SO WHO GETS IT?
New Mexico State, UTEP seek first win
EL PASO — Javahn Fergurson can relate to what the UTEP football team is going through.
New Mexico State’s junior linebacker remembers his first season with the Aggies (2015), when the program was mired in a 17-game losing streak that was, at the time, the nation’s longest.
In some respects, the shoe will be on the other foot when NMSU visits the Sun Bowl for tonight’s Battle of I-10. The Miners are saddled with a 15-game skid that dates to Nov. 26, 2016. It’s the longest current skid among FBS programs.
“I know how it feels to be on the other side,” Fergurson said this week.
That’s about as far as the sympathy goes for Fergurson and the Aggies, however. New Mexico State has its own issues, including an 0-4 start this season and four consecutive losses in El Paso. The Aggies’ last win at the Sun Bowl came on Sept. 20, 2008, just over a decade.
Coming off last week’s 42-25 loss to New Mexico, the Aggies’ other territorial rival, there’s a palpable sense of urgency surrounding tonight’s game.
“We’ve got to put last week’s rivalry game behind us and be emotionally ready for this one,” NMSU coach Doug Martin said. “They’re both big games for us, and there’s
such a slim margin for error. UTEP’s going to be geared up for this one, so we have to bring the energy and play our best game.”
Based on each team’s prior performances, tonight’s meeting could be a defensive struggle. The Aggies and Miners (0-3) both rank among the nation’s worst in terms of points scored and total offense.
But NMSU built some confidence with 368 yards and some productive second-half drives against New Mexico. Redshirt freshman quarterback Josh Adkins seemed to spark the Aggies’ offense in the final two quarters and will make his first collegiate start tonight.
“Our offense started to look like it’s supposed to look with Josh in there,” Martin said. “There were some good signs. Josh is an intelligent player and he’ll have to be able to read the defense and make adjustments because UTEP likes to change up its blitz packages and coverage schemes. They do a nice job defensively.”
The Miners have struggled on the offensive side, particularly in the passing game. UTEP averages just 97.3 passing yards per game, does not have a touchdown through the air and ranks last nationally in completion percentage (42.2 percent).
“UTEP doesn’t want to win football games throwing the ball,” Martin said. “They’re committed to running the ball, and their quarterback, Kai Locksley, is their best runner.”
Locksley, the son of former UNM coach Mike Locksely, is the unquestioned focal point of UTEP’s offense. He has rushed or passed on 62 percent of the team’s offensive plays.
Fergurson said the Aggies’ defenders are well aware of Locksley’s ability to make plays, but they hope to force him to do so with his arm.
“It’s actually kind of refreshing to see a team play old-school offense like (the Miners) do,” he said. “That means I can just buckle up my helmet and play football. They want to run, we want to stop the run. That’s what it comes down to.”
While both teams are hoping to establish an offensive rhythm, Aggie lineman Jamin Smith expects emotion to play a leading role tonight.
“This game means a lot to people around here,” Smith said. “There’s an extra spark, and both teams are really hungry for a win. I know we are.”