EL PASO - Playing in its first game in 450 days, the NM State football team saw Juwuan Price put a charge into the squad with a 94-yard kickoff return touchdown earlier in the opening quarter, but visiting Tarleton State used some big plays and piled up 501 yards of total offense to down the Aggies 43-17 at the Sun Bowl Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED | FIRST HALF
• On the game's second play, Tarleton - who was playing in just its second game as a full-fledged NCAA Division I member - showed off the playmaking ability of its quarterback as Cameron Burston raced 70 yards up the near sideline to hand the Texans a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
• Burston hooked up with Gabe Douglas for an 86-yard touchdown strike on the Texans' next offensive play from scrimmage, hiking the visitors' lead to 14-0 with 11:43 left in the opening quarter.
• Following that big play, the Aggies capitalized on one of their own as Price took the ensuing Texan kickoff 94 yards to the promised land. The touchdown cut the Texans' lead to 14-7.
• A costly Aggie fumble by Price wound up recovered by the running back in the endzone, leading to a Tarleton safety. Following the free kick, Burston capped a seven-play drive with a 21-yard touchdown sprint which put the Aggies in a 23-7 hole with 3:29 to go in the first.
• Another Burston-to-Douglas touchdown strike, this of one the 29-yard variety, as well as a field goal right before the halftime horn put the Aggies at a 33-7 disadvantage at the half.
HOW IT HAPPENED | SECOND HALF
• One of the Aggies' three interceptions on the afternoon allowed the Texans to increase their lead further. Set up by a 53-yard interception return down to the Aggies' five, Tarleton punched it in once again to make matters 40-7 with 14:03 left in the third.
• NM State kicked a field goal in the third before the Texans answered with one of their own in the fourth.
• Aggie starting quarterback Jonah Johnson tossed his first touchdown pass in an NM State uniform when he hit Robert Downs III for a 27-yard score with 3:28 to go in the game.
KEY PERFORMERS/STATISTICS OF NOTE
• Johnson finished with 187 yards through the air as well as a touchdown against three interceptions. Price was the Aggies' leading back, getting 31 yards on the ground on 14 carries.
• Terrell Warner latches on to five balls from Johnson for a team-best 77 yards through the air.
• Trevor Brohard keyed the Aggies' defense, finishing with a team-high 11 tackles and one of the team's two sacks.
• Burston accounted for four Texan touchdowns, tossing for 252 and a pair of scores through the air and running for two more in a 79-yard performance on the ground.
• Douglas was Burston's favorite receiver, reeling in seven catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
COMING UP NEXT
• NM State will wrap up its two-game spring season on Sunday, March 7, at the Sun Bowl in El Paso. That day, the Aggies will take on Dixie Stat at 3:00 p.m.
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