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Lobos Win OT Thriller Over Rebels, 39-36 Byrd's 39-yard field goal in first overtime period lifts New Mexico to victory.
Oct. 15, 2006
LAS VEGAS (AP) - New Mexico's Kenny Byrd kicked a 39-yard field goal in overtime Saturday night and Michael Tuohy recovered a fumble on UNLV's first play in the extra session to give the Lobos a 39-36 victory. New Mexico (3-4, 1-2 Mountain West Conference) gave up 28 second quarter points, but rebounded to hold UNLV to eight the rest of the game. The Lobos forced four turnovers after halftime, converting them into 16 points. The final turnover came on the game's last play when Major Mosley forced UNLV quarterback Shane Steichen to fumble. The ball was kicked to around midfield and recovered by Tuohy for the win. Byrd kicked a career high four field goals, all after halftime, and New Mexico overcame a 14-point deficit. Cody Kase's 47-yard interception return and Martelius Epps' 4-yard touchdown run helped give New Mexico a 36-28 lead with 2:32 to play. But Steichen threw a 9-yard touchdown to Ryan Wolfe and then connected with Renan Saint Preux for the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 36 with 1:03 to play. New Mexico found the end zone on its first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead. Rodney Ferguson scored on a 9-yard run and Donovan Porterie threw an 8-yard scoring strike to Thomas Wilson and the Lobos defense held the Rebels to a pair of three-and-outs. But Steichen replaced starter Rocky Hinds at the end of the first quarter, leading UNLV (2-4, 1-1) to touchdowns on four consecutive series.
Steichen passed for five touchdowns and 295 yards, opening the scoring for the Rebels with a 30-yard scoring pass to Ronnie Smith, also connecting with Aaron Straiten for a 14-yard touchdown. UNLV's 28 unanswered points in the second quarter were five less than the Rebels scored in their last four games. Steichen went 9-for-12 for 188 yards passing in the quarter, including a 75-yarder to Wolfe that gave the Rebels a 21-14 lead. |
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