MOSCOW, Idaho – The New Mexico State football team got the start it wanted against Idaho but couldn't sustain it for four quarters as it fell to the Vandals on Saturday, 55-23, at the Kibbie Dome.
 
Jared Phipps gave the Aggies (2-4, 1-2 SBC) a great start to the game when he got a hold of the ball off a deflection in the end zone. Three plays later, Tyler Rogers found Izaiah Lottie down the right side of the field as the redshirt freshman tight-roped the sideline and dodged a couple Vandals (4-3, 2-1 SBC) for the 68-yard touchdown.
 
Idaho responded and scored on the following play as Matt Linehan put UI on top 7-6 after finding Deon Watson on the fade route to the far right corner. Rogers and company didn't back down and marched down the field on their ensuing possession thanks to a 49-yard bomb to Tyrian Taylor that led to a 10-yard TD catch by Clayton Granch – his second in as many games.
 
However, the back-and-forth scoring between the two teams stopped there as Idaho answered right back with seven play, 78-yards drive to retake the 14-13 lead to start the second quarter and never looked back.
 
Idaho tacked on 20-straight points in the second quarter before a 35-yard field goal by Parker Davidson sent the Aggies into the break trailing the Vandals 27-16.
 
The NM State offense came out flat in the second half and Idaho took full advantage, outscoring NM State 28-0. After coming in late in the fourth quarter, Nick Jeanty connected with Jaleel Scott on a 45-yard bomb down the right side for the lone score of the second half.
 
New Mexico State had just 62 yards on the ground and finished with 428 yards of offense compared to Idaho's 651, 482 of which came through the air. The Aggies were also edged in the first downs category, 34-17.
 
New Mexico State now returns home for its annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink game against Georgia Southern on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m.  
 
POSTGAME NOTES:

• NM State has now scored on its first drive of the game three times this season.
• Jared Phipps's Interception was the first of his career and fifth of the season for NM State
• The Aggies' first TD of the game took just 47 seconds, the sixth time NM State has scored in less than a minute this season.
• Tyler Rogers' second touchdown now ties him with Jamie McAlister (1979-82) for seventh all-time in career touchdowns with 40.
• Roger's also moved into tie for fifth with 23 touchdowns in a single-season, matching Bob Gaiters' total in 1960.
• Rogers finished with 302 yards in the air, the eighth of his career, one shy of tying Cody Ledbetter (1991, 1993-95) for second.
• The 95 total yards for Izaiah Lottie is a new career-high for the redshirt freshman.
• The last time NM State gave up 50-plus points was Idaho last season at home (55).