Aggies coach Martin preaches toughness to close season
LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State football coach Doug Martin hopes his team can learn some mental toughness after the Aggies let another fourth quarter lead slip away against Arkansas State.
The Red Wolves scored 20 unanswered points to close out a 37-21 victory over the Aggies on Saturday.
“We were not mentally and physically tough enough to win that game,” said Martin, whose team is 3-5 on the season and 1-3 in the Sun Belt Conference. “We had the lead in the fourth quarter. That is the challenge for our team. Are we tough enough to win [their fourth game].”
While it’s a team focus this week, Martin said his offense lacked the toughness to extend a fourth-quarter lead.
Aggies quarterback Tyler Rogers was sacked seven times and threw two interceptions. Martin said the pressure clearly impacted Rogers, although Arkansas State quarterback Justice Hansen was also sacked seven times but led the Red Wolves to a victory.
“When Tyler gets in these games and starts to feel that pressure, he starts to think every play is going to be a sack and he starts to throw the ball in wild places and not believing he is going to be protected,” Martin said. “It’s hard when you are getting hit and not protected very well to believe that the next play, you will have protection. But that is what the great quarterbacks do.”
The Aggies played well enough defensively through three quarters to win on Saturday.
“It’s huge for us to bounce back,” Aggies defensive tackle Roy Lopez said. “[Martin] has implemented that in our game plan every week. We can’t worry about winning six games any more. We have to get the fourth win and then we will worry about Game 5.”
NMSU faces a run heavy Texas State offense that is averaging just 15 points per game in Sun Belt games. Texas State averages 142 rushing yards per game and 188 yards per game through the air. NMSU held Arkansas State to three yards per carry on the ground.
“As inside defensive linemen, I feel like we are personally being tested [against running teams],”
Lopez said. “That’s our job to stop the run.”
Aggies linebacker Malik Demby returned to the lineup from a hand injury to record two of NMSU’s seven sacks.
Arkansas State was 3 of 14 on third down on Saturday and Texas State is converting 36 percent on third down.
“I play every play the same and react to what they give me,” said Aggies linebacker Malik Demby, who had two of NMSU’s seven sacks Saturday. “[The defensive line] has been phenomenal.”
Demby practiced through the hand injury, but he said Tuesday that physical toughness was not the issue for NMSU.
“Mentally sometimes it gets away from us and we are looking at the scoreboard or the offense makes a mistake or we make a mistake,” Demby said. “I think we need to focus on each play instead of worrying about the whole picture.”
Two secondary players will not play Saturday.
Martin said Tuesday that senior safety Jaden Wright (hamstring), cornerback Shamad Lomax (ankle) and wide receiver Isaiah Lottie will not play on Saturday. Aggies center Jamin Smith is questionable with a shoulder injury.
Martin said the Aggies will move Brian Trujillo from left guard to center and Brayton Medina would start at left guard if Smith does not play.
Senior Jacob Nwangwa and Austin Perkins will replace Wright in the defensive backfield and Martin said Komotay Koffie will replace Lomax at cornerback.
Martin added that senior defensive end Stody Bradley will return to the lineup on Saturday.
AGGIES ADD FCS OPPONENT FOR 2019
According to fbsschedules.com, New Mexico State will play host to FCS member Incarnate Word in 2019.
The addition of Incarnate Word would give NMSU nine opponents in the school’s second year as an independent program.