had it bad on that side of the ball?
New Mexico started seven true freshmen, including QB CJ Montes, in last week's 36-7 loss to Colorado State. Gonzales said his roster features just three sophomores. Like Wyoming, the Lobos have not yet named a starting quarterback for Saturday's game in Laramie.
He knew things would be a tough year, but even he's stunned how non-competitive his team has been over the last five weeks.
"I'm really disappointed in what we're doing on offense -- production-wise -- I mean, that 69 yards is horrendous," Gonzales said. "So, we've got got to get back to the basics and the fundamentals of blocking people and trying to run the football.
"I've said it a few times over the past couple of weeks, we're not good enough on defense to be able to hold people to nothing."
Wyoming's defense, on the other hand, is.
Chad Muma and Co. held Fresno State signal caller Jake Haener to just 96 yards passing last Saturday. He averaged nearly 400 per game coming in.
You can read all about the Cowboys and Lobos by clicking the numerous links on this page.
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Here is all you need to know -- and the links -- for Saturday's tilt in Laramie:
WHO: New Mexico (2-5, 0-3) at Wyoming (4-2, 0-2)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 23 at 1:30 p.m. MST
WEATHER: High of 55, low of 32, cloudy, winds at 17 mph
WHERE: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo.
TRAVEL: WyoRoad.info
TV: Stadium
RADIO: Cowboy Sports Network
STREAMING: Stadium
TICKETS: UW Ticket Central
BOX SCORE: ESPN
ROSTERS: Wyoming / New Mexico
BETMGM ODDS: Wyoming -20.5, O/U 41.5 (Could be subject to change)
HISTORY: Wyoming leads the all-time series 39-34
HEAD COACHES: Craig Bohl / Danny Gonzales
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