It was a homecoming for the ages, as New Mexico State University football capped off the weekend in a victorious fashion after defeating the Middle Tennessee State University Red Raiders 13-7.
Within the first minutes of the quarter, the Aggies received the ball and junior quarterback Diego Pavia and company went straight to work. After a quick four-and-out, the Aggies’ special teams unit came onto the field for the punt and the Blue Raiders shortly did the same. With possession from both teams out of the way, the tone was set that this was going to be a tight defensive game after the first quarter ended in zeroes.
After receiving the ball off the punt attempt, the Aggies’ offense went back to work. Pavia led his offense up the field for the first touchdown after he handed the ball off to tight end Ron Tiavaasue for a short one-yard run across the line.
With the Blue Raiders pushing up field, the Aggies’ defense locked down on the blitz to create another four-and-out possession. Although the Aggie offense looked to increase the lead, it wouldn’t happen after redshirt sophomore Ethan Albertson missed his field goal attempt from 34 yards out.
As minutes remained in the half, the Red Raiders finally got the possession they were looking for after quarterback Nicholas Vattiato snuck in on a nine-yard rush to even the game. Just as the half was ending, the Aggies propelled up the field with quick passes from Pavia to his receiving core of sophomore Jonathan Brady and redshirt junior Kordell David. It wasn’t until the last play of the half, when Ethan Albertson shook off the early field goal miss and nailed the ball straight through the uprights for the 10-7 lead.
With the second half underway, both defenses played an aggressive game forcing numerous three-and-outs on multiple possessions. In the late stages of the third quarter, Albertson nailed a 38-yard field goal attempt to push the Aggies to a 13-7 lead. The Aggies’ defense dominated for the remainder of the game and pulled out the win.
After the win, defensive lineman Isaiah Reed commented on the team’s last play of the game before the bench cleared to embrace victory.
“People don’t know the countless hours you put in together every single day,” Reed said.
The hard work paid off for them as NMSU is bowl bound for the second consecutive year — the first time since the 1959 and 1960 seasons. The team is not only looking forward to the bowl game, but a chance to win its first conference championship in program history.
Head coach Jerry Kill expressed his anticipation for his players and the rest of their season.
“I’m excited for the kids,” continued Kill. “Because it’s about the players. It’s not about anything else. It’s not about Coach Kill. It’s not about assistant coaches. It’s not about anybody. It’s about the players.”
With a conference appearance at a near grab, the team must first get past Conference USA opponent Western Kentucky University on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m. Coverage will be streamed on all ESPN platforms and 99.5 KXPZ-FM.
