LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State football team opened up the 2018 season taking on Wyoming inside Aggie Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. Despite a defense doing all it could to keep the Aggies in the game, offensive woes plagued the team all night with the team falling behind early and never digging out of the hole falling to the Cowboys, 29-7.
Following the disappointing season opener, head coach Doug Martin said, "The defense played outstanding, but just got gassed because they were on the field too much. Our defense did exactly what we asked them to do and at the end, they just finally got worn out. Wyoming is a great football team with a great defense of their own that really challenged us today." Continue Reading This Post >>
TUCSON, AZ - On Friday, Dec. 29, the New Mexico State football team made history in Arizona Stadium against Utah State. As head coach Doug Martin said, “It was poetic that Larry Rose scored that touchdown.” That touchdown was the game-winner in overtime to take home the 2017 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl over Utah State, 26-20, effectively ending the 57-year bowl drought for the Aggies.
The game opened up with early scores for both sides. NM State struck first on its opening drive when Dylan Brown split the uprights on a 23-yard field goal attempt. The lead did not last long, however, as Utah State returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to go up 7-3 just 3:59 into the game.
NM State erased that deficit in a hurry when Jason Huntley answered with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown to give the Aggies a 10-7 advantage with 10:47 left in the opening quarter.
Just two drives later, the NM State defense forced a fourth down and Utah State sent out the punt team. The opposition went for a fake punt but a quick reaction by the Crimson & White saw them force a fumble, which was recovered by Shane Jackson at the USU 35.
Moving down the field NM State was looking to increase the lead but an interception for Utah State gave them the ball back at their own 19. The opponent then successfully moved into the red zone and opened the second quarter with a 35-yard field goal to tie the game back up at 10.
In a game full of early lead changes, NM State came right back on the next possession and Brown came back on the field to nail a 33-yard field goal. This score gave the Aggies from Las Cruces a 13-10 edge at the 11:35 mark.
The quick scoring slowed down with each defense forcing a punt on six of the next seven drives. Utah State hoped to knot the game back up on a 44-yard field goal attempt but the kick went wide and NM State held their lead.
That lead lasted until the closing seconds of the first half when Utah State knocked down a 30-yard field goal to put the score at 13 apiece heading to the locker rooms.
Early in the third quarter, Utah State again lined up for a field goal, this from 49 yards out, looking to take the lead. With the help of a raucous NM State crowd, the team again pressured the kicker and he missed on a 49-yard attempt.
An interception on the next drive for the Crimson & White gave USU the ball back just past midfield. Then on a 41-yard pass, coupled with a defensive pass interference, Utah State sat on the NM State one-yard line.
The opposition sat just three feet away from grabbing a six-point lead. That was until Terrill Hanks made a great play and jumped a pitch to the running back and recovered the fumble to hold the score at 13-13, which stood heading into the fourth quarter.
After a short punt in the fourth, Utah State began their drive at the NM State 24 yard line. They then moved the ball down the field and capped the drive off with a one-yard rushing score to grab a 20-13 advantage with 13:28 remaining.
NM State would remain behind by seven for the next 6:58 of action. Then a great pass from Tyler Rogers to Jaleel Scott saw the receiver haul it in and keep his foot inbounds for the score. This would tie the game up at 20 and the Arizona Bowl did not see a winner in regulation.
After winning the toss and selecting to defend, NM State’s defense stood strong and held Utah State to a fourth-and-goal. Utah State lined up for a 28-yard field goal, but the attempt knocked off the upright and the kick was no good.
This gave NM State the opportunity to take home the trophy. The team did just that when Larry Rose III found the hole and broke off for a 21-yard score to win the 2017 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl for NM State with a final score of 26-20.
NOTABLE
- NM State’s opening score was the first time this season that the team had hit a field goal on the opening drive.
- Jason Huntley’s 100-yard kickoff return tied for the longest in school history.
- The 40-yard rush by Larry Rose in the second quarter was the 10th 40+ yard play of the year for the Aggies.
- The 40-yard rush also tied a season-long for Rose.
- This was the first bowl since the 2011 Las Vegas Bowl to have both teams return a kickoff for a touchdown.
- The game-winning touchdown also tied Larry Rose III with James “Preacher” Pilot for the most rushing touchdowns in program history with 37.
- NM State remains undefeated at 3-0-1 all-time in bowl games.
- Larry Rose III was named the Arizona Bowl Offensive MVP.
- Leon McQuaker earned the nod as the Arizona Bowl Defensive MVP. Continue Reading This Post >>
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State football team made history on Saturday at Aggie Memorial Stadium. Trailing 17-16 with under a minute left, the Aggies engineered a drive down the field that ended with Tyler Rogers hitting Conner Cramer in the back of the end zone for the final score to take down South Alabama 22-17 and gain bowl eligibility.
Following the monumental victory, head coach Doug Martin said, ““It was a great night and I was really proud of our football team. It’s a big win to beat a talented football team like that. That crowd tonight is what Aggie Memorial Stadium can look like every week. We got something special here and hopefully we have one more game to play. All these guys played a great game tonight. We have a great group of seniors and this is the proper way for them to go out.” Continue Reading This Post >>
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State football team took on Sun Belt Conference foe Idaho on Saturday afternoon in Aggie Memorial Stadium. After NM State scored on its first two drives, the Aggie defense then protected the team’s lead with constant quarterback pressure and helped the team get their fifth win of the season, 17-10, over the Vandals.
Following the crucial victory, head coach Doug Martin said, “I’m really proud of our defense, they stepped up and we really needed that today. I just couldn’t be happier for this football team because our guys are resilient and they have believed in themselves all year. As I told them, it’s a one game season now.”
Saturday’s contest opened in the Aggies favor when NM State (5-6, 3-4 SBC) linebacker Leon McQuaker intercepted a pass from Idaho (3-8, 2-5 SBC) quarterback Mason Petrino which was brought back to the NM State 45-yard line. Continue Reading This Post >>
LAFAYETTE, LA - The New Mexico State football team traveled to Lafayette, La. to take on Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana at Cajun Field on Saturday. In an offensive showdown on a windy Saturday evening, NM State allowed a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to fall behind and drop the contest to the Ragin’ Cajuns 47-34.
The game opened with quick scoring from both sides, beginning with a three-yard touchdown rush by Louisiana (5-5, 4-2 SBC) quarterback Jordan Davis on the team’s first drive of the game. Then on the ensuing kickoff, Jason Huntley took the kick back 97 yards to tie the game up for NM State (4-6, 2-4 SBC), 7-7, at the 10:30 mark. Continue Reading This Post >>
SAN MARCOS, TX - The New Mexico State football team headed to the Lone Star State to take on Sun Belt Conference opponent Texas State on Saturday afternoon in Bobcat Stadium. In a high –scoring contest, the Aggies prevailed putting up 28 points in the second half to take down the Bobcats, 45-35.
Saturday’s contest opened with early scoring from each side, beginning with Texas State (2-7, 1-4 SBC) completing a 10-yard touchdown pass to put NM State (4-5, 2-3 SBC) down seven just 2:31 into the game.
The Aggies then took over on their first drive of the game and after a pair of third-down conversions and two big completions, NM State set up for a first-and-goal at the Texas State two-yard line. Tyler Rogers then took the quarterback keeper into the end zone to tie the game up 7-7 at the 9:49 mark. Continue Reading This Post >>
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State football team played host to defending Sun Belt Conference Champion Arkansas State at Aggie Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. While NM State led after the first two quarters, an explosive second half from the Red Wolves saw the Aggies drop Saturday evenings contest, 37-21.
Following the tough loss head coach Doug Martin said, “Tonight was disappointing. I thought defensively we competed pretty well. Arkansas State is a really good team and that’s the best we’ve played them in the last couple years.”
After a quiet start which featured seven straight scoreless drives from NM State (3-5, 1-3 SBC) and Arkansas State (5-2, 4-0 SBC), the Red Wolves finally got on the board with a 21-yard touchdown pass to put the Aggies down 7-0 with 1:25 remaining in the opening quarter. Continue Reading This Post >>
STATESBORO, GA - In a high-scoring game which featured four lead changes, New Mexico State football team used a pair of critical scores in the fourth quarter to take down Georgia Southern, 35-27, Saturday night at Allen E. Paulson Stadium.
After the key conference win for the Aggies, head coach Doug Martin said, “This was a huge game for our program. Having a few notable injuries coming in and being on our third straight road game was tough. These guys have tremendous heart and powered through with a really impressive victory tonight.”
Each offense came out flying in the first quarter. NM State (3-4, 1-2 SBC) struck first on the opening drive when an eight-play series culminated in Tyler Rogers scrambling for a 5-yard score to put the Aggies up 7-0 just 2:23 into the game. Continue Reading This Post >>
BOONE, N.C. - The New Mexico State football team took on Sun Belt Conference foe Appalachian State on Saturday in Kidd Brewer Stadium. In a game full of back-and-forth action, turnovers plagued the Aggies and as they fell to the Mountaineers, 45-31.
NM State (2-4, 0-2 SBC) came out flying with a forced fumble on a rush by App State (3-2, 2-0 SBC) on the first play of the opening drive. The resulting series saw the Aggies miss a 36-yard field goal and keep the contest scoreless.
The Mountaineers were then held to a four-and-out on their next drive. Larry Rose III took the ensuing punt back 37 yards all the way to the App State 27 and gave the Aggies great field position. NM State moved down the field on a drive that ended with Tyler Rogers hitting Bryce Roberts for a four-yard touchdown, the first of the game and first of the freshman tight end’s career. Continue Reading This Post >>
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - The New Mexico State football team began its three-game road stint with a match-up in Fayetteville, Ark. against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. After going down early, the Aggies continued to fight before falling to the Razorbacks, 42-24.
Head coach Doug Martin had this to say following the tough match-up against Arkansas, "I am proud of how our team fought today against a really good Arkansas team. We were able to move the ball well through the air and compete with a strong SEC opponent."
NM State (2-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) allowed a quick score on the first drive of the game when Arkansas (2-2, 0-1 SEC) connected on a pass to the flat which turned into a 38-yard score for the Razorbacks to put the Aggies down 7-0 just 3:59 into the contest. Continue Reading This Post >>
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