New Mexico St. ends 57-year drought
TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Bowl is not typically the type of game where fans storm the field. Certainly not for a team that finished 7-6.
But this has been a long, arduous wait for New Mexico State fans. All those losing seasons, all that disappointment, all that time between bowl games.
Larry Rose III scored on a 21-yard run in overtime, and New Mexico State won in its first bowl game in 57 years, beating Utah State 26-20 on Friday night.
“I’m just thrilled for these kids and this community,” New Mexico State coach Doug Martin. “Just look at these fans who showed up here. This is an unbelievable day for us.”
Utah State (6-7) had the ball first in overtime, and Dominik Eberle hit the right upright on a 29-yard field-goal attempt, sending a groan through the Utah State crowd. Eberle made 16 of 18 field goals during the regular season, but he missed three in the Arizona Bowl.
New Mexico State won it when Jones burst through a hole on the left side, sending the Aggies and their fans rushing onto the Arizona Stadium field. Jones finished with 142 yards on 16 carries.
“He’s my field goal kicker. I love that kid and he’s been really consistent all year,” Utah State coach Matt Wells said. “Was I surprised? Yes. Was I disappointed in him? Not one bit.”
This was a rematch 57 years in the making.
New Mexico State had not been to a bowl game since the 1960 Sun Bowl. The opponent: Utah State.
Utah State went to eight bowls after that, including six of the last seven. NORTHWESTERN 24 KENTUCKY 23
Justin Jackson ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 21 Northwestern held off Kentucky in a Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn., that might be remembered more for injuries, ejections and a wild finish.
Both starting quarterbacks left in the first half with injuries, though Kentucky’s Stephen Johnson returned early in the third quarter. Kentucky lost running back Benny Snell Jr. to an ejection for contact with an official early in the second quarter, and Northwestern lost leading tackler and linebacker Paddy Fisher before halftime when he was ejected for targeting.
Northwestern still finished off back-to-back bowl wins in consecutive years for the first time in program history, and it earned its second 10-win season in three years under coach Pat Fitzgerald. The senior class also won its 27th game for the best stretch in more than a decade.
Nyheim Hines had three 5-yard touchdown runs to help the Wolfpack beat the Sun Devils in the Sun Bowl in El Paso.
Hines finished with 72 yards on 16 carries for North Carolina State. The Wolfpack played in their fourth consecutive bowl game and sixth in seven years under coach David Doeren.
Manny Wilkins was 25-of-40 for 352 yards and three touchdowns for the Sun Devils. He also threw three interceptions. Arizona State won its previous three Sun Bowl appearances — in 1997, 2004 and 2014.