NMSU falls to Florida International on the road, 22-3

MIAMI, Florida - The New Mexico State Aggies just couldn't find any offensive production Wednesday night in Miami, Florida.

The Aggies only managed to score a field goal in their 22-3 defeat to the Florida International University Panthers.

NMSU's defense kept them in the game as the Aggies were only down seven points at the half, 10-3.

But the Aggies' offense just couldn't find any consistency.

NMSU quarterback Adam Damante got the start for the Aggies, but with his struggles throughout the game he was benched in the fourth quarter in favor of Trey Hedden.

The Aggies committed three turnovers in Wednesday's loss.

NMSU will enter a bye week with an overall record of 2-4, 1-1 in Conference USA play.

Their next game will be Wednesday, October 21 on the road at Sam Houston State University.

(Courtesy: NMSU Athletics)

Playing in its second midweek game of the season, NM State returned to action on Wednesday night, taking on the FIU Panthers as part of Weekday CUSA. Behind a trio of giveaways, the Aggies recorded their lowest scoring output of the season, falling 22-3. With the loss, NM State falls to 2-4 on the season, with a 1-1 mark in Conference USA action. After playing three games in a span of 12 days, NM State now looks ahead to a bye week, before visiting Huntsville, Texas, for a Wednesday night matchup with Sam Houston on Oct. 21.

Following a lightning delay that set kickoff back by 34 minutes, NM State opened its first drive with a big run from reigning CUSA Offensive Player of the Week James Jones. However, it would be unable to produce any points on either of its first two drives. While both drives stalled, the Aggies’ Brody Richter did pin the Panthers inside the 10-yard line with each of his first two boots.

On the Aggies’ third drive of the night, FIU would take the ball away on the first play of the possession as a pass sailed over the receiver’s head and into the hands of the Panther safety. Following the turnover, FIU would tally a nine-play, 53-yard drive that finished with a score by Anthony Carrie to give the home side a 7-0 edge nearing the end of the opening quarter.

The NM State offense would respond with their first points of the night on the following possession, using a 26-yard third-down completion to Terrione Graves and eight rushes before capping the drive with a field goal by Kyah Francone from 26 yards out.

Despite several big defensive stops that forced FIU into 3rd-and-long multiple times, the Panthers answered with a 14-play, 56-yard scoring drive that put the Aggies behind by a touchdown with 2:29 remaining in the first half.

At the break, NM State was fueled offensively by its run game which amassed 92 yards in the first half, including 69 from Jones. Defensively, the Aggie defensive front consistently created pressure, coming away with three tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks for veteran Gabe Peterson.

FIU would add a field goal to its total on its first possession as it worked the ball deep into Aggie territory. Despite a sack fumble forced by Sone Aupiu that pushed the Panthers’ back 16 yards, the FIU kicker would be true from 52 yards to give the Panthers a 13-3 lead.

The Panthers would once again push the ball deep onto the Aggies’ side of the field, but the NM State defense would bow up and limit the home side to another field goal, keeping the game within 13 points.

NM State would threaten on its next drive as Adam Damante hooked up with AJ Williams III for 32 yards on 3rd-and-18, marking the longest play of the night for the Crimson and White. However, the FIU defense would come up with a stop on fourth down just four plays later to keep the Aggies at bay.

NUMBERS OF NOTE

• NM State is now 2-3 all-time against FIU and now holds a 7-5 record in Weekday CUSA contests.
• With senior cornerback Javon Gillipsie’s interception late in the game on Thursday night, the Aggies have now recorded at least one turnover in 21 of the last 22 games.
• James Jones led the Aggie attack on the ground, finishing with 89 yards on 15 carries, including a long of 27 yards on the opening snap. On the year, the senior from Baltimore has amassed 607 yards on 89 carries.
• Jones was also the leading receiver in receptions for the Crimson & White, finishing with three catches for 19 yards - a new season high in both receptions and yards.
• Brody Richter has now pinned 15 of his 21 punts inside the 20, including dropping three inside the 10-yard line.
• Entering Wednesday’s game, FIU had allowed just three sacks on the season. Defensive end Gabe Peterson tallied two of his own against the Panthers, with veteran linebacker Sone Aupiu adding one sack. For Peterson, this marked a new career high in sacks. He also logged a career-best three tackles for loss.
• Finishing with six tackles in Miami, Sone Aupiu now sits just two tackles shy of 200 for his career.
• Kyah Francone recorded his first made collegiate field goal as he was responsible for the Aggies’ only points of the night with a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter.
• Tallying 13 total tackles, including nine solo stops, safety Nick Session posted the most tackles by an Aggie in a single game this season. This also marks a new career high for the fifth year Aggie.
• Hauling in a 32-yard pass in the third quarter, AJ Williams III tabbed the longest offensive play of the night for NM State. This became his third reception of the season of at least 29 yards. 

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).