Football Preview: Baylor at New Mexico

Sept. 9, 2002

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BAYLOR (1-1) at NEW MEXICO (1-2)
University Stadium (37,370)
Albuquerque, N.M.
Saturday, Sept. 14, 2002 * 6:05 p.m. MDT

SERIES
This is the third meeting between Baylor and New Mexico, with the Bears winning the previous two contests. The teams first met in 1984, a 38-2 Bear victory in Waco. Last season the teams played into overtime, with Baylor edging the Lobos 16-13 in Waco.

COACHES
Kevin Steele (Tennessee, 1981) is 7-28 in his fourth season at Baylor. He is 1-0 vs. New Mexico, as Baylor defeated the Lobos 16-13 in overtime last season in Waco.

New Mexico's Rocky Long (New Mexico, 1974) is 19-30 in his fifth season as a head coach, all at his alma mater.

GOLDEN EARNS BIG 12 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior RB Jonathan Golden was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors after tying a Big 12 record and setting a Baylor one by scoring six touchdowns in the win over Samford.

The Sugar Land-native, who entered the game with three career touchdowns, scored on runs of 4, 1, 3, 16 and 17 yards and on a 28-yard screen pass from Aaron Karas. He scored all six touchdowns in two-and-a-half quarters of play and did not see any action after the 8:26 mark of the third quarter.

The previous Baylor record for touchdowns in a game was four, accomplished by Robert Straight (1993 vs. Rice), Cleveland Franklin (1976 vs. Illinois) and Wesley Bradshaw (1922 vs. Arkansas).

The six TDs tied the Big 12 record held by Texas' Ricky Williams (1998 vs. New Mexico State and Rice), Oklahoma's Quentin Griffin (2000 vs. Texas) and Colorado's Chris Brown (2001 vs. Nebraska).

Golden finished the night with 19 carries for 108 yards, giving him his first career 100-yard game and the first by a Baylor back since Darrell Bush ran for 164 against North Texas in 1999.

GOLDEN LEADS NATION IN SCORING
Thanks to his record-setting, six-touchdown performance against Samford, Jonathan Golden currently leads the nation in scoring with 21.0 points per game (seven TDs in two games).

NEWHOUSE AMONG NCAA, BIG 12 LEADERS
Senior WR Reggie Newhouse is second in the Big 12 and among the nation's top 15 in both receptions per game (7.5, 13th nationally) and receiving yardage per game (141.5, 5th nationally). He also leads the Big 12 and ranks 17th nationally with 163.5 all-purpose yards a game.

Against Samford, Newhouse recorded his second-straight 100-yard receiving game this season and the seventh of his career with seven catches for 119 yards.

Newhouse is currently third at Baylor in career receptions (116), fourth in yardage (1,695) and tied for fourth in TD receptions (13).

KARAS 2nd IN BIG 12 IN PASS EFFICIENCY
Sophomore QB Aaron Karas, who made his second career start in the win over Samford and responded by completing 11-of-16 for 207 yards and a TD, is second in the Big 12 and 19th nationally with a passing rating of 150.5.

In four career outings dating back to last season, Karas has now posted combined totals of 61-of-96 passing (64 percent) for 944 yards, 7 TDs, two interceptions and a 166.0 efficiency rating. He has thrown for a minimum of 195 yards in all four games, including three-straight with over 200 yards passing.

OFFENSE TOPS 400 YARDS AGAIN...
For the first time in 11 years (the 1991 season), Baylor has totalled over 400 offensive yards in five-straight games. The Bears have posted offensive totals of 546 (Samford), 402 (Cal), 507 (Southern Illinois), 517 (Oklahoma State) and 402 (Missouri) in their most recent outings dating back to last season.

... AND 20 POINTS
For the first time since 1992-93, when the Bears eclipsed the 20-point mark in eight-straight games, Baylor has scored 20 points or more in five-consecutive contests. The Bears have scored 50 (Samford), 22 (Cal), 56 (Southern Illinois), 22 (Oklahoma State) and 24 (Missouri) going back to the 2001 season.

Baylor has scored 128 in its last three games, its highest three-game total since scoring 130 points in three games in 1991.

RUSHING GAME HITS FIVE-YEAR HIGH
Baylor's 280 yards rushing against Samford was the Bears' highest ground total since gaining 319 rushing yards at Fresno State in 1997.

OFFENSE SECOND IN BIG 12
Under first-year offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin, Baylor is currently second in the Big 12 with 474.0 yards per game. The Bears are also second in passing yards with 294.5 per game. Baylor is 14th nationally in both categories.

BICKEL, EVANS MAKE FIRST STARTS
Senior OL Matt Bickel and sophomore FB Jonathan Evans both made their first career starts in the Samford game. Bickel started for an injured Antoine Murphy (ankle) at right guard, while Evans got the nod at fullback.

BEARS FACE TOUGH SCHEDULE
Half of Baylor's 12 2002 opponents (Colorado, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech) participated in bowl games last season.

Baylor's 2002 opponents went a combined 73-67 (.521) in 2001.

BAYLOR INJURY UPDATE
Here's an updated list at Baylor's injuries heading into the New Mexico game:

Player, Pos.        Injury      StatusAnthony Arline, DB  Knee (l)    OutMichael Gary, DL    Knee (r)    DoubtfulRyan Jeffrey, WR  Shoulder (r)    Out for seasonAaron Lard, DL      Knee(r)     OutAntoine Murphy, OL  Ankle (r)   Probable

NEXT UP...
The Bears are back at Floyd Casey Stadium for Parents' Weekend Sept. 21 in a 6 p.m. CDT kickoff against Tulsa.

Football Preview: Baylor at New Mexico

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