2006 New Mexico Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=2006 New Mexico Bowl


Date=December 23, 2006
Year=2006
Visitor School=University of New Mexico
Visitor Name Short=New Mexico
Visitor Nickname=Lobos
Visitor Record=6-6
Visitor

Visitor Coaches=
Visitor BCS=
Visitor Coach=Rocky Long
Visitor1=0
Visitor2=3
Visitor3=0
Visitor4=9
Home School=San Jose State University
Home Name Short=San Jose State
Home Nickname=Spartans
Home Record=8-4
Home

Home Coaches=
Home BCS=
Home Coach=Dick Tomey
Home1=0
Home2=13
Home3=7
Home4=0
Type=bg
MVP=Offensive: SJSU WR James Jones
Defensive: SJSU LB Matt Castelo
Stadium=University Stadium
City=Albuquerque, New Mexico
US Network=ESPN
US Announcers=Bob Wischusen, Rod Gilmore, Trevor Matich and Stacey Dales

The 2006 New Mexico Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game, part of the NCAA football bowl games, 2006–07 season, and held on December 23, 2006 at University Stadium on the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque. It featured the visiting San Jose State Spartans and the hometown New Mexico Lobos. It was the first edition of the New Mexico Bowl.

Game summary

The game was scoreless through the first quarter. On the very first play of the second quarter, San Jose State quarterback Adam Tafralis threw a 76-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Broussard. The 9 second scoring strike gave San Jose State a 7-0 lead. Tafralis connected with wide receiver James Jones for a 36-yard touchdown pass to give San Jose State a 13-0 lead, after the missed extra point. New Mexico kicker Kenny Byrd got New Mexico on the board with a 40-yard field goal to make it 13-3.

In the third quarter, Tafralis connected with James Jones for a 24-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 20-3. San Jose State's defense held New Mexico's offense in check, and got the ball back, poised to run out the clock. However, with 1:08 left, New Mexico stopped San Jose State in their own endzone for a safety, to make the score 20-5. Quarterback Chris Nelson capitalized on this opportunity by throwing a 15-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Smith, making the score 20-12. San Jose State recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

External links

* [http://www.newmexicobowl.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores106/106357/NCAAF724876.htm USA Today article]