LAS CRUCES, N.M. – After picking up their first win of the season against Hawai'i, the NM State football team (1-5) suffered a devastating loss to the FIU Panthers (2-2, 0-1 C-USA) on Saturday night in Las Cruces. With NM State entering as a double-digit favorite, the loss spoiled the Aggies' hopes for back-to-back wins for the first time since November 2019. 
 
NM State's first-year head coach Jerry Kill was willing to take the blame for the loss as the new-look Aggies are still meshing as a team. 
 
"The emphasis? We'll never play that soft again as long as I'm here that's going to be the emphasis. If I have to suit up, and I'm not very tough but I'm worth one play …that's all our fault that [isn't] the kid's fault," Kill remarked. "We [haven't] been together that long, they're trying, some of them try to hard. Sometimes, some of them are playing so uptight. All that stuff is confidence, and we don't play with confidence all the time. It's not their fault, we just got to keep doing it." 
 
The first half was nothing quite like the Aggies planned. A 14-play, 75-yard drive was the only scoring that NM State could muster. Star Thomas capped off the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the season from two yards out. As a whole, NM State managed just 109 yards of total offense in the opening thirty minutes and trailed 21-7 after two quarters. 
 
Bryce Childress was the bright spot of NM State's offense in the first half. The wide receiver from St. Louis, Missouri set new career-highs in receptions, receiving yards, and longest reception at the break.  
 
The score remained 21-7 throughout the second half as both offenses remained stagnant. The Aggies outgained the Panthers 112-108 in the second half.  
 
At halftime, Coach Kill decided to make a change under center and called upon Diego Pavia. The Albuquerque native went 8-14 passing for 85 yards in the second half. Pavia's premier completion went for 23 yards as Kordell David set a new career-long reception. 
 
Defensively, Syrus Dumas was the standout for NM State in the secondary. The captain recorded a career-high 10 tackles for NM State and matched his previous best with two tackles for a loss. Linebackers Chris Ojoh and Trevor Brohard botched notched eight stops apiece.  
 
"We just need to focus on the details. I just feel like we haven't executed. The coaches are doing a tremendous job," Ojoh stated following the contest. "They're coaching us really hard and we're doing the little things in practice, but it needs to translate to the game." 
 
After a brief bye week, NM State will continue the four-game home stretch against New Mexico in the Battle of I-25. Kickoff from Aggie Memorial Stadium is slated for 6:00 p.m. on FloSports, Bally Sports Arizona, and Comcast New Mexico. 
 
NM State  

• Bryce Childress set career-highs in receptions, receiving yards, and longest reception before halftime for the Aggies. Childress finished with five receptions for 43 yards on the evening.  
• Both Gavin Frakes and Diego Pavia played quarterback for NM State once again. Both QB's have seen action in every contest this season. 
• Syrus Dumas set a new career-high with 10 tackles and matched his career-best two tackles for a loss.  
• Chris Ojoh notched his third sack of the season in the third quarter. 
• Both Sterling Webb and Izaiah Reed recorded sacks on FIU's opening drive. 
• NM State's offensive line did not allow a sack in the contest. 

 
FIU 

• FIU led 21-7 at halftime - Their first halftime lead since September 25, 2021 against Central Michigan. 
• A 60-yard completion from Grayson James to Lexington Joseph was the longest play from scrimmage for the Panthers this season. 
• Daton Montiel launched a career-long 64 yard punt to pin NM State at the one-yard line in the third quarter. 
• The Panthers outgained NM State 334-221 in the ballgame and 152-82 on the ground. 
• FIU snapped some lengthy streaks on Saturday night. The Panthers ended a 16-game road losing streak that dated back to November 17, 2018. FIU also notched their first win over an FBS opponent since November 23, 2019 against Miami (FL). 

 
Game Notes  

• Neither team scored after the 6:00 minute mark of the second quarter. 
• There were zero takeaways in the contest. 
• NM State won the coin toss for the third consecutive week and elected to defer. 
• Canaan Yarro, Trevor Brohard, and Diego Pavia represented NM State at the coin toss.  
• Attendance: 10,423. 
• Saturday's game was the second of four straight at Aggie Memorial Stadium. After a bye week, NM State will host New Mexico on Saturday, October 15.