New Mexico 20, Wyoming 3

10/13/2007 6:47 PM

By MEAD GRUVER
Associated Press Writer

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) -Lightning, heavy rain and even a few snowflakes seemed to be exactly what New Mexico needed against Wyoming on Saturday.

The Lobos came back in force after a 1 hour, 43 minute weather delay in the second quarter and promptly scored two touchdowns in beating the Cowboys 20-3 on Saturday.

Play had resumed on a soggy field for less than 2 minutes when Travis Brown grabbed a 63-yard reception from Donovan Porterie for a 10-3 Lobos lead with 43 seconds left in the half.

New Mexico coach Rocky Long said Wyoming had the momentum before the delay, but Brown's big touchdown changed everything.

``Coming out of the delay, that play put the momentum in our favor,'' he said of Brown's TD.

Halftime was limited to 3 minutes. Then, early in the third quarter, Wyoming quarterback Karsten Sween fumbled on the Cowboys' own 2-yard line and Ian Clark recovered to score for the Lobos (4-2, 1-1 Mountain West Conference).

John Sullivan kicked a 41-yard field goal at the end of the third for the final score.

Long said the back-to-back touchdowns may have disoriented Wyoming (4-2, 1-1).

``When you're down by that much, sometimes your normal game plan goes out the window. They started throwing it more than I'm sure they wanted to,'' he said.

``They have two great running backs and they run the ball really well, so them having to throw it a little more probably takes you out of your normal game plan.''

Devin Moore, who'd been the conference rushing leader with a 114-yard average heading into the game, had just 30 yards rushing for Wyoming. Wynel Seldon had been averaging 74 yards but managed just 8 against the Lobos.

Brown finished with 94 yards on four receptions for New Mexico. Rodney Ferguson kept closer to his 112-yard rushing average than Moore or Seldon; he had 89 yards rushing on 26 carries.

Wyoming linebacker Ward Dobbs said Ferguson got slippery and difficult to tackle.

``This was a tough, physical game,'' Dobbs said. ``It was a tough loss for us and there were some big plays that we couldn't recover from. You wish the lightning didn't come because it obviously didn't play in our favor.''

Cowboys coach Joe Glenn said it was just New Mexico's day.

``You have to give New Mexico credit,'' Glenn said. ``They did a really nice job of scheming us and we weren't able to make any big plays.

``We moved the ball in between the twenties, but never got anything going with the running game. We need Devin and Wynel to do something, plus we didn't cause any turnovers. They protected the ball and we never had any field position because of it.''

The weather delay began 2 1/2 minutes before halftime. Lightning flashed right after Billy Vinnedge kicked a 26-yard field goal for Wyoming, tying the game 3-3. NCAA rules require a 20-minute wait after any lightning bolt.

Rain, occasionally mixed with snow, fell for the next two hours before finally letting up.

New Mexico scored on its first possession of the game on a 39-yard Sullivan field goal.