Trying to extend their unbroken at-home win streak, the New Mexico State Aggies battled the Conference USA (CUSA) debuting Missouri State University Bears on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Steadily making their way down the field and defying NMSU’s defense, Missouri State tight end Jeron Askren scored the night’s first touchdown on a 9-play drive – only five minutes into the game and attaining a 7-0 lead for the Bears.
Owning the chance to improve their home wins to 4-0 this season, a feat that has not been met since 2002, the Aggie spirit carried throughout the stadium all night long. Additionally, as of the last game against Liberty University in which NMSU successfully forced three turnovers on the Flames, the Aggies now sit fifth in the entire nation for turnovers forced this season.
Snatching a pass away from the intended Aggie receiver, the Bears performed a nimble interception, carrying the ball clear down the field, and were looking powerful until the Aggies carried out a matching catch, intercepting a pass from the Bears and reversing their yardage.
Starting off the second quarter with the Bears in the lead, the Aggies rebounded their unanswered score with a touchdown by running back Isaiah Rudison, evening out the score at 7-7 and completing their fifth running touchdown of this year.
A quarterback sack by MSU’S Davon Townley Jr. shook NMSU back 13 yards and led them to attempt a 48-yard unsuccessful field goal, and consequentially call the first and second timeouts of the game.
Yet again answering one of the Bears’ plays, NMSU achieved two quarterback sacks on MSU quarterback Jacob Clark, both from Aggie defensive lineman Ezra Christensen.
“We did a good job harassing [their] quarterback, and doing good things offensively,” Head Coach Tony Sanchez said.
With only 10 seconds left in the second quarter, the Aggies used their third and final timeout of the half and froze the halftime score at a 7-7 tie.
Kicking off scoring for the third quarter and evading NMSU’s defense, an 18-yard touchdown scored by Bear running back Ramone Green Jr., on a pass from Jacob Clark, reinstated the Bear’s lead. Narrowly keeping their points, the referees declared the score under review but ultimately upheld the ruling on the field, now at 14-7.
Another sack on Jacob Clark lost MSU a couple yards but helped propel NMSU forward until a holding penalty knocked them down, and was evened out by a matching penalty on MSU. With an interception on one of their passes by NMSU, the Bears reevaluated their plan and took their first time out of the game.
Yet another quarterback sack on Jacob Clark by NMSU defensive lineman Ta’Avili Tuitama, spoiled his attempt at a pass, but allowed the Bears’ Yousef Obeid to land a 32-yard field goal, racking up the points to 17-7, and remaining unchanged by the end of the third quarter.
“We had a tough time creating some explosive [plays], and that’s where we need to be able to run the ball a little bit better,” Sanchez said.
Unlocking the final 15 minutes, an immediate 45-yard gain rush by Ramone Green Jr. brought Missouri down the field, teetering on the red zone but receiving a false start penalty gave the Aggies another chance to keep them away from the end zone.
A game shifting fumble by MSU’s Shomari Lawrence, scooped up and recovered by Jamall Thompson Jr. at NMSU’s 5-yard line turned around possession, and sparked a new energy for the Aggies and fans around the stadium.
As MSU was struck with multiple penalties, and as NMSU’s T.K. King caught a punt and ran NMSU down the field for a 34-yard return, strain on the Bears began to arise. King achieved a total of 34 punt return yards this game, as well as his season high of rushing yards and longest rush.
Sitting comfortably by MSU’s red zone, two possible touchdown-scoring passes from quarterback Logan Fife were fumbled, and with only five minutes on the clock, catching up the score looked unpromising for NMSU.
Until a 25-yard field goal by Hawk decreased the Bear’s 10-point lead, adding another 3 points to make 17-10 as time dwindled. With under two minutes left on the board, and after a lengthy drive, NMSU proceeded to get further back in the game with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Fife to Faupel to tie the game up 17-17.
In an attempt to call back their lead, MSU shot for a field goal but ultimately missed, bringing the game into overtime for a riveting continuation of game.
As MSU powered through NMSU’s defense, they achieved the first overtime touchdown, leading the game 24-17. Despite one last missed field goal for the Bears, both teams had their chance for possession, but no points to show for the Aggies resulted in an overtime win for the MSU Bears.
“Each and every one of us has got to look internally at ourselves,” Sanchez said. “We [have] to look at what we’re doing offensively, defensively, critical moments, [and] making great plays.”
