BIG WEST ROUNDUP : Fresno State Gets Lesson in Humility

Fueled by the memories of a 68-21 loss a year ago, a rout that prompted Fresno State Coach Jim Sweeney to call New Mexico’s football program “pathetic,” the Lobos gained revenge with a 45-22 nonconference victory over the 23rd-ranked and previously unbeaten Bulldogs Saturday at Albuquerque, N.M.

“I think I did more for New Mexico football than anybody since (former coach) Joe Morrison,” said Sweeney of his comments of a year ago. “I’ve said so many things over 40 years (and) if it helped New Mexico that much, I must be a tremendous motivator.”

The win was easily the biggest in seven years for a New Mexico program whose only winning season in the 1980s was a 10-1 mark in 1982 under Morrison, the former New Mexico and South Carolina coach who died earlier this year.

Sweeney said he hoped the Lobos’ victory, only their fourth in three years, will end the feuding between the two teams, who have contracts through 1991.

“We want good relations with New Mexico and I hope that’s the end of it. They got their victory and the coach here got his humility lesson,” Sweeney said.

The Lobos (2-10) completely dominated the Bulldogs (10-1), who came in with a 17-game winning streak, second-longest in the nation behind Notre Dame.

New Mexico’s Terance Mathis became the leading pass receiver in NCAA history, catching the nine passes he needed to establish the record of 263. Marc Templeton of Cal State Long Beach held the previous mark of 262. Mathis also holds the NCAA record in receiving yardage with 4,254.

Fresno State, the Big West champion, next will play Ball State in the California Raisin Bowl in Fresno Dec. 9. Ball State (7-2-2) won the Mid-American Conference championship Saturday with a 33-14 win over Ohio University.

Utah State 27, UNLV 22--Kirk Johnson threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Newman early in the fourth quarter and that was the difference as the Aggies (4-6 and 4-2) beat the Rebels (4-6 and 3-3) in a Big West game at Las Vegas.

Pacific 14, New Mexico State 10--David Henigan, a freshman from Fountain Valley, passed for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead the Tigers (2-10 and 2-5) at Las Cruces, N.M. The Aggies (0-11 and 0-7) completed their first winless season since 1954.

TOP RECEIVERS

A look at the NCAA Division I-A career reception leaders.

Player School No. Terance Mathis New Mexico 263 Mark Templeton CS Long Beach 262 Howard Twilley Tulsa 261 David Williams Illinois 245 Marc Zeno Tulane 236 Darrin Nelson Stanford 214 Ron Sellers Florida State 212 Jason Phillips Houston 207 Hart Lee Dykes Oklahoma State 203 Keith Edwards Vanderbilt 200

A look at the NCAA Division I-A career reception yardage leaders.

Player School Yards Terance Mathis New Mexico 4,254 Marc Zeno Tulane 3,725 Ron Sellers Florida State 3,598 Elmo Wright Houston 3,347 Howard Twilley Tulsa 3,343 Clarkston Hines Duke 3,318 Gerald Harp Western Carolina 3,305 David Williams Illinois 3,195 Hart Lee Dykes Oklahoma State 3,171