In the 114th Battle of I-25, the New Mexico State Aggies and the University of New Mexico Lobos met at a critical point in each of their seasons. With New Mexico State coming off back-to-back losses and UNM looking for their first win, the Aggies were unable to keep their two-year winning streak against the Lobos alive, loosing 50-40.
The first quarter started strong, giving the impression that it would be a shootout after the Lobo’s built off a deep pass by quarterback Devon Dampier to begin what would be a big night for him. As the Lobos inched closer to the end zone, running back NaQuari Rogers punched in a 2-yard touchdown, putting the Lobos on the scoreboard first.
The Aggies punched back with an 84-yard rushing touchdown from running back Larenzo McMillen. However, his hot start was just an illusion, as the Lobos would be the only ones running up the score with their seven rushing touchdowns of the night.
While scoring in the first quarter was limited to just one touchdown per team, the second quarter started with bang that ended up being an omen of things to come for the Aggies. A long run by running back Seth McGowan was called back due to another common habit for the Aggies, penalties.
In their next few possessions, the Lobos learned the run game was the achilles heel of the defense and abused it. But not right away. The Aggies helped them out the first time with a big horse collar right after to set up Devon Dampier perfectly for his 11-yard touchdown run.
It was just more of the same for the Aggies after kickoff. Penalties call back big plays for the offense, the Lobo defense forces a punt, then the rushing attack slices through the Aggie defense. Then, inevitably another UNM player runs into the end zone to add to the pain. All NMSU could muster was a field goal in the final seconds of the first half.
Dampier had two more rushing touchdowns for the Aggies, but NMSU responded with one of their own courtesy of Mike Washington. But this was just a false gleam of hope, as UNM would continue their beat down against the Aggies with a successful Luke Drzewiecki field goal ending the third quarter.
A deep completion and steady rushing attack ended with another Raquiri Rogers touchdown, killing the energy in the crowd as fans began filing out of the stadium. But the beating wasn’t over just yet. UNM’s Javen Jacobs ran in a 50-yard touchdown, then, Rogers did the same for his third of the night.
Several late NMSU touchdowns made by Marucci and Washington kept the score close, but the Aggies could not seal the deal against the Lobos.
With UNM scoring the most points in Las Cruces in 30 years, head coach Tony Sanchez had his diagnosis for what went wrong for the team after the game.
“To me the biggest critical error we made all night was the amount of times we got them in holes and the amount of shots they took when they got behind the chains,” Sanchez said. “There were multiple times tonight where they were coming off a penalty at 1st and 25 or third and extra long and they’re taking shots and they’re just getting behind us.”
One important factor in the loss was missing offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Tyler Wright. He was removed from the team after old social media posts containing homophobic, sexist, and racist language resurfaced. Coach Sanchez didn’t have much to say in response to the matter.
“We talked to the boys very briefly this morning about it, we talked about nothing changes,” Sanchez said. “[We] had no opportunity to know what was exactly going on, it just kind of happened…we’ll comment on it later.”
The Aggies season is not over yet but another appearance in the Conference USA championship seems to get slimmer. The Aggies next game is next Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 5:30 p.m., against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Fans can catch the action on ESPN2 after a bye week, with hopes that the worst of the season is finally behind.
