App. State flusters Aggies

Rogers throws six in Sun Belt league loss

New Mexico State was looking good with a 7-point lead in the fourth quarter before succumbing to a late Mountaineers surge.

BOONE, N.C. — New Mexico State couldn’t overcome six interceptions thrown by quarterback Tyler Rogers and fell Saturday to Appalachian State 45-31 in Sun Belt Conference football.

Jalin Moore, who ran for 241 yards, and Terrence Upshaw rushed for two touchdowns apiece for the host Mountaineers, who came in as 13½-point favorites.

Still, the Aggies, who arrived in Boone only in the early morning hours Saturday after mechanical difficulties with plane they took on their charter to North Carolina, still led 31-24 with 9:27 to play on a 61-yard catch and touchdown run by Jason Huntley.

But Upshaw answered with his second touchdown just over two minutes later to tie the game. The next three Aggie possessions ended with an interception, a turnover on downs in Mountaineers territory and another interception.

Clifton Duck and Tae Hayes picked off three passes apiece, as the Appalachian State cornerbacks

were sitting on short routes in the flats by Aggie receivers, and the NMSU offense wasn’t adjusting.

Upshaw and Moore both ran for a touchdown and wide receiver Malik Williams threw a touchdown pass to Thomas Hennigan on a trick play in between for Appalachian State (3-2, 2-0 Sun Belt Conference), which finished with 31 points after turnovers.

Taylor Lamb, who threw two interceptions after entering the game with a streak of 213 passes without a pick, ran 38 yards for a score early in the fourth quarter to pull the Mountaineers into a tie at 24.

Moore, who had 19 carries, had his third game of at least 240 yards. He iced the game with a 56-yard scoring un with 2:12 to go.

Rogers threw for 356 yards and two touchdowns but had all six of the interceptions. The Aggies played most of the game without leading receiver Jaleel Scott, who was out with an undisclosed injury, media reported.

NMSU running back Larry Rose III ran for 80 yards and a touchdown, giving him 30 for his career, one shy of tying the school record.

Huntley ran for 96 yards and had three catches for 111 yards and the touchdown. Jaden Wright had the Aggies’ two interceptions.