Not so special

Special teams let the New Mexico State Aggies down against Georgia Southern

LAS CRUCES — A handful of costly special teams breakdowns came back to haunt the New Mexico State Aggies in a 22-19 loss to Georgia Southern on Saturday night. NMSU (2-5, 1-3 Sun Belt Conference) played arguably its best defensive game of the season in slowing down the potent rushing attack of Georgia Southern (4-3, 3-1). The Aggies outgained the Eagles 432 yards to 404 and led 12-9 after three quarters but were ultimately undone by a laundry list of special teams issues on Tough Enough to Wear Pink night. Aggies place kicker Tyler Davidson missed a 34-yard field goal and an extra point, his fourth missed PAT this season. New Mexico State also had a punt blocked and return man Greg Hogan muffed a kickoff. The latter two mistakes led to 10 points that gave Georgia Southern the lead for good. Younghoe Koo, booted two of his three field goals in the first half for the Eagles and has a school-record 13 straight for the season. NMSU tied the score at 6-6 on Tyler Rogers’ 6-yard pass to OJ Clark, but the conversion failed. After each team added a field goal, Kevin Ellison hit Matt Breida from the 9 on the first play in the fourth to give the Eagles a 15-12 lead. On their next possession Ellison, who had 117 rushing and 101 passing yards, threw a screen pass to Wesley Fields who raced to the end zone from the 42 to go ahead 22-12. New Mexico State’s Rogers, who threw for 250 yards, found Johnathan Boone in the end zone on a 32-yard pass play for the final score with 1:19 remaining. Georgia Southern recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the victory.