Doug Martin Postgame Quotes | Tyson Summers Postgame Quotes

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The NM State football team saw its lead heading into the fourth quarter slip away as the Aggies dropped a heart-breaking 22-19 decision to Georgia Southern on Saturday in Aggie Memorial Stadium for its Tough Enough to Wear Pink game.
 
"I'm heartbroken for our kids," Aggie head coach Doug Martin said. "They played as hard as they could possibly play, on both sides. They played with a lot of passion and a lot of love for each other. They competed right down to the end, which is what you have to do."
 
After a Georgia Southern (4-3, 3-1 SBC) opened with a field goal, Jaden Wright gave NM State (2-5, 1-3 SBC) its second-straight pick in the end zone on Saturday when he jumped in front of a Kevin Ellison pass, his third of the season. A 16-yard reception by Tyrian Taylor on the fourth play of the drive saw NM State get to their 41-yard line, but couldn't convert and gave it back to the Eagles.
 
A defensive stop by the Aggie defense held Georgia Southern to another field goal, which allowed Tyler Rogers marched the offense down the field 75 yards and found a wide open OJ Clark to tie the game up at 6-6 after a missed point after attempt.
 
On the ensuing drive for New Mexico State, a trio of 15-plus yard rushes from Xavier Hall and Larry Rose III set up a 41-yard field goal for Parker Davison to put the Aggies on top 9-6 with 6:56 left in the first half.
 
Dalton Herrington gave NM State the ball back four plays later when he picked off Seth Shuman on the Aggie 48-yard line – his second-career pick. However, the Aggies weren't able to capitalize on the Georgia Southern turnover and settled for the 9-6 lead at halftime.
 
NM State went up 12-6 to start the second half on an 11 plays, 66 yards drive that ended with a 30-yard field goal from Davidson. Neither team could get its offense going after that until 4:24 mark when Greg Hogan fumbled after completing a catch from Rogers with 4:24 left to play in the third. The Eagles marched down the field and cut the NM State lead to 12-9 with a 29-yard field goal.
 
Georgia Southern's attempt at an on-side kick was successful the very next play, but was called back due to a penalty. However, a muffed catch by Hogan on the re-kick saw the Eagles take the 15-12 lead on a nine-yard pass from Kevin Ellison to open the fourth quarter.
 
A 16-yard completion from Rogers to Izaiah Lottie saw the Aggies get 1st-and-10 on their own 40, but loss of downs and sack the next two plays forced NM State to punt the ball. But, a blocked punt by Georgia Southern's Jacorey Belvin gave the Eagles a 22-12 cushion.
 
New Mexico State looked primed to cut the Georgia Southern lead on its next possession with 3rd-and-8 on the Eagles' 26-yard line, but Rogers' pass was picked off by Joshua Moon. Luckily for NM State, the defense was able to get the ball back and allowed the offense to cut the Georgia Southern lead to 22-19 when Rogers found Boone for a 32-yard catch that he ran into the house.
 
Unfortunately for the Aggies, time was their biggest enemy as Georgia Southern ran the remaining 1:16 left on the clock.
 
New Mexico State now hits the road to face No. 6 Texas A&M at Kyle Field next Saturday, Oct. 29, in in its final non-conference game at 5:30 p.m. (MT) on ESPNU.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Rose III moved into third all-time in rushing in the second quarter when he ran for 18-yards, passing James "Preacher" Pilot (1961-63, 2,971). The junior finished the night with 81 yards to bring his total up to 3,034 for his career.
• The 9-6 lead at the break on Saturday was the second time NM State went into the locker room with a lead. The other came against UL-Lafayette at home.
• Rogers moved into sixth all-time after Saturday night's game with 37 passing touchdowns, passing Jamie MCAlister (1979-82, 36).
• Jaden Wright recorded his fifth-career interception in the first quarter.
• Cedric Wilcox II recorded his first-career sack in the second quarter.
• Noah Brown recorded his first-career forced fumble in the third quarter while Kourtland Busby tallied his first fumble recovery on the same play.
• Georgia Southern quarterback Seth Shuman made his collegiate debut at 4:20 mark in the Eagles' third drive of the game in first quarter.

++NM State ++