NMSU tops UL Lafayette on fumble recovery TD in 2OT
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Redshirt junior Sebastian Anderson leaped on the ball as it rolled into the end zone after being knocked loose from the outstretched arms of Larry Rose III in the second overtime series for New Mexico State to give the Aggies the 37-31 win over UL Lafayette at Aggie Memorial Stadium on homecoming.
“I’d prefer to win it in regulation with the kick from the 40-yard line, but the character that our guys showed and the heart that they showed, we can really build upon here,” said Aggie head coach Doug Martin. “The biggest thing here tonight was our defense. It was a hard- hitting football game and our guys responded, that was a great team win for our guys. I couldn’t be more proud of them. I was so proud of those fans that came tonight ; that stadium was so electric with the fans that were here. We can’t thank you enough.”
In the first overtime series, NM State (2-3, 1-1 SBC) scored three plays in when Gregory Hogan hauled in one of his 11 catches for a 23-yard touchdown to put the Aggies on top 31-24. However, the Ragin’ Cajuns were able to score on their offensive drive when Darius Hoggins recovered his own fumble in the end zone.
With the teams switching sides for the second overtime series, head coach Doug Martin elected to play defense first. The Aggie defense continued to shine, making stop after stop to force the Ragin’ Cajuns (2-3, 1-1 SBC) to kick a field goal. Luckily for New Mexico State, Stevie Artique’s 22-yard field goal hit the left post and bounced out.
Tyler Rogers opened up with a six-yard pass to Hogan as he and Rose III willed the Aggies to the ULL one-yard line. With first and goal on the board, Rose III’s run led to Anderson’s heroics.
New Mexico State started the game off with a bang as Rogers orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in Clayton Granch plowing over a Ragin Cajun linebacker for the 19-yard walk into the end zone – this was his second touchdown of the year.
The Ragin’ Cajuns answered right back on their first drive of the game and scored 10 unanswered points. The Aggies responded late in the second quarter with back-to-back scores in the final 2:19 of the first half, including a pick six by Jaden Wright that gave NM State the 21-10 led. UL Lafayette cut the lead to 21-13 in the waning moments of the first half as the Aggies headed into the break with the lead for the first time this season.
UL Lafayette used a seven-play, 39-yard drive to cut the Aggie lead to 21-19 before Jalen Nixon connected with Jared Johnson on the fade route for the score. After a two-point conversion, the visiting team knotted the game up, 21-21. Neither team would score again during the remaining 8:19 minutes of the third-quarter.
After the Ragin’ Cajuns drew even in the third quarter, Parker Davidson hit a 33-yard field goal with 10:31 on the clock to give the home team its third lead of the game. With 2:58 remaining, UL Lafayette squared it up at 24-24.
With three second left on the clock, Davidson had the opportunity to knock in the game-winning field goal but had it sail right of the post to force overtime.
Jacob Nwgangwa finished with a career-high 19 tackles for the NM State defense, while Rodney Butler added 18. Terrill Hanks and Dalton Harrington chipped in with ten apiece as well.
On offense, Rose III finished with 112 yards and a six-yard touchdown on 23 carries in his return at home. Hogan finished with a team-high 172 yards and one touchdown , while Clayton Granch hauled in the other score.
Following the first bye week of the season next Saturday , the Aggies will travel to Idaho for an October 15 matchup in the Kibbie Dome. The time for kickoff is TBA.
