New Mexico State Comes Back, Closes Out Georgia Southern 35-27

Finally!

The Aggies scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and came back to beat Georgia Southern for their first Sun Belt conference win and third win overall. NMSU has now tied their win total through all of last year with many winnable games remaining.

The game was tense and frustrating for many reasons, mostly because the Aggies would just not run the ball, even though every rushing play they called netted solid yardage.

However, I digress. Despite this being their third straight game on the road the Aggies came out energetic, marching straight down the field in eight plays capped off by a Tyler Rogers five yard touchdown run.

Photo by Todd Bennett/Getty Images

The defense took a little longer to settle in against the triple option, allowing Georgia Southern to take 7 minutes on the ensuing drive to respond with a two yard TD run.

New Mexico State’s offense responded quickly on a nice deep throw from Rogers to Gregory Hogan for a 59 yard touchdown pass. The drive only took 1:39.

Not much would happen until the end of the first quarter when GA Southern would run 48 yards for a score and tie the game at 14.

The defense found their footing and started getting GA Southern to go three and out but Rogers would throw an interception at the NMSU 34 yard line mid-way through the second quarter. The Crimson D would hold the Eagles to a field goal.

At this point I was getting tense. We’re down, another interception...we should be winning...but never fear when Jaleel Scott is on the field.

Photo by Todd Bennett/Getty Images

Rogers would throw a beautiful six yard pass that Scott would snatch out of the air in front of the defenders face. NMSU 21, GA Southern 17.

Then I got tense again.

The Aggies decided to kick a poocher because of some good kick returns earlier in the game....and GA Southern returned it for a touchdown. That’s right, the blocking up back returned the kick 70 yards! Once again showing us how bad our special teams are.

NMSU would get into field goal range the next drive but decided to go to the end zone on 4th and 1 (why not run it?). The gamble would have worked but the pass bounced out of Conner Cramer’s hands as he dove and hit the turf.

The Aggies got the ball back before halftime and attempted a field goal this time. Unfortunately, Dylan Brown would have the 44 yarder hit off the left upright, sending us into halftime down three.

GA Southern got a field goal on the opening drive of the third quarter which ended up being their last points of the game as the defense completely shut them down the second half.

NMSU out gained the Eagles 491-265 and held them to 3-13 on third down.

Photo by Todd Bennett/Getty Images

The Aggies wouldn’t score until midway through the fourth on a Rogers to Cramer to Bryce Roberts double pass play to put them up 28-27.

On their next possession Rogers would get picked off but the D bailed them out, holding the opponent to two yards on three plays.

On the ensuing drive das Aggies would take nearly six minutes off the clock and travel eighty yards to basically put the game out of hand on another great pass and catch to Jaleel Scott.

Photo by Todd Bennett/Getty Images

The D would hold again to secure the victory! 35-27 Aggies!

Wobble On! #AggieUp

Top Performers

Tyler Rogers led in passing throwing 51 passes, completing 31 for 382 yards and three touchdowns.

Jason Huntley had another great game rushing 16 times for 85 yards and catching 11 passes (career high) for 87 yards.

Anthony Muse led in receiving as he caught five passes for 106 yards.

Dalton Herrington had a monster game in the middle totaling 15 tackles and Javahn Fergurson added another 14, including one sack.