LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State football team opens Sun Belt Conference play in Aggie Memorial Stadium against the Troy Trojans on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. MT in the home opener sponsored by Memorial Medical Center.
HONORING A FALLEN AGGIE
The NM State athletic training staff lost a member of its team on July 24 of this year when Trevor Matuszak passed away unexpectedly while hiking at White Rock Canyon.
Matuszak worked with the football team this past spring and would've been a junior this season in the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP).
"Trevor was such a great student and person to be around," Assistant AD/Athletic Training Mike O'Larey said. "He was well loved amongst his peers and his loss was deeply felt within in the athletic training staff and athletic training students."
His father, Mick, is a New Mexico State University alum who was also an ATEP graduate and is currently the head athletic trainer at Los Alamos High School. Matuszak is survived by his parents Mick and Karen Matuszak, brother Griffin Matuszak, sister Anna Rose Matuszak, Grandparents David and Judy Lee of Santa Fe, Mike and Rose Matuszak of Rio Rancho, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and wonderful friends.
Trevor's fellow classmates will be holding a vigil in his honor at 8 p.m. this Monday, Sept. 18, at Sisbarro Park.
WHERE TO WATCH
For those who can't make it to the game can catch the home opener on AggieVision with Adam Young on the play-by-play and Danny Knee serving as the analyst.
The game is also broadcast live on FOX Sports Arizona Plus and replayed this Sunday morning at 4:00 a.m. MT.
Channel Finder
FOX Sports Arizona PLUS - DISH: 453 SD/9576 HD DISH Hopper: 412-41 DTV:686-2 SD&HD
LISTEN UP!
Fans can also listen in to the game on the Aggie Sports Network with NM State Athletics/US Bank Hall of Famer Jack Nixon on the call and former NM State football player Cory Lucas as the analyst. The broadcast can be heard on the flagship station, 99.5 FM KXPZ or with the TuneIn app.
Affiliates:
Alamagordo - 103.7 FM KNMZ
Albuquerque - 1150 AM KNMM
Carlsbad - 1240 AM KAMQ
El Paso - 1380 AM KHEY
Gallup - 1230 AM, 94.9 FM KYVA
Las Vegas - 107.1 FM KMDS
STAY CONNECTED
Get up to the minute information and news about the NM State football team all season on Twitter by following @NMStateFootball, on Instagram by following @NMStateFB and through Facebook.com/NMSUAthletics.
GET YOUR SEASON TICKETS NOW!
If you are not yet a football season ticket-holder, you can purchase them at the Pan American Center ticket office from 8 a.m. (MT) to 6 p.m. or by calling 575-646-1420. Season tickets start at $50.
STUFF THE STADIUM PAR DEUX
The NM State Athletic Department is hosting its second "Stuff the Stadium" promotion for this Saturday's match-up with Troy. Group tickets can be purchased at $5, $10 or $15 depending on the section. Aggie fans can purchase tickets or get information by visiting the Pan American Center ticket office or by calling 575-646-1420. This special group pricing at the $5 level is good 'til the end of the day on Friday, Sept. 15.
FOOTBALL LOCKER ROOM RIBBON CUTTING
New Mexico State Athletics along with the NMSU Foundation will hold an official ribbon cutting ceremony this Friday, Sept. 15, at 4:30 p.m. (MT) to unveil the newly upgraded Allen Family Locker Room. The facility upgrade was made possible thanks to a private donation by the Allen Family as well as the Lori Paulson Excellence Fund.
Various members on hand for the ribbon cutting include, Director of Athletics Mario Moccia, head football coach Doug Martin and Larry Rose, along with Larry Allen and Brandon and Jeremiah Young. Chancellor Garrey Carruthers, VP for University Advancement Andrea Tawney and other members from the university will also be on hand.
SCOUTING THE TROJANS
The Troy Trojans enter Saturday's contest at 1-1, after dropping the season-opener to Boise State, 24-13, and then defeating Alabama State this past weekend, 34-7.
The Trojans are led by quarterback Brandon Silvers who has gone 49-for-73 on attempts for 484 yards in two contests.
Also in the backfield is running back Jordan Chunn and Jamarius Henderson who have totaled 246 yards and five touchdowns combined.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Trojans look to Melvin Tyus and Sam Lebbie who have together put up 20 tackles, including four for loss, over the first two games of the year.
WEEKLY HONORS
The Sun Belt Conference announced the football player of the week awards on Monday, Sept. 11. New Mexico State quarterback Tyler Rogers took offensive player of the week and safety Ron LaForce earned the defensive honors.
In the 30-28 victory over Battle of I-25 rival New Mexico, quarterback Tyler Rogers was 34-for-57 for a total of 401 yards with a career-high four touchdowns. Rogers spread the ball around connecting with 10 different receivers on the night.
The Peoria, Ariz. natives 401 yards and four touchdowns are second in the Sun Belt Conference for individual game-highs in 2017 and his 81-yard connection with Izaiah Lottie on Saturday is the longest pass this season of all Sun Belt quarterbacks.
LaForce, the junior transfer from College of the Sequoias, made his name known in the Aggie secondary over the weekend. Along with six tackles, the defensive back came up with two huge interceptions on back-to-back Lobo drives.
The first was picked off inside the Aggie 15-yard line just before the end of the half and the other came three yards from the end zone on the opponent's first drive of the third quarter.
Rogers and LaForce were the first Aggies to be named Sun Belt football players of the week since linebacker Rodney Butler on Oct. 3, 2016.
IN THE NATION
After week two of action in college football, NM State football along with a handful of Aggies are ranked in the top-25 nationally.
As a team, NM State is ranked in the top-25 in six categories…
Rk Category Value
24 3rd Down Conversion Pct. (Defense) .250
T23 1st Down Offense 50*
T23 Fumbles Recovered 2*
7 Passing Office 399.5
T1 Red Zone Offense 1.000*
T10 Team Sacks 4.00*
T10 Team Tackles for Loss 9.0
20 Total Offense 524.5
Individually, the Aggies also had # players ranked in the top-25 nationally as well.
#17 Tyler Rogers (QB)
Rk Category Value
T2 Completions per Game 37
T6 Passing TDs 7*
5 Passing Yards 799*
4 Passing Yards per Game 399.5
T4 Points Responsible For 48*
4 Total Offense 403.5
#16 Jaleel Scott (WR)
Rk Category Value
T6 Receiving TDs 3*
15 Receiving Yards 240*
12 Receiving Yards per Game 120*
T16 Receptions per Game 8
#10 Izaiah Lottie (WR)
Rk Category Value
T20 Receiving TDs 2
#11 Malik Demby (LB)
Rk Category Value
T4 Fumbles Recovered 1*
T24 Sacks 1.0*
T3 Tackles for Loss 2.8*
#31 Dalton Herrington (LB)
Rk Category Value
T24 Sacks 1.0*
6 Solo Tackles 8.5*
T9 Total Tackles 11.5*
#23 Ron LaForce (S)
Rk Category Value
T3 Total Interceptions 2*
#22 Shamad Lomax (DB)
Rk Category Value
T4 Fumbles Recovered 1*
#1 Jacob Nwangwa (S)
Rk Category Value
T24 Forced Fumbles 0.50
*Denotes Sun Belt Conference Leader
CREAM OF THE CROP
Heading into the third week of action, Larry Rose III is tied with Ray Lawry of Old Dominion with the most games with 200-plus yards rushing in a single game. Eight other rushers currently have two to their name.
Ray Lawry, Old Dominion
209 yards, 27 carries vs. Marshall (2016)
223 yards, 28 carries at Eastern Michigan (2015)
215 yards, 31 carries vs. Norfolk State (2015)
213 yards, 25 carries at Florida Atlantic (2014)
Larry Rose III, New Mexico State
260 yards, 21 carries at New Mexico (2015)
212 yards, 25 carries vs. Idaho (OT) (2015)
207, 31 carries at Texas State: (2015)
229 yards, 35 carries vs. ULM (2014)
D'Angelo Brewer, Tulsa
262, 38 carries vs. Louisiana (2017)
252, 46 carries at Fresno State (2016)
Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
216, 18 carries at Arizona State (2017)
208, 10 carries at Nevada (2016)
Saquon Barkley, Penn State
202 yards, 31 carries vs. Maryland (2016)
207 yards, 18 carries at Purdue (2016)
Diocemy Saint Juste, Hawaii
202 yards, 25 carries vs Western Carolina (2017)
205 yards, 19 carries vs Nevada (2016)
Damarea Crockett, Missouri
225 yards, 24 carries at Tennessee (2016)
202 yards, 18 carries vs. Missouri State (2017)
Derris Guice, LSU
285 yards, 37 att. at Texas A&M (2016)
252 yards, 21 att. at Arkansas (2016)
Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
203 yards, 22 carries at UCLA (2017)
217 yards, 28 carries vs. Tennessee (2016)
Justin Crawford, West Virginia
331 yards, 24 carries vs. Oklahoma (2016)
209 yards, 28 carries vs. Baylor (2016)
NOTABLES: LAST GAME
- Two touchdowns in game was a career-high for Izaiah Lottie.
- Ron LaForce forced the first and second interception of his career.
- LaForce's pair of picks was the first time an Aggie had two interceptions since Shamad Lomax against Texas State (11/19/16).
- Rogers tied his career-high for most touchdowns in a game with four which was set against Arkansas State (11/29/14).
- Rogers 57 pass attempts tied his career-high which set last week at Arizona State (8/31/17)
- The win was the first time the Aggies beat the Lobos in back-to-back years since 2009-11
- The victory was the first win for NM State in Albuquerque since 2011
- Head coach Doug Martin secured his first win on the road against UNM
- This was only the fourth time in program history the Aggies beat the Lobos when the opponent scored 27+ points
UP NEXT
Following the conference opener, the Aggies stay at home to face off against Battle of I-10 rival UTEP on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. MT in a game sponsored by Wells Fargo.
