Aggies 0-3 as they ready for the Lobos
New Mexico State ‘pitiful’ on offense in Saturday defeat
LAS CRUCES — Saturday’s home game was supposed to be a more realistic test for the New Mexico State football team against a Group of 5 opponent after backto-back games against Top 20 teams to open the season.
The stat sheet looked OK by the end of the game, but San Diego State showed the Aggies they still have a ways to go.
The Aztecs beat the Aggies 31-10 on a muggy Saturday night in front of 10,123 at Aggie Memorial Stadium to drop New Mexico State’s record to 0-3 entering next week’s rivalry game at the University of New Mexico.
“As long as we continue to turn the ball over at the rate that we do offensively, we have no chance,” Aggies coach Doug
Martin said. “Players have to take control of that. When you turn the ball over four times and get sacked six times, that is a pitiful performance, offensively.
“Offensively we got exactly what we deserved tonight because that is how we practiced this week.”
New Mexico State had averaged three turnovers per game through the first two games of the season, at Washington State and Alabama. The Aggies committed two in the first half on Saturday and trailed 17-0 at halftime. Aggies quarterback Josh Adkins was picked off early in the third quarter for New Mexico State’s third turnover of the night, setting up the Aztecs at the Aggies 36.
It took San Diego State two plays to score on a 7-yard run by former Manzano High speedster Jordan Byrd for a 24-0 lead. Byrd finished with a career-high 128 yards on a career-high 22 carries.
“We knew they were going to pressure going into the game,” Adkins said. “A lot of it was on me for not finding the coverage fast enough and other times missed a block. That happens when you play a defense like that when they have multiple looks they can throw at you.”
Adkins (26 for 41 with 299 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions) regrouped to lead the Aggies on scoring drives on their next two possessions. He dropped a touch pass in to Robert Downs for a 35-yard touchdown. The Aggies pulled within two scores on a 46-yard Dylan Brown field goal to make it 24-10 entering the fourth quarter.
The Aggies out-gained San Diego State 138-89 in the third quarter, but the Aztecs were able to close the game out with an eight play, 75-yard scoring drive that Chance Bell capped with an 18-yard touchdown run.
The Aztecs out-gained New Mexico State 397-329, with 291 yards on the ground on 6.2 yards per carry, with Byrd and Bell each rushing for over 100 yards. San Diego State sacked Adkins six times and recovered two New Mexico State fumbles. The Aztecs outgained the Aggies 236-87 in the first half with 133 yards rushing on 5.8 yards per rush.
“We had streaks where we looked like a really good defense and also there were two or three drives where it looked like we didn’t know what we were doing,” said Aggies linebacker Javahn Fergurson, who had a team high 15 tackles. “I think our biggest goal as a defense right now is consistency.”
The Aggies travel to Albuquerque next week to play the UNM at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Lobos (1-1) lost 66-14 on Saturday at No. 7 Notre Dame.
“Every year when we beat UTEP and UNM in the same season, it’s a winning season,” Fergurson said. “This was a tough loss. It feels like we have enough talent to win this game, but we didn’t pull it off. Next week is a game that can be a big momentum boost.” NMSU STARS: Aggies wide receiver Tony Nicholson had seven receptions for 78 yards on Saturday. … Cornerback Shamad Lomax had 14 tackles. … Fergurson also posted a career-best two pass breakups.