Carrier, who’s listed at 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, has assumed a progressively heavier workload in the UNM offense. After just 16 carries in the Lobos’ first three games – he missed the opener against Southern because of a hamstring injury – he’s carried 74 times (for 499 yards) the past two games.

He feels fine, he said.

“I didn’t take too many hard shots,” he said. “I’m just trying to keep my body healthy the whole season.”

New Mexico running back Kasey Carrier is the Mountain West’s offensive player of the week. (AP)

Carrier’s performance vaulted him from 25th to second place among the nation’s rushers with an average of 138.29 yards a game.

He’s also No. 2 in the Mountain West Conference; Nevada’s Stefphon Jefferson is No. 1 at 156 yards per game.

GAUTSCHE’S BACK: True freshman quarterback Cole Gautsche, who missed the Air Force game with a concussion sustained the week before at Hawaii, said after Monday’s practice that he has been fully cleared to play against Fresno State on Saturday.

“That was my first concussion, so now I know what it feels like,” he said. “But I’m doing a lot better now.”

Senior quarterback B.R. Holbrook, who suffered a concussion at Air Force, did not practice on Monday.

“Nothing much has changed,” coach Bob Davie said of Holbrook’s condition. “… If he gets clearance (to play on Saturday), he gets clearance. If he doesn’t, we go forward with Cole and (sophomore Quinton) McCown.”

MILLS GONE: Fifth-year senior cornerback DeShawn Mills is having season- and career-ending knee surgery, Davie said.

Mills, a starter at right corner, was injured during the Lobos’ 35-14 victory over Texas State on Oct. 6.

Sophomore walk-on Tim Foley has started the past two games at right cornerback, with true freshman Cranston Jones the backup.

THE STAT SHEET: The Lobos (4-4 overall, 1-2 in conference play) moved from No. 7 to No. 5 nationally in rushing offense on the strength of their 409 yards on the ground against Air Force. They’re averaging 297 yards per game.

Air Force remains No. 2 in the nation at 353 per game.

The Lobos rank fifth in average time of possession (33:37), 13th in turnover margin (plus-10).

THE BOWL PICTURE: Last week’s loss to Air Force may have damaged the Lobos’ bowl prospects, but it by no means has put them out of the reckoning.

Mark Schlabach of espn.com has the Lobos facing Maryland (and Terrapins offensive coordinator Mike Locksley) in the Independence Bowl. Bleacher Report has UNM staying home to face Washington in the New Mexico Bowl.

Three of the Lobos’ five remaining opponents this season – UNLV, Wyoming and Colorado State – have just one victory apiece thus far.

Because UNM is playing 13 games this season, it needs seven victories to become bowl-eligible.

NO MAN’S LAND: Sometimes in football, the wrong place is the right place.

Air Force linebacker Alex Means, who made a crucial second-quarter interception against UNM, said afterward he didn’t know what the Falcons’ defensive call was on the play.

“We had a little miscommunication on what the play was,” Means said. “I kind of ran it late and I was in no man’s land. … We got lucky, but we’ll take it.”

Means was good as well as lucky; he also was in on the tackle when the Lobos’ Lamaar Thomas was thrown for a 4-yard loss on UNM’s final offensive play of the game.

For his efforts, Means was selected as the Mountain West’s defensive player of the week.
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal