LAS CRUCES, N.M. – On Senior Day at Aggie Memorial Stadium, the New Mexico State Aggies football team squared off with the Appalachian State Mountaineers. The Mountaineers came out flying and did not let up from start to finish as the Aggies fell, 37-7.
 
The team was riddled with injuries coming in to the game, most notably missing Tyler Rogers at quarterback. Throughout the contest, the Aggies suffered more injuries and were left with one starting offensive lineman by the time the fourth quarter started which allowed the Mountaineers defense to capitalize on a young front-five.
 
When asked about the game and how his team responded after all the injuries, head coach Doug Martin responded, "Anytime you have four offensive linemen and your quarterback out of the game, it's going to be tough to score points and it was. I thought Conner Cramer came out and gave us a lift with his legs."
 
The first quarter featured 15 minutes of play which saw the Aggies go three-and-out on each of their first three drives. The opposition used the momentum from their defense and converted on several long plays and had three scoring drives. Appalachian State had plays of 63, 43 and 42 yards on those first three drives and turned the long gains into a field goal and two touchdowns to go up 17-0 at the end of the quarter.
 
In the second quarter, NM State looked to tighten up defensively as they did not allow a score until the final minute of the half. The defensive play from the opposition was equally as strong, however, as they held the Aggies scoreless until the 5:06 mark. The lone NM State score was set up after a series of turnovers by both teams.
 
First, New Mexico State quarterback Conner Cramer threw a pass which got tipped and picked off in the end zone, allowing the Mountaineers to take over on their own 20-yard line. Then, on the ensuing drive, the Aggie secondary jumped on a screen pass and forced a fumble which was recovered by Noah Brown.
 
The offense bounced back from the turnover on their previous drive and went right at the Appalachian State defense as Cramer connected with Tyrian Taylor for a 54-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive, for the Aggies only score. On the Mountaineers next drive, they took 4:29 off the clock as they closed out the quarter with a 31-yard field goal. As the teams entered the locker rooms at halftime, the Aggies trailed, 20-7.
 
After halftime, the teams came out and played a rather quiet third quarter. The Aggie defense limited the big plays and only allowed 10 points. The first score for Appalachian State came after a 10-play, 54-yard drive which took 5:21 and ended with the Mountaineers hitting a 27-yard field goal. After each team was held on fourth down on their next drives, NM State gave up a touchdown after an interception gave Appalachian State the ball in Aggie territory. The touchdown was a four yard quarterback scramble as App. State went up 30-7, heading into the final quarter.
 
On the Mountaineers first drive in the fourth quarter, quarterback Taylor Lamb ran for 48 yards for an Appalachian State touchdown to go up 37-7 on the Aggies with 10:57 left in the game. This would be the final score of the game as NM State went on to fall to Sun Belt opponent, Appalachian State.
 
The loss puts the Aggies at 3-8 on the year and 2-5 in the conference. The team's final game of the year will see them travel to Mobile, Ala. to take on South Alabama, on Dec. 3.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Noah Brown recorded his first fumble recovery of the season, in the second quarter.
• Conner Cramer set career-highs in rushing yards (74) and passing yards (93)
• Cramer notched his first career touchdown on a 54-yard pass to Tyrian Taylor in the second quarter
• Jonathan Boone's five-yard gain on an end around in the first quarter was his first rushing attempt of the season
• Larry Rose III gained 33 all-purpose yards which put his career total at 4,060 and he is now 39 yards away from passing Taeveon Rogers (4,098) for fourth all-time on the career list.