Aggies going for third straight victory to close dreary season
NMSU to face Liberty for 4th time in 2 years
The New Mexico State Aggies might not be the most upbeat 2-9 college football team in America. Then again, they might be. Coach Doug Martin and his players were still riding a high Tuesday after last weekend’s 44-35 rivalry win over UTEP. It was NMSU’s second straight victory coming on the heels of an 11-game skid that stretched back into last season.
“We’re excited coming off that win over UTEP,” Martin said. “I’m proud of the way these guys have continued to fight and work through adversity. Now we’ve got a chance to finish with a three-game winning streak, which would be huge for this program going forward.”
The Aggies’ season finale is Saturday at Liberty, a foe they might know more about even than UTEP. It will be the fourth meeting between the Flames (6-5) and NMSU — two FBS independents — over the past two seasons.
New Mexico State will be seeking its first three-game winning streak since 2015, while Liberty needs a victory to be bowl eligible. (Two of the Flames’ previous wins came against FCS opponents.)
The Aggies dropped a 20-13 decision to Liberty earlier this season in Las Cruces, and finished 2018 with a 28-21 loss in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Flames were listed as 14-point favorites Tuesday, but back-to-back wins and a suddenly revitalized rushing attack have NMSU’s players brimming with confidence.
Normally a pass-first, pass-often team under Martin, NMSU has pounded the rock to great effect in its last two games. The Aggies rushed for 295 yards (6.3 yards per carry) against Incarnate Word, then racked up 259 yards (10.4 per carry) and four rushing touchdowns against UTEP.
Running back Christian Gibson, who amassed 178 rushing yards and three TDs over the past two weeks, said improved offensive line play is a major factor. Senior tackle Sage Doxtater recently returned from injury, allowing Albuquerque senior Brian Trujillo to return to his natural position at guard.
“I’d like to say I’m just getting the job done,” Gibson said, “but I definitely have to credit the O-line. Those guys have been getting it done up front, and having Sage back makes a difference.”
New Mexico State lost three offensive tackles to injuries before the season began, including Doxtater, which contributed to the team’s offensive struggles. The Aggies averaged just 16.3 points over their first nine games, which included a 52-point outing at New Mexico, but they’ve averaged 42.5 points in their last two games.
Running the ball effectively with Gibson and Jason Huntley has made a difference, but Martin conceded that success is partly due to NMSU’s schedule.
“Incarnate Word and UTEP have struggled to stop the run,” Martin said, “and they both dropped eight players into coverage at times. It’ll be a different story this week because Liberty plays the run exceptionally well. This game will be a much tougher test for our offense.”
Still, the Aggies come in with at least some degree of momentum. The Flames have dropped three of their past four games.
“We’re very familiar with them and they’re familiar with us,” Aggies defensive lineman Cedric Wilcots II said. “All our games have been close, so it comes down to execution. Hopefully we can keep it going and finish the season off right.”