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TROY, Ala. – Following three non-conference games to open the 2016 season, the NM State football team is set to begin league play on Saturday as they travel to Troy for in a 5 p.m. MT kickoff in Veterans Memorial. The game will be on ESPN3 with Brett Dolan on play-by-play and Watson Brown as the color analyst.
 
The contest will also be broadcast on the Aggie Sports Network with Voice of the Aggies and Hall of Famer Jack Nixon on play-by-play, while Preston Williams will be the color analyst. The game will be carried on the Aggies' flagship station KXPZ 99.5 FM in Las Cruces. Fans can also listen to the game here on TuneIn Radio or the on the following stations in New Mexico:
 
Aggie Sports Network: Affiliates

Alamogordo	KNMZ	103.7 FM
Carlsbad	KAMQ	1240 AM
Gallup	KYVA	1230 AM, 94.9 FM
Las Vegas	KMDS	107.1 FM

 
After a 32-31 victory over Battle of I-25 rival New Mexico, the Aggies traveled to Lexington, Ky. where they squared off with the Wildcats. NM State led four times and never trailed through the first half as they entered the locker room knotted at 35-35 before ultimately falling to the SEC opponent. On Kentucky's first drive of the game, Jaden Wright stepped in front of a Drew Barker pass for his first interception of the season. The Aggies scored two plays later to take the lead. Overall, the Aggies forced three turnovers with one interception and two fumble recoveries.
 
Tyler Rogers led NM State offensively as he completed 16-of-33 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Rogers also amassed a career-high 70 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Xavier Hall led the rushing efforts as he collected 94 rushing yards on 18 carries. Wide Receiver Tyrian Taylor scored two touchdowns with one passing and one rushing.
 
Overall, Rogers has completed 54-of-109 passes for 657 yards and four touchdowns. The senior quarterback has also amassed 154 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 39 attempts. Xavier Hall leads the running back corps. with 163 yards on 35 rushes.
 
NM State holds a 1-2 record with next Saturday's opponent Troy. The teams first met in 2004 during the Aggies first Sun Belt conference stint and squared off again 10 years later in 2014. Last season, Troy traveled to Las Cruces and captured a 52-7 victory on October 24.
 
The Trojans are currently 2-1 on the season after stunning Southern Miss 37-31 in Hattiesburg, Miss. last Saturday night. After falling behind by a touchdown against Southern Miss., the Trojans took the lead and never looked back en route to victory. Prior to Saturday's game, Troy fell 30-24 at #2 Clemson on September 10.
 
Troy is led by quarterback Brandon Silvers who has completed 54-of-96 passes for 585 yards and seven touchdowns through three games. Silvers threw for three touchdowns against Southern Miss. and two touchdowns against Clemson. Jordan Chunn leads the Trojan rushing efforts with 381 yards and two touchdowns on 64 carries. He racked up 176 yards and a touchdown against the Golden Eagles on Saturday.

Notes:
 

• The Aggies' first two drives against Kentucky resulted in touchdowns, both caught by Johnathan Boone.
• 42 points is the most points NM State has scored against an SEC team in program history. The previous high was 24 against South Carolina in 2002.

• Johnathan Boone caught a 35-yard pass with 13:20 left in the first quarter for his first touchdown as an Aggie.
• Tyrian Taylor had his first touchdown pass as an Aggie. With 8:58 left in the first quarter, he found Johnathan Boone in the end zone for a 31-yard score.
• Taylor rushed for the first touchdown of his career with 2:40 left in the first quarter.
• Tyler Rogers had a career-high two rushing touchdowns (1-yard and 5-yards).
• Rogers amassed 246 passing yards. This is his third 200-yard passing game this season and the 13th of his career. He now ranks tied for third in 200-yard passing game leaders.
• Rogers now ranks seventh in career passing yards (4,410), seventh in career passing attempts (680), sixth in career completions (394) and tied for eighth in career passing touchdowns (30).
• In addition, Rogers now ranks No. 7 in career total offense with 4,830 yards on 817 plays. He also ranks No. 10 in total offense touchdowns with 36 (six rushing, 30 passing).

• Jaden Wright intercepted a pass with 13:43 left in the first quarter. This was the fourth interception of his career. The Aggies scored two plays later.
• Terrill Hanks had his second force fumble of the season. This was his third forced fumble overall.

• Izaiah Lottie recovered a fumble after a NM State punt in the first quarter. This was the first fumble recovery.