Naki Fahina denies LA Tech of game-winner; Mike Washington Jr. seals win with walk-off touchdown.
Source: NMSU Athletics (Photo: Courtesy)
Tuesday night football returned to the City of Crosses as NM State hosted a thriller across national airwaves. As time expired in regulation, the Aggies blocked a LA Tech field goal to send the game to overtime where they eventually pulled out a 33-30 victory. Mike Washington, Jr. coasted into the southeast corner of the end zone, granting the Aggies their first CUSA win of 2024.
On the night, the Aggies were fueled by a defensive performance that included eight tackles for loss, five sacks and three pass breakups. This included a dominant four-sack showing from defensive end Kale Edwards. Offensively, the Aggies received a spark from Brandon Nuñez who led the Aggies on a fourth-quarter drive to tie the game and tallied a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first FBS appearance of his career.
FIRST QUARTER
The beginning of the game was controlled by the team’s defenses as the two sides combined to tally just 63 total yards in the first quarter. This included 73 from the Aggies while the NM State defense held the Bulldogs to negative 10 yards in the first period. For the Aggies, a pair of highlights were turned in by Montana transfer Kale Edwards who notched a pair of sacks during the first quarter – marking the first two sacks of his Aggie career.
The Aggies were able to find some offensive success as they picked up a total of five first downs during the opening 15 minutes of action. Ultimately, the only blemish of the half came during a LA Tech punt as the Aggies muffed the punt and allowed the Bulldogs to jump on it. Despite recovering the muffed punt in plus territory, an unnecessary roughness penalty would push LA Tech back to its own 44 where it would run just four plays before turning the ball back over to the Aggies.
Nearing the end of the half, the Aggies would show signs of a promising drive as it used 10 plays to work the ball to the LA Tech 46-yard line, however, the drive would extend for just one play during the second quarter before needing to punt it away.
Scoring plays: None
End Q1: LA Tech 0, NM State 0
SECOND QUARTER
NM State would eventually find the end zone in the second quarter as Parker Awad found a streaking TJ Pride who worked his way beyond all of the LA Tech defenders to haul in the first touchdown of his Aggie career.
Following the Aggie scoring drive, LA Tech would respond with a touchdown drive of its own as it used 15 plays to drive 75 yards down the field and into the end zone to even the score at seven points via a 7-yard passing touchdown. NM State would then fall victim to its second three-and-out of the night – bringing a tired Aggie defense back onto the field.
LA Tech would take advantage of the opportunity as it produced its second consecutive touchdown drive to take a 14-point lead with one minute and 12 seconds remaining in the period.
Using their hurry-up offense, the Aggies would gain 20 yards and work the ball near midfield while using 42 seconds of the clock. Following a false start which pushed the Aggies back five yards, NM State would benefit from a 15-yard penalty as a result of a Bulldog defender losing his helmet and continuing to pursue Parker Awad in the backfield. This would set the Aggies up at the LA Tech 42-yard line.
Two plays later, Awad would find Pride to move the ball to the Bulldog 31-yard line to set up a field goal attempt with nine seconds remaining on the clock. Aggie kicker Abraham Montaño continued his stellar season as he connected from 48 yards out to improve to 9-of-10 on the year and poll the Aggies within four points heading into the break.
Scoring plays: NMSU – T. Pride 53-yard receiving touchdown (kick by A. Montaño); LT – T. Edwards 7-yard receiving touchdown (kick by B. Buchanan); LT – O. Wiggins 1-yard rushing touchdown (kick by B. Buchanan); NMSU – A. Montaño 48-yard field goal
End Q2: LA Tech 14, NM State 10
THIRD QUARTER
The NM State defense came out of the locker room with some added detail to attention as LA Tech punted the ball away to the Aggies after four straight pass plays, including the final play of the possession which ended in a pass breakup for Keonte Glinton.
NM State would then put forth its best offensive possession of the game as it would go 88 yards in 11 plays to punch the ball in the end zone and regain the lead. A 20-yard reception for Seth McGowan on third down kickstarted the drive before a 45-yard pass to PJ Johnson III later in the possession would set the Aggies up on the LA Tech 10-yard line. This would mark the longest reception of Johnson III’s career.
On the next play, the Aggies would unveil a new offensive formation which brought Brandon Nuñez out on the field for the first time in his Aggie career. After a handoff on his first play, Nuñez carried the ball into the end zone on the next play to push the Aggies back in front.
Scoring plays: NMSU – B. Nuñez 7-yard rushing touchdown (kick by A. Montaño)
End Q3: LA Tech 14, NM State 17
FOURTH QUARTER
LA Tech would rattle off its second lengthy drive of the night as it ran 14 snaps to carry the ball over into the final quarter. However, NM State’s defense would hold strong as it forced a LA Tech field goal. While low and wobbly, the 41-yard attempt split the uprights to tie the game at 17 apiece.
With the Aggies unable to move the ball on their next drive, LA Tech would get the ball back less than two minutes later. The Bulldogs would then generate its third 10-play drive of the game to work the ball into the end zone after an 80-yard, five-minute and 47-second drive.
The Aggies would get the ball back with just under five minutes remaining on the clock and Head Coach Tony Sanchezmade the decision to put the ball in the hands of Brandon Nuñez who guided the Aggies 75 yards down the field before rushing in the game-tying touchdown with 1:41 left on the clock.
With an opportunity to tie the game, LA Tech put together a drive that ended at the Aggie 9-yard line – setting up the Bulldog kicker for a potential game-winner from 27 yards away. With a successful snap and hold, the ball left Buck Buchanan’s foot and, before crossing the line of scrimmage, defensive tackle Naki Fahina blocked the kick with his right hand to keep the game tied at 24 and, ultimately, send the game into overtime.
Scoring plays: LT – B. Buchanan 41-yard field goal; LT – T. Edwards 15-yard touchdown reception (kick by B. Buchanan); B. Nuñez 4-yard rush (kick by A. Montaño)
End of Regulation: LA Tech 24, NM State 24
OVERTIME
In the first overtime period, the Aggies got the ball first but were unable to generate much movement and wound up settling for a 38-yard attempt. Abraham Montaño remained perfect to give the Aggies a three-point lead before sending their defense on the field.
NM State then came up with a needed stop on the next possession to force LA Tech to attempt a field goal of its own to send the game to double overtime. The Bulldog kicker would split the uprights from 37 yards out to extend the game.
In the second overtime, the defense again built a wall to make LA Tech settle for a field goal from 36 yards out. After the Bulldogs made the field goal, NM State would get the ball back with the opportunity to win or tie the game.
The Aggies’ second overtime drive was highlighted by a jump-ball catch made by Kordell David which set the Aggies up at the LA Tech six-yard line. From there, Mike Washington Jr. would run along the right side of the field and into the end zone untouched to solidify the Aggie victory.
Scoring plays: NMSU – A. Montaño 38-yard field goal (OT1); LT – B. Buchanan 37-yard field goal (OT1); LT – B. Buchanan 36-yard field goal (OT2); NMSU – M. Washington Jr. 4-yard rushing touchdown (OT2)
Final – 2OT: LA Tech 30, NM State 33
UP NEXT
The Aggies will experience a much-needed reset as they get 13 days off before traveling to Miami on Oct. 29 to take on FIU. The Aggies and Panthers are scheduled to kickoff at 5 p.m. MT and the game will air live on CBS Sports Network from Pitbull Stadium.
For complete coverage of the NM State football program, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of Aggie athletics – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Football), Twitter (@NMStateFootball) and Instagram (@NMStateFB).
Noteworthy
- In its last 13 home games, NM State now holds a 10-3 mark (.769), including a 5-1 record in CUSA contests.
- For the fourth time this season, the Aggies scored the game’s first points as TJ Pride’s touchdown put the Aggies ahead 7-0 in the second quarter.
- With eight tackles for loss, the Crimson & White set a season high, surpassing their mark of 6.0 at Sam Houston.
- Aggie Memorial Stadium last hosted an overtime affair on Halloween night in 2015, when they took down Idaho by a score of 55-48.
- Prior to Kale Edwards’ outstanding performance, the last time an Aggie recorded at least 3.5 sacks in a single game was Cedric Wilcots II versus Idaho, Nov. 25, 2017
- NM State last recorded five or more team sacks against Liberty on Oct. 6, 2018.
- Dakerric Hobbs notched a career-best eight tackles in the win.
- Tyler Martinez equaled his career high with 12 total tackles – a mark he also reached in the Aggies’ last home outing.
- Seth McGowan toted the rock a career-high 17 times and produced 71 yards on the ground.
- Brandon Nuñez set a multitude of career highs at the FBS level, including six rushes for 30 yards and two touchdowns. The junior was 4-7 through the air, tallying 49 passing yards – 33 of which came on the Aggies’ final drive of regulation to tie the game.
- TJ Pride set two career highs with 4 catches and 69 yards, while tallying his first collegiate touchdown in the second quarter.
- Jaden Robinson recorded three tackles in his season debut after missing the first six games due to injury.
- With 204 passing yards, NM State set a new season high against the Bulldogs.
- LA Tech’s 324 total yards were the fewest by an Aggie opponent this season.
- After missing the first six games of the season, 2023 First Team All-CUSA member Shiyazh Pete returned to the offensive line on Tuesday. In turn, the Aggie front did not allow a single sack for the first time this season.
