Aggies Earn Fourth Straight Victory with Comeback Road Win Over LA Tech
RUSTON, Louisiana (KVIA) -- It's been over 20 years since the NM State football program won four consecutive games. That drought is now officially over as the Aggies clawed their way to a come-from-behind 27-24 victory over Louisiana Tech on Tuesday night at Joe Aillet Stadium.
"It's the kind of games you've got to win on the road and they're not always pretty but we say we're the hard hat lunch pail group," head coach Jerry Kill said. "I'm really proud of the way our kids fought back and didn't lose their composure and we grew up a little bit tonight."
The Aggies first comeback win from 10 or more points since 2015 sees them undefeated in October and mid-week games, one win away from officially securing a bowl game and 4-1 in CUSA.
After trailing 16-3 in the second quarter, the Aggies scored 21 straight points to regain the lead and eventually put themselves in a position to earn a monumental road win.
It started with a Deigo Pavia QB keep in the second half to cut the lead to six before the half.
NMSU were outplayed and outgained by more than 140 yards in the first half but flipped the script in the second, opening up with a Jerry Kill football kind of drive - 15 plays, 75 yards in 8 minutes and 35 seconds capped off with a Pavia to Trent Hudson touchdown.
Aggies then went boom, boom - forcing a fumble and recovering. Jamoni Jones runs it in off the back of the turnover to make it an eight-point game.
But LA Tech on their next possession tied the game at 24.
The Aggies would break the deadlock with a Ethan Albertson field goal and the defense would come up with another fumble recovery to stall the Bulldogs attack.
Myles "Ghost" Rowser finished the game as NM State's leading tackler with nine tackles while also coming up with a pass breakup on the Bulldogs' final possession of the game. Linebackers Keyshaun Elliott, Buddha Peleti and Sone Aupiu lifted the Aggies defense with a combined 3.5 sacks, including Aupiu's sack fumble in the fourth quarter.
Offensively, the Crimson and White were led by its rushing attack which ended the game with 232 total yards, including a game-high 88 yards from Louisiana native Star Thomas. Quarterback Diego Pavia also contributed in a big way – rushing for 67 yards and accounting for two of the Aggies' three touchdowns.
With the win, the Aggies are technically bowl eligible, however, they would need some help from programs around the nation as NM State's 13-game schedule requires them to reach seven wins before being guaranteed a spot in one of the 43 bowl games to be played this year.
NMSU now have 10 days break before they are back at home against Middle Tennessee.
