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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 12:46 p.m., Thursday, November 1, 2007

CFB: Bowl stakes increasing as Aggies, Wolfpack meet

Associated Press

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — With four games remaining, New Mexico State understands it's time to back up the team's preseason talk about a possible bowl berth.

The Aggies (4-5, 1-3 Western Athletic Conference) haven't reached the postseason since the 1960 Sun Bowl.

"A win this week is really important to our season and for our goals," coach Hal Mumme said. "To get to a 7-6 mark, we have to win three out of four. But the good news is three of the four games are on our grass."

Friday night's opponent, Nevada (4-4, 2-2), is in a similar position.

The Wolf Pack have reached bowl games the past two seasons and need to beat the Aggies if they hope for another, since the league's top bowl bids are lining up for front-running Hawaii (8-0, 5-0) and Boise State (7-1, 4-0).

New Mexico State and Nevada, along with other contenders, will be trying to catch improved Fresno State (5-3, 4-1) over the next month for the WAC's additional bowl berth.

Nevada has won two straight, beating Idaho 37-21 last weekend.

Running back Luke Lippincott, who ranks second in the WAC at 113.9 yards rushing per game, went for 119 yards and two touchdowns against the Vandals, his third straight 100-yard effort.

"He's a tough kid," Nevada coach Chris Ault said. "Every game he's doing something different than the week before. Every week he's improved. We're really pleased with Luke. He's done a great job."

The Aggies are concerned about quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who threw for 203 yards and a TD last week. Since replacing injured Nick Graziano during an Oct. 6 loss to Fresno State, Kaepernick has produced 1,304 total yards and 13 TDs.

"Every game he gets a little more mature," Ault said. "He's done some nice things. The defenses are showing him a lot of different looks that maybe Graz has not seen. He's reading them pretty good."

Ault said Kaepernick, a redshirt freshman, has a strong arm and outstanding running ability, which allows the coaching staff to diversify the offense and go deeper into the playbook.

He'll get no argument from the Aggies.

"We will be a lot more worried about him running," NMSU linebacker Dante Floyd said. "He can run and scramble with the ball, so it's two threats in one. We are going to have to make sure everything is solid up front and in the secondary."

New Mexico State, meanwhile, is battling through injuries, most notably the loss of leading receiver Chris Williams, who broke his collarbone during a 45-31 victory over Idaho on Oct. 20.

Linebackers Chris Nwoko, Jarmar Cotton and La'auli Fonoti couldn't play in last weekend's 50-13 loss to Hawaii and Mumme said they're all doubtful for this one. Tight end Nick Cleaver is playing with a nagging ankle sprain.

Standout quarterback Chase Holbrook has played the past two weeks after a two-game absence because of bruised ribs. He said injured or not, the Aggies pledged to plow ahead.

"It's hard to be 100 percent during this time of the season, but I am as close as you can get," Holbrook said.

Nevada holds a 9-1 edge in the series and has won three straight over the Aggies. New Mexico State's only win came in 1998 when Ty Houghtaling threw an 8-yard TD pass to David Patterson with 46 seconds to play for a 48-45 victory.

"It's always tough. We have never played well against Nevada since I've been here," said Mumme, who's in his third season.