WAC ROUNDUP : New Mexico Gives Sheppard a Win in Last Game, 38-36

It was a fine going-away gift the New Mexico Lobos gave Coach Mike Sheppard.

The Lobos ended their season, and Sheppard’s career at New Mexico, with a 38-36 victory over Colorado State in the snow at Ft. Collins, Colo., Saturday, three weeks after Sheppard was fired.

Safety Eric Jack scored successive third-quarter touchdowns on a pass off a fake punt and a fumble return and also made two interceptions in the fourth quarter.

New Mexico, 3-9 overall and 2-6 in the Western Athletic Conference, won two of their three games after Sheppard was fired.

Jack, a sophomore, gave New Mexico its first lead, 25-21, early in the third quarter when he caught a short pass from punter Troy Rosseau and ran the rest of the way for a 65-yard touchdown.

Five minutes later, Jack picked up one of three fumbles by Brian Copeland and ran 34 yards for a score to give New Mexico a 32-21 lead. The Lobos ran the score to 38-21 when Stoney Case hit Greg Oliver on a 36-yard touchdown pass play late in the third quarter.

The Rams (3-8, 2-6) rallied on Kevin Verdugo’s 46-yard touchdown pass play to Mark Holmes and Copeland’s 30-yard scoring run. But Jack halted the rally with an interception at the six-yard-line with 56 seconds left.

Case completed 21 of 47 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns.

Utah 10, Texas El Paso 9--Keith Williams ran for 142 yards, including a 65-yarder to set up Chris Yergensen’s decisive 24-yard field goal, as the Utes (7-4, 4-3) beat the Miners at El Paso.

Jason Gillespie of UTEP (4-6-1, 2-5-1) missed a 47-yard field-goal try with 26 seconds left. He also missed from 41, 44 and 49 yards.