LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State football team comes out of its bye week and makes a trip to Provo, Utah to take on fellow independent Brigham Young University on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 8:15 p.m. MT inside of LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.
WHERE TO WATCH
Aggie fans who cannot make it to the game can watch live with the contest set to be broadcast on ESPN2. On the call for the game features Roy Philpott handling the play-by-play with Tom Ramsey serving as the analyst.
LISTEN UP!
Fans can also listen in to every Aggie game this season on the Aggie Sports Network with NM State Athletics/US Bank Hall of Famer
Jack Nixon on the call and 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/NMSUFootball.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Brigham Young comes into the weekend contest holding a 5-5 overall record. The Cougars have lost four of their last six games, but most recently got a win at UMass, 35-16, this past Saturday.
BYU averages 23.3 points per game, while allowing 21.5. The Cougar offense has averaged 338.7 yards of total offense through 10 games with 199.8 coming through the air and 138.9 on the ground. Opponents have been able to throw for 194.2 yards and run for 135.0 to average 329.2 yards of total offense each game.
The Cougars offense has seen a pair of quarterbacks each play in six games, splitting the starts. Across the team, BYU has played 27 freshmen this season, including 17 true freshmen. There have been 11 different freshmen that have started games for the Cougars, including five true freshmen. Against Hawai'i, BYU started seven freshmen, including six on offense. Only Minnesota has started more freshmen on offense in a game (7). Freshmen have accounted for just shy of half of BYU's total scoring this year (116 of 233 total points – 49.8 percent).
IN THE NATION
Nine games through the 2018 college football season, NM State 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 four categories…
Rank Category Value
5 Blocked Punts 2
10 Defensive Touchdowns 3
11 Blocked Kicks 3
22 Fumbles Recovered 9
Individually, the Aggies have eight players ranked in the top-25 nationally as well…
#1 Jason Huntley (RB)
Rank Category Value
1 Kickoff Return Touchdowns 2
11 All-Purpose Yds. Per Game 142.7
12 Total Touchdowns 12
#7 Javahn Fergurson (LB)
Rank Category Value
1 Tackles Per Game 14.3
#10 Izaiah Lottie (WR)
Rank Category Value
3 Punt Return Touchdowns 1
#25 Christian Gibson (RB)
Rank Category Value
3 Blocked Kicks 2
#41 Leon McQuaker (LB)
Rank Category Value
3 Tackles Per Game 13.0
#23 Ron LaForce (DB)
Rank Category Value
5 Tackles Per Game 12.5
#51 Roy Lopez (DL)
Rank Category Value
16 Fumbles Recovered 2
#28 Shane Jackson (LB)
Rank Category Value
16 Fumbles Recovered 2
#10 Cedric Wilcots II (DL)
Rank Category Value
22 Sacks Per Game 0.75
LAST TIME OUT
The New Mexico State football team welcomed Alcorn State to Aggie Memorial Stadium for the final home contest of the season on Saturday, Nov. 3. The Aggies sent their veterans out right on senior day dominating the Braves from the game's opening kickoff en route to a 52-42 victory.
NM State (3-7) wasted no time getting on the board to open the game. Alcorn State (7-3) sent the opening kickoff to the edge of the end zone and Aggie returner
Jason Huntley took off for a 99-yard score that gave the Crimson & White a 7-0 lead just 13 seconds into the game.
The Aggies then capitalized on their next drive after forcing a three-and-out for the Braves. The scoring series was set up by a 35-yard rush from
Christian Gibson to give the team a first down at the Alcorn 15. Then on a 3rd & Goal from the six, quarterback
Josh Adkins found senior
Royce Caldwell in the back corner of the end zone to put the Aggies on top 14-0.
The second half opened with a punt for each side, before Alcorn was able to cut into the NM State lead. The Braves moved down into the red zone and then used a five-yard pass to the flat for the score that made the Aggies lead 35-21.
Then the Crimson & White looked to answer on the next possession. A third-down completion moved the ball to the Alcorn side of the field at the 43. Then on 4th & 2 from the 15-yard line, Gibson moved the ball ahead for a first down. The new series of downs again came to fourth down, but the Aggies were able to see a 30-yard field goal increase their advantage to 38-21 heading to the fourth quarter.
The Aggies looked to quiet any idea of a comeback on one of their final possessions, moving quickly into the red zone. A pass to Huntley set the Aggies up with a first down at the Alcorn 11-yard line. Then on a 3rd & 8, Huntley got the carry and rushed in for six. The extra point gave NM State a 45-35 edge.
Looking to add a little insurance, the Crimson & White did so on a long touchdown play. Looking at a 2nd & 20 from their own 40, Adkins connected with Huntley who broke off for a 60-yard touchdown reception that expanded the team's lead to 52-35.
Alcorn was able to find the end zone once more on a 12-yard pass to cut into the deficit late in the game. However, the onside kick was recovered by the Aggies and the team was able to run the clock out for a 52-42 win over the Braves on senior day.
NOTABLES: LAST GAME
- John Graves III recorded the first sack of his Aggie career on his first play in the opening quarter versus Alcorn State.
- Johnathan Boone's pair of touchdowns gave the receiver his first two-touchdown game of the 2018 season and first since doing so at Kentucky on 9/17/16.
- NM State had its best first half of the season offensively, scoring on five of the team's first seven drives.
- Tymon Locklin registered a career-high 11 tackles.
- Jason Huntley scored a career-high four touchdowns versus Alcorn State, topping his previous high of three done against Georgia Southern on 10/20/18.
- Leon McQuaker registered a new career-high in tackles with 22.
- Johnathan Boone set a new career-high in receiving yards with 92, topping his previous high of 90 he put up against Louisiana on 10/13/18.
UP NEXT
Following the matchup at BYU, the New Mexico State squad remains on the road for its final game of the 2018 season heading to Lynchburg, Va. to take on Liberty for the second time this year on Saturday, Nov. 24, at 12 p.m. MT. The first contest between the Aggies and the Flames saw the Crimson & White come out on top in an offensive shootout with a 49-41 victory inside of Aggie Memorial Stadium on Oct. 6.
