N.M. State outlasts Liberty
The Aggies pass for 402 yards in winging past the Flames 49-41 for 2nd win of year
LAS CRUCES — The New Mexico State Aggies rediscovered their high-scoring offense Saturday night.
They needed every bit of it. NMSU racked up 573 yards of offense and ultimately outlasted Liberty 49-41 in an entertaining shootout at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
Quarterback Josh Adkins was 34-of-51 passing for 402 yards and four touchdowns for the Aggies (2-4), who had scored a total of 82 points in their first five games of the season.
“That’s what we wanted our offense to look like,” NMSU coach Doug Martin said. “We played physical on that side of the ball for the first time, and Josh did a great job throwing the ball and running the offense. I liked what I saw from us on that side of the ball.”
It was the second straight win for NMSU after opening the season with four straight defeats. In spite of all their offensive fireworks, the Aggies couldn’t put
away the Flames (2-3) until cornerback Ray Buford Jr. broke up a last-ditch Stephen Calvert pass with 34 seconds remaining.
“We wanted to keep scoring,” Adkins said, “and we knew the defense would come up big when they had to get a stop. Having a big night was the least we could do as an offense, because our first five games were the other way around.”
NMSU didn’t win it the easy way. The Aggies squandered a 14-point first half lead thanks in large part to penalties and a pair of special teams mistakes. Liberty’s high-powered offense, which racked up 524 total yards, also had its share of big moments.
“That team’s hard enough to stop without giving them gifts,” Martin said. “Some of the mistakes we made, man, things like that are why my hair is gone.”
The Flames (2-3), who put up 42 points in the first half in a 52-43 victory last week at New Mexico, appeared off to the races again on their opening drive. Liberty marched 75 yards in seven plays, scoring when running back Frankie Hickson rambled 22 yards untouched for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
NMSU’s defense then stiffened. Liberty’s next possession ended when linebacker Shane Jackson sacked quarterback Stephen Calvert and forced a fumble. Aggie lineman Roy Lopez recovered at the Flames 24. Christian Gibson later cashed in the turnover with a 1-yard TD run — NMSU’s first rushing touchdown by a running back all season — and the score was 7-7 midway through the first quarter.
The next seven possessions ended with punts before New Mexico State put back-to-back touchdown drives together. Adkins hit Anthony Muse with a 10-yard strike to cap the first series, and Jason Huntley scored from a yard out to finish the second.
The Aggies led 21-7 with 2:26 left in the first half and seemed in control after forcing a quick Liberty punt. That’s when the special-teams meltdown started.
A roughing the punter penalty set up a Liberty touchdown pass from Calvert to Antonio GandyGolden just before the half. A 60-yard punt return helped the Flames score again early in the third quarter to make the score 21-21.
But the Aggies offense was up to the challenge and rebuilt its lead with back-to-back touchdowns. Adkins hit Drew Dan and Bryce Roberts with TD passes to make it 35-21, and the Aggies were able to answer Liberty’s remaining scoring drives.
Christian Gibson, who rushed for a career-best 127 yards on 13 carries, broke a 66-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter. Aggies wideout OJ Clark also put up a career night with 10 catches for 145 yards and a score.
Calvert finished 31-of-54 passing for 365 yards for Liberty with two touchdowns and an interception. He was sacked five times.