Despite thumping, NMSU offense better
Minnesota 48
N.M. State 10
New Mexico State showed progress offensively in its second game in five days, but the Aggies fell to 0-2 on the season Thursday with a 48-10 road loss at Minnesota.
Minnesota rattled off 28 unanswered points for a 35-10 halftime lead.
The Aggies led 10-7 on a Dylan Brown career long 45-yard field goal with 14:10 left in the first half. Minnesota scored the next 41 points.
Minnesota outgained NMSU 243-101 in the second quarter with 111 rushing yards. Minnesota marched 75 yards in seven plays to take a 14-10 lead.
Aggies quarterback Matt Romero was 29 of 58 for 233 yards with a touchdown and interception.
The Aggies finished with 271 yards of total offense (3.5 yards per play).
On the next series on fourth and 1 from the Minnesota 21, Romero’s pass attempt over the middle to O.J. Clark fell incomplete.
Minnesota went on another long drive, capping an eight play, 79-yard drive on Seth Green’s second short yardage touchdown run out of the wildcat formation.
Romero and the Aggies offense was much more effective Thursday after posting 135 yards and seven first downs in a season opening 29-7 loss to Wyoming.
The Aggies tied the game at 7-7 after Minnesota’s freshman quarterback Zack Annexstad fumbled the snap inside the Minnesota red zone. Terrill Hanks recovered the fumble and Romero found Izaiah Lottie with a nice touch pass in the back of the end zone.
Despite seven dropped passes by Aggies receivers in the first half, the NMSU surpassed last week’s offensive total in the first half with 190 yards and 13 first downs.
Minnesota finished with 522 total yards and 295 yards rushing on 6.3 yards per carry. Wyoming rushed for 312 yards last week.
NMSU returns to the road next week at Utah State in a rematch of the Arizona Bowl.