The New Mexico State Aggies faced the Liberty University Flames Oct. 14 in a critical Conference USA (CUSA) matchup; High pressures were sparked on both sides of the field, with both programs grasping to improve their midseason statistics. Despite Liberty standing 3-1 in their last four encounters, NMSU entered the game ranked sixth in CUSA s, compared to Liberty trailing in eighth.
The Aggies got their chance to show off their new offensive tactics of moving away from the run game used in the past and focusing less on passing right away. However, the ball was lost in a turnover to the Flames.
A 28-yard field goal from Liberty’s kicker, Jay Billingsley, tallied up the first points at 0-3and forced the Aggies to find some of that aggression they came out with in their last win against Sam Houston..
A missed overthrow from Liberty quarterback Ethan Vasko ensued an Aggie interception by Zedekiah Rodriguez-Brown’s catch – but Liberty’s Julian Gray got ahold of the ball and ran it down to the red zone. In fear of allowing them the first touchdown of the game, Aggie defense successfully fought him off.
“We knew we felt like we were more physical up front,” Head Coach Tony Sanchez said. “We knew that we just needed to lean into the run game a little bit, settle down, and make some stops on defense.”
T.K. King snagged the ball from LU in the second quarter with a one-hand reach, and a penalty on the Flames worked to bring the Aggies down to the red zone for a chance to score. Eliciting jeers from the Liberty fan crowd, NMSU was tanked with a holding penalty, moving them back away from the slight yardage they needed for a touchdown.
An attempted run by Aggie Dijon Stanley was quickly shut down by a tackle, forcing them to start again. NMSU kicker Ryan Hawk recovered their lost chance with a 27-yard field goal and tied the score at 3-3.
Liberty running back Julian Gray answered the kick with a 96-yard run, scoring the first touchdown of the game adding on to the score now at 3-10.
A deep catch from Aggie quarterback Logan Fife was fumbled by Jackson Owens and scooped up by the Flames, allowing them to steal possession of the ball again; allowing Flames running back Evan Dickens to score another touchdown, his 3rd rushing touchdown this season, and brought LU to a lead at 3-17.
NMSU’s Hawk sailed a field goal to get the Aggies back on track – just nearly a minute before halftime. In retaliation, LU’s Billingsly nailed a similar field goal, making the score 6-20 at halftime.
Leading off the second half with Liberty taking first possession, the Aggies recovered a fumbled ball with a sack – forcing a turnover and shifting the gears of the game; NMSU’s Kadarius Calloway, on a pass from Fife, burst through LU’s defense and brought the Aggies back to the red zone. After a touchdown by Calloway, the Aggies were hot on the Flames’ heels at 13-20.
A 20-yard out throw by Fife to NMSU wide receiver Donovan Faupel in the end zone, with only slightly more than a minute left, closed in on their lead at 20-20, shifting more pressure on Liberty’s defense.
Starting off the fourth quarter with back-to-back successful down catches, the Aggies crept their way back towards the end zone – and with one final pass by Fife, NMSU wide receiver Brody Malone-Bradford snagged another touchdown.
The mood on the Aggie sideline shifted as they now lead the game at 27-20, and sparked increasing urgency on the opposite side as the Flames were faced with NMSU’s 20 unanswered points, until LU’s Billingsly kicked a 29-yard field goal, shortening Aggie’s lead to 27-23.
With less than 2 minutes remaining, and LU completing three passes in a row, NMSU’s defense game was dwindling as stakes rose.
A final push and drive from Liberty’s Vasko allowed Dickens to run in a short touchdown. This gave Aggies a cause for panic as the score rose to 27-30 with less than half a minute on the clock.
“We went on a heck of a run, and so I was proud of them for the way they played and how hard they played, but at the end of the day, the game is on us,” Sanchez said. “It’s about the critical moments.”
Trying to get at least into field-goal range, NMSU took a last-minute time out. They gave one final drive to recover their lead and successfully got into field-goal range, but as pressure rode on NMSU’s Hawk, a missed field goal froze the score for the night at 27-30.
