New Mexico and the University of Texas-San Antonio were in a rush to get to a bowl game.The Roadrunners (6-6, 5-3 C-USA) are eligible for the first time in programs brief six-year history. They won seven games back in 2013, but they were in the final year of reclassifying to the FBS and not eligible to play in the postseason.This season, UTSA won five of its last eight games to finish second in Conference USAs West Division.New Mexico (8-4, 6-2 Mountain West) is bowl-eligible for the second straight year after earning a piece of the Mountain West Mountain Division title.The Lobos led the nation in rushing this season at 361 yards per game. Two players -- Teriyon Gipson and Tyrone Owens -- each topped 1,000 yards rushing. Two others reached the 500-yard mark.The Roadrunners also boast a potent rushing attack with Jarveon Williams, the Roadrunners all-time leading rusher, and Jalen Rhodes. The two combined for 1,883 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.The running games of UTSA and UNM will be on display when the Roadrunners and Lobos clash in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET at University Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M.The architect of the Lobos vaunted triple-option rushing attack is Bob Davie, the one-time Notre Dame head coach. New Mexico compiled 4,431 yards on the ground this season with Gipson and Owens averaging a nations best 9.2 and 8.1 yards per carry.The Roadrunners face a tremendous challenge, USTA head coach Frank Wilson said. We havent seen it all year. We watched it on tape so far. Its a pretty dominant offense. It requires our team to be extremely disciplined in their assignments and things that theyre asked to do to be able to slow down such a potent offense.Wilson, who is in his first year with UTSA, knows more than a little about potent rushing attacks -- he was the running backs coach at LSU under Les Miles for five years before landing in San Antonio.The best way to prepare is just practice, practice and more practice.If someone else gets a little nosy and wants to get the quarterback and not the dive, not the pitch, then we can put ourselves in trouble, Wilson said. So repetition is our greatest asset right now and practice will do that for us.The Roadrunners play a physical brand of football with the goal of dominating in the trenches -- hallmarks of Wilsons LSU teams. He also came to UTSA as one of the best recruiters in the country and was able to immediately upgrade the roster with a solid freshman class and a number of graduate transfers from Baton Rouge.What the Roadrunners have accomplished has not been lost on Davie, who has long-running ties with UTSA athletic director Lynn Hickey.Its been a long journey, Davie said, citing the road UTSA has traveled as a start-up program. I have tremendous respect for them because I know how much courage it took and how much foresight it took, particularly at the time they got started and the economy took a little hit. So it took a lot of courage to keep it going. I have great respect for that program.UTSA certainly has earned that respect this season.The Roadrunners feature a balanced attack with not only two rushers over 700 yards, but two receivers, Josh Stewart and Kerry Williams Jr., who have combined for 1,200 yards.Quarterback Dalton Sturm has thrown for 2,052 yards and 18 touchdowns against only five interceptions. He is confidant the Roadrunners will complete this historic season on a high note.I go into each game as if its the biggest game of the season, Sturm said. Its about all of us winning together as a team.Sturms New Mexico counterpart, Austin Apodaca, has completed just 53 passes for just over 650 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions.On defense, the Roadrunners hold their opponents to 152 yards. But can they control the line and stop the Lobos on the ground?UTSA and UNM have played twice before, splitting a home-and-home series in 2013 and 2014. UTSA won the first meeting (Aug. 31, 2013) in Albuquerque 21-13. 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AT THE TIME of my wish, I was experiencing the effects from a kidney disease known as Alport syndrome, a genetic disease that targets the kidneys and slowly wears away their functionality. Being diagnosed at the age of 8, a little over 13 years ago now, I could not have guessed how such a disease would have such a lifelong impact. By age 15, I started to experience the more severe effects of Alport syndrome such as energy loss, weight loss, my energy level was declining, I was losing weight, and had hearing difficulties. Normal daily routines like school and sports activities started to become a challenge, I had a hard time performing in school and sports due to my lack of hearing, energy, and attentiveness. I first learned about the Make-A-Wish Foundation through my doctors. During my meetings with the wish granters, Stephanie and Joe, I was told, You can do anything you want, seriously, anything. After what seemed like forever, I finally decided what I wanted: to watch a NASCAR race from the pits with the hopes of meeting my favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr.My wish started in May 2010 with a visit to a local go-kart track. Here I am supposedly watching a safety video for the go-karts when out of nowhere Dale Earnhardt Jr. appears on the screen, inviting me to North Carolina to race go-karts and watch the All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. I was so excited that the video actually had to play twice before I grasped the reality of what had just happened.The day came for me to meet Dale, and what I thought was going to be a simple meet and greet turned into something unimaginable. We arrived on Dales property where I was greeted with open arms by a guy I had seen only on TV. After a tour, it was finally time -- time to race those go-kkarts.dddddddddddd Following my sweeping victory (or maybe it was a photo finish), I was crowned the winner. At this point, I thought my wish was officially granted and had come to an end. Not even close.The next thing I know, I am on my way to Dales race shop. But Im not riding in our car, oh no, Im riding with Dale in his car. After a quick tour of the shop and some pizza for lunch, Dale invites me to be part of his pit crew and watch the All-Star race from atop the pitbox. Race day arrives and I am given a tour of the track by the Charlotte Motor Speedway president and Dales crew chief. After meeting racing legends Richard Petty and Jimmy Johnson, it was time to walk on stage with Dale. Walking out from behind that curtain and seeing hundreds of thousands of lights was hands down the most memorable time of my life.Six months after my amazing experience with Make-A-Wish, I was told my kidneys could no longer function on their own and I would need to start dialysis treatments. I spent the next four months going to dialysis and countless doctor visits, but not once did I ever forget about my wish and all the amazing messages I received from people around the world who saw me on the My Wish series on ESPN. On Feb. 22, 2011, I received a kidney transplant from my older sister Jen, and on this day, my worries were over.Today, I am a student at Husson University, where I am finishing my fourth year as a Business Management major. I continue to be involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and sharing my story. Although I will forever live with Alport syndrome, I am enjoying life to the fullest and focusing on my future. ' ' '
