WIN-STREAK SNAPPED
The Cougars snapped the Lobo's four-game home winning streak with a 10-7 victory on Saturday.
CAREER-HIGH
Junior running back Reynaldo Brathwaite recorded a career-high 169 yards on 19 carries, averaging 8.9 yards per carry. Brathwaite's rushing total was the most by any player against New Mexico since Utah's Dameon Hunter ran for 177 yards in 2001.
RUN, LONGEST IN 45 YEARS
Brathwaite's 89-yard run in the first half, set up a Matt Payne 20-yard field goal. Brathwaite's run not only tied Cecil Sapp for the second longest run in MWC history, but was the longest run from scrimmage in BYU history since Weldon Jackson recorded a 93-yard run in 1958 (vs. Fresno State).
CENTURY MARK
Brathwaite's 169-yard performance marked the first 100-yard rushing performance by a Cougar since Marcus Whalen ran for 124 yards last season in BYU's 35-31 win over Wyoming.
THE STREAK IS STILL ALIVE
Matt Payne's 20-yard field goal in the first quarter extended the Cougars' NCAA-record streak to 353 games without being shutout. The Cougars were last shutout during the 1975 season (Sept. 27, 1975 vs. Arizona State.)
ANOTHER STREAK OF INTEREST
The Cougars have not scored a rushing touchdown in 22 quarters, dating back to the second quarter of the Cougars win over Wyoming last season.
BYU AND THE LOBOS
With a 10-7 win over New Mexico, the Cougars improve to 20-9 overall in MWC play, dating back to the league's first season in 1999. The win also improves the Cougars' overall record to 39-13-1 against the Lobos. Despite a loss in Provo last season, BYU has won five of the last six games, including 21 of the last 23 games. BYU is now 19-8-1 against New Mexico when playing at University Stadium. The Cougars have not lost in Albuquerque since 1997.With Saturday's win, the Cougars are 7-1 against the Lobos in league openers.
SCORING DEFENSE
On the season, the Cougars have held their opponents scoreless in seven of 12 quarters, including a season-high three quarters against New Mexico. Saturday's game marked the first three-quarter shutout since beating Nevada, 52-7, in 2001. Including the final two games of the 2002 season, BYU has held its opponents to at least one scoreless quarter in five straight games.
ANOTHER NIU TIGHT END
Freshman tight end Phillip Niu recorded his first career reception on Saturday, good for a 29-yard pass from Matt Berry. Niu's touchdown reception marked the second time this season a BYU receiver scored a touchdown on his first career reception. (Daniel Coats scored on a his first reception during the Cougars' season-opener against Georgia Tech.)
OPPONENT LONG
New Mexico's Adrian Boyd was credited with a 66-yard reception in the third quarter, marking the longest play the BYU defense has allowed this season.
KICKOFF RETURN
James Allen returned a kickoff 43 yards, marking the longest return of the season. Previously, David Christensen had tallied a 31-yard return against Georgia Tech.
10, ENOUGH TO WIN
The Cougars 10-7 victory marks the lowest winning score since beating UNLV, 10-7, during the 2000 season. The winning score also marks the lowest on the road since beating Hawaii, 10-7, in Honolulu during the 1986 season.