Winless Lobos likely without talented freshman Long vs. UNLV

Winless New Mexico, operating with an interim coach, took only 55 players to San Diego State last weekend, 10 fewer than the NCAA allows for road games.

Interim coach George Barlow, who took over Sept. 25 when Mike Locksley was fired four games into the season, said the Lobos' manpower situation might improve by one player this week, but he doesn't expect talented freshman receiver Deon Long to be healthy enough to play against visiting UNLV at 7 p.m. PST Saturday.

Long, who averages 16.9 yards per reception and 23.6 per kickoff return, has missed two games because of an injured foot.

The Lobos could use Long and many other players stuck on the injury report, but Barlow isn't using their absences as an excuse for New Mexico's 0-9 record, 0-4 in the Mountain West Conference.

"The next guy in line just needs to step up," he said. "Just about every week (the injuries) have been building up. It seems we get a guy back and lose two or three or more."

New Mexico's problems, however, go back long before this season. The school can be second-guessed for not making a strong push to keep Rocky Long, now San Diego State's coach, when he left in 2008; he had led the Lobos to five bowl appearances in his final seven seasons.

New Mexico is 2-31 since, losing its last 12 games. Barlow, though, said his players aren't bailing out.

"In their situation, it would be really easy to quit," he said. "But it says a lot about the character of the kids that we have left that they're not taking the easy route and just quitting. They're continuing to fight."

Senior linebacker Carmen Messina, the Lobos' top returning player, has made 15 tackles in each of the last two games.

NOTABLE

UNLV reserve safety Corbin Brown thought he suffered a high ankle sprain during training camp, but it turned out to be a broken leg. He played Sept. 17 against Hawaii, but didn't see action again until Saturday when he made two tackles in a 48-21 loss to No. 5 Boise State. ... The Rebels will try to beat New Mexico for the fourth time in a row, which would be their second-longest streak over a Mountain West rival. UNLV defeated Wyoming five consecutive times, from 1999 to 2003. ... New Mexico has scored 14 points in its past four games.

KEY MATCHUP

UNLV's wide receivers vs. New Mexico's cornerbacks

Opponents are throwing at will against the Lobos, completing 73.6 percent for averages of 252.8 yards per game and 12.9 per completion. It's an opportunity for UNLV's Phillip Payne and Michael Johnson to put up big numbers.

INJURY REPORT

(Supplied by UNLV)

Player, Pos., Injury, Status

Aaron Reed, H-back, Leg, Out

Jason Koontz, OL, Back, Out

Taylor Spencer, WR, Leg, Out

Alvin Almicar, DL, Arm, Out

Kenneth Penny, DB, Leg, Out

Sean Tesoro, OL, Leg, Doubtful

C.J. Cox, LB, Arm, Doubtful

Mike Clausen, DB, Arm, Questionable

Matt Kravetz, DL, Leg, Questionable