Following a 10-day hiatus, NM State is set to return to action on Saturday as it hosts the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky in the penultimate home game of the season.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Photo By Eric Espada for NMSU : Courtesy
The Aggie football game scheduled to kickoff at 4 p.m. will bookend a slew of Homecoming activities taking place throughout the week.
The Aggies will look to return to the win column following a road loss at FIU last Tuesday. A win for the Crimson and White would mark the Aggies’ second consecutive win in front of their home crowd after they took down LA Tech in double overtime in their previous contest at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
Saturday’s bout against the team currently sitting atop the CUSA standings will also represent just the second time that the Aggies and Hilltoppers meet on the gridiron and first time doing so in Las Cruces.
WEEK SIX
Who: NM State vs. Western Kentucky
Where: Las Cruces, N.M. – Aggie Memorial Stadium (28,853)
When: Saturday, November 9, 2024 – 4 p.m. MT
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch: ESPN+
Play-by-Play: Adam Young
Analyst: Danny Knee
Listen: 99.5 FM KXPZ / TuneIn App
Play-by-Play: Jack Nixon
Color Analyst: Cory Lucas
Live Stats: NMStateStats.com
PICK SIX
3 – The Aggies are seeking their third consecutive season with three or more wins at home – a feat they had not accomplished since 2017 prior to the 2022 season.
10 – Following a performance worthy of CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week honors, kicker Abraham Montaño remains 10th in the nation in field goal percentage at 92.3% (12 of 13).
4 – Following a trio of #WeekdayCUSA games, NM State will return to Saturday gamedays for the final four games of the 2024 season with two coming in Aggie Memorial Stadium.
1 – Saturday will mark the first-ever time that the Aggies play host to Western Kentucky and will be just the second meeting between the two programs.
200 – NM State rushed for a total of 216 yards last Tuesday at FIU to mark the fourth time this season Aggie rushers have combined to eclipse 200 yards in a game.
8 – With eight field goals across five Conference USA games, the Aggies are tied for first in the league in total field goals in conference games.
GOOD TO BE HOME
NM State will return to the friendly confines of Aggie
Memorial Stadium for Homecoming on Saturday where it holds an 11-5 record across the last three seasons, including rattling off five wins in six games last season.
This season, the Aggies’ only two wins have come in front of their home crowd as they defeated SEMO in the home opener before knocking off LA Tech in double overtime in their last home contest.
Like the Aggies, Conference USA teams have struggled to win on the road this season and have posted a 9-31 road record through 10 weeks while maintaining a 26-16 record in home games.
MONEY MONTAÑO
Senior kicker Abraham Montaño continued his stellar season as he connected on attempts from 57 yards out and 53 yards out in the Aggies’ road tilt at FIU last week.
The 57-yarder he made in the second quarter is tied for the longest kick in program history and is tied for the fourth-longest kick in CUSA history. This is also the longest kick from any CUSA kicker since 2012 and is tied for the 10th-longest kick at the FBS level this season.
Later, Montaño would make a 53-yarder to become the first Aggie kicker since 1978 to have two kicks of 50-plus yards in a single game. He also becomes just the second FBS kicker this season to make two kicks of 50 yards or longer in a single game – joining Florida State’s Ryan Fitzgerald who made a 59-yarder and a 52-yarder versus Georgia Tech on Aug. 24.
On the season, Montaño is now 12-of-13 on field goal attempts to rank tied for 10th in the nation in field goal percentage at 92.3%.
ENDING THE STREAK
In their last home game, the Aggies came away with a hard-fought 33-30 victory over LA Tech in double overtime. This put an end to a five-game losing streak which marked the longest such streak since the 2021 season. This victory also marked the Aggies’ first double overtime game since 2005.
AGGIE MEMORIAL MIRACLE
Arguably the play of the year for the Aggies came on the final play of regulation against LA Tech when defensive tackle Naki Fahina busted through the line to block a potential game-winning field goal from the Bulldogs. This blocked field goal marked the first time that the Aggies had blocked a field goal since Oct. 4, 2014, when they did so against Georgia Southern.
This also marks the Aggies’ second blocked kick of the season which is good for 16th-most in the nation this year.
KALE’S COMING OUT PARTY
NM State defensive end Kale Edwards logged a total of four sacks in the Aggies’ victory over LA Tech. This equals the highest total sack mark for any individual at the FBS this season – matching the efforts of Suntarine Perkins (Ole Miss), Antwaun Powell-Ryland (Virginia Tech) and Cameron Whitfield (Louisiana). Impressively, Powell-Ryland has reached this mark twice this season.
This performance from the native of Couer d’Alene, Idaho, earned him recognition from the Conference USA office as he was named the CUSA Defensive Player of the Week. This was also just two sacks shy of the single game program record set by Fredd Young when he recorded six sacks against LA Tech in 1983.
CAROUSEL OF QUARTERBACKS
This season, four different Aggie quarterbacks have now seen significant game action after Brandon Nuñez made his first start of the season last Tuesday.
With Nuñez’s contributions, he joins teammates Parker Awad, Santino Marucci and Deuce Hogan to become the fourth Aggie quarterback with at least five pass attempts this season.
This also makes the Aggies one of just two FBS teams with four different players that have at least five pass attempts – joining FIU as the only other team in the country to fulfill this statistic.
PJ AND TJ
While limited, this year’s passing game has gone through the duo of slot receivers, PJ Johnson III and TJ Pride. Junior PJ Johnson III now leads the Aggies in receiving yards with 229 on 14 catches. This includes eight catches for 157 yards in the last three games.
Meanwhile, true freshman TJ Pride is one of only two other Aggie receivers to eclipse the century mark this season as he has recorded a team-high 21 catches for 215 yards and has paced the Aggies in receptions in three of the last four games.
KEEP THE FOOT ON THE PEDAL
Despite the Aggies ranking 121st in the country in scoring offense, NM State has scored first in five of its eight games this season. Unfortunately, this hasn’t translated to wins as the victory over LA Tech marked the Aggies’ first victory of the season in a game that they scored first in.
FIRST-TIME STARTERS
Following the Aggies’ first 10-win season since 1960, NM State has begun year one under Head Coach Tony Sanchez with some new faces in key roles. This year, NM State welcomed 36 transfers during the offseason – a mark that ranks fifth-most at the FBS level and six behind Saturday’s opponent New Mexico. Aside from the Lobos, only Charlotte (44), Colorado (44), and Utah State (38) brought in more offseason transfers than the Aggies.
Additionally, the Aggies returned just eight of their 22 starters on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. And, in total, NM State brings back 28 of its 67 letterwinners from last season.
In total, 19 different Aggies have logged their first collegiate start this season, including 14 in the opener against SEMO. At 19, the Aggies are currently ranked third in total first-time starters this season.
This new outlook is also reflected in the amount of returning production entering the year. After having one of the highest rates of returning production entering the 2023 season (returned 83% of total gained yardage), only 23% (1,268/5,606) of its total all-purpose yardage from 2023 belongs to someone still wearing Crimson and White in 2024.
From a broken-down perspective, the Aggies brought back 0% (0/3,206) of their passing yards, 17.3% (471/2,715) of their receiving yards, 32.5% (755/2,325) of their rushing yards and 7.4% (42/566) of their return yards.
SIMILAR SPOT
The Aggies carry a 2-6 record into the meeting with the Hilltoppers. Despite recording two of the most successful seasons in program history during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, the Aggies are familiar with slow starts.
During a 2022 season which was capped off by a win in the Quick Lane bowl to finalize their record at 7-6, the Aggies entered the week seven with a 1-5 record – identical to their record through six games this season. In 2022, a 21-9 Aggie victory over New Mexico ended a streak of three consecutive losses to the Lobos and ignited a back half of the season in which the Aggies finished 6-1 to earn the program’s first bowl bid since the 2017 campaign.
One year later, the Aggies would travel to Albuquerque with a 1-2 record in hand. NM State would then improve to 2-2 with a 27-17 win at University Stadium. After dropping the following game on the road at Hawaii, the Aggies would fall to 2-3 prior to kicking things in gear to finish the regular season with a 10-3 record.
While Tony Sanchez and staff would not opt to be in a position with two wins through eight games, it is a space that the Aggies have proven they can bounce back from. In fact, in six of the Aggies’ last seven seasons that resulted in plus-.500 winning percentage, NM State held a losing record through at least five games.
Previous seven winning seasons
Year Start Finish
2023 2-3 10-5 (Isleta New Mexico Bowl)
2022 1-5 7-6 (Quick Lane Bowl)
2017 2-4 7-6 (Arizona Bowl)
2002 1-2 7-5
1999 3-4 6-5
1992 2-3 6-5
1978 2-3 6-5
AGGIE MEMORIAL RIVALRIES
For the 102nd time in program history, the Aggies’ schedule will feature games against both UTEP and New Mexico. Despite the extended history, the 2024 season marks just the sixth time ever, and first time since 2002, that both the Miners and Lobos will make the trip to Aggie Memorial Stadium in the same season. In all, this schedule alignment has only occurred in 2002, 1998, 1988, 1958 and 1956. During these years, the Aggies are 5-5 against their rivals, including holding a combined 4-0 mark in 2002 and 1998.
BARNES EARNS WEEK 1 CUSA DPOW
Redshirt freshman Tayden Barnes impressed in his collegiate debut as he recorded a team-high nine tackles in addition to claiming the game-sealing interception against SEMO on Aug. 31. This performance was garnered recognition from the league as the Amarillo, Texas, native was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 2.
Barnes turned in five solo takedowns while also tallying 1.5 tackles for loss against the Redhawks. His interception came at the Aggies’ 18-yard line with just 37 seconds remaining on the clock as the Redhawks were driving in search of a game-tying touchdown.
Barnes’ distinction marked the seventh time an Aggie has garnered CUSA player of the week honors since joining the league last season. He also became just the second Aggie to earn CUSA defensive player of the week recognition – joining Gabe Peterson who did so in 2023.
UPDATING THE RECORD BOOKS
Against SEMO, Aggie fans witnessed a pair of plays that had not happened in quite some time. For the first time since Nov. 12, 2016, the NM State defense recorded a safety as a SEMO holding penalty that occurred in the end zone resulted in a safety.
The Aggies also tallied their first blocked punt since Sept. 22, 2018, as wide receiver Kordell David burst through the block to get his fingertips on a punt in the third quarter.
TURKEY HUNTING
After earning bowl bids in both 2022 (Quick Lane Bowl) and 2023 (Isleta New Mexico Bowl), the Aggies will need to win the remaining four games on its to make it three straight bowl appearances for the first time in program history.
Similarly, a winning season for the Aggies would mark the first time since the 1965, 1966 and 1967 seasons that NM State would piece together back-to-back-to-back seasons with a record of above .500. In fact, the 2022 and 2023 seasons represented the first time since 1966 and 1967 that the Aggies tallied consecutive seasons with a winning record.
HISPANIC HEAD COACHES
The Aggies’ leader, Tony Sanchez, is one of just five Hispanic head coaches at the FBS level. Sanchez, a second generation American of Puerto Rican and English descent, is also joined in this group by Baylor’s Dave Aranda, Miami’s Mario Cristobal, Duke’s Manny Diaz and Jax State’s Rich Rodriguez.
Additionally, Sanchez is the first NM State head coach of Hispanic descent. Sanchez leads the Aggie program which calls Las Cruces, a city with over 60% Hispanic population, home.
TRUE FRESHMEN
After featuring 34 true freshmen in 2023, the Aggie roster includes just 10 true freshman this season. This includes wide receiver TJ Pride who currently leads the Aggies in receptions and defensive tackle Malaki Ta’ase who has earned an increased role on the Aggie defense throughout the season.
AGGIE THROUGH AND THROUGH
From student-athlete to head ball coach, Tony Sanchez has had crimson running through his veins since the day he transferred to NM State. Now, Sanchez is one of just 17 coaches at the FBS level to be the head coach at his alma mater.
Following two seasons at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., Sanchez began his Aggie playing career in 1994. During his time, Sanchez made 54 catches for 741 yards and five touchdowns to help the Aggies win seven games. His career was highlighted by a senior season in which he tallied 42 catches for 576 yards and four touchdowns.
Sanchez’s first win as a player came on Sept. 17, 1994, in El Paso, Texas, where the Aggies earned a 23-22 come-from-behind victory over UTEP after falling behind 19-0 to open the game.
WHERE TO WATCH THE AGGIES
After eight of the Aggies’ 15 games were featured on national networks in 2023, including three of the final four contests, the Aggies will once again have their opportunities in the spotlight in 2024. Entering the year, NM State is slated to play six of its 12 games on a national network. This weekend, Aggie fans can tune in to ESPN+ to catch the Aggies’ Homecoming bout.
WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE AGGIES
Once again, all games this season will air live on 99.5 FM KXPZ for those in Las Cruces and the surrounding areas. Additionally, all home games will be available in Spanish on 96.7 FM La Equis. Radio broadcasts for all Aggie games will also be available to listen to nationwide via the TuneIn App. Radio play-by-play will be provided by Jack Nixon with analysis provided by former Aggie running back Cory Lucas.
ONE FINAL RIDE
NM State broadcaster Jack Nixon returns for his 45th and final year of broadcasting Aggie athletics for the NM State radio network. A legend on the Aggie airwaves, Nixon begins the 2024 football season with 500 games under his belt in addition to over 1,400 basketball games.
For much of the season, the “Voice of the Aggies” and NM State Hall of Fame selection, Nixon will handle the radio duties alongside former Aggie Cory Lucas, who joined the broadcaster ahead of the 2017 season.
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