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New Mexico State holds off Middle Tennessee, secures back-to-back bowl bids

felix f. chavez, el paso times
·4 min read

The turnaround for the New Mexico State football program continues.

New Mexico State is bowl-bound for the second straight year under coach Jerry Kill after defeating Middle Tennessee, 13-7, in front of 15,727 fans at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

The Aggies have not qualified for a bowl in consecutive years since 1959-60.

Saturday's win came down to the final horn. Middle Tennessee drove from its own 10 to the NMSU 15 but Nicholas Vittiato's pass into the end zone was incomplete.

New Mexico State is now 7-3 overall and 5-1 in Conference USA. Middle Tennessee falls to 2-7 overall and 1-4 in conference. The Aggies needed to win seven games this season due to their 13-game schedule.

New Mexico State has won five straight games and is 3-0 all-time against the Blue Raiders in Las Cruces. Twice this season, NMSU has allowed just seven points — the other came against UTEP in a 28-7 road win on Oct. 18.

Last season, the Aggies defeated Bowling Green, 24-19, in the Quick Lane Bowl. The year before head coach Jerry Kill and his staff arrived, the Aggies went 2-10, which proves just how much the Aggies program has improved.

What the coach said

"It's about the players," Kill said. "They are a happy group of guys in the locker room and that's what it's about, I'm happy for all the Aggies who came before us and for our administration. It takes a village to be successful. Our defense has come a long way this year. We've simplified things and our guys played so hard. Our punter (Zach Haynes) did a great job all night and he was key to this win."

NMSU wide receiver Eli Stowers celebrates the first touchdown of the game during the NMSU homecoming game on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at the Aggie Memorial Stadium.
NMSU wide receiver Eli Stowers celebrates the first touchdown of the game during the NMSU homecoming game on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at the Aggie Memorial Stadium.

What the players said

"That was the biggest win I've ever been a part of," NMSU defensive lineman Izaiah Reed said. "After the game was over, it was a great feeling. I'm not going to lie, there was a tear shed. We played hard on defense. It was a team effort. We still have goals we want to meet."

Added tight end Ron Tiavaasue: "People underestimated us. We want to win a conference title. Our defense stepped up again. It's a great feeling to be bowl-eligible again."

NMSU quarterback Eli Stowers runs the ball during the NMSU homecoming game on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at the Aggie Memorial Stadium.
NMSU quarterback Eli Stowers runs the ball during the NMSU homecoming game on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at the Aggie Memorial Stadium.

NMSU leaders

  • Ethan Albertson was key for the Aggies, making two of three field goals, including a 38-yard field goal in the second half, which was the lone score for either team.

  • Quarterback Diego Pavia finished the game with 220 yards passing and 67 yards rushing.

  • Receiver Eli Stowers led the team with 83 yards receiving.

  • Jordan Vincent led the Aggies with 10 tackles and Reggie Akles had a sack.

  • The Aggies outgained Middle Tennessee, 402-346, and had more time of possession (33.47-24:13). Middle Tennessee converted just 5-of-16 on third down and NMSU's Dylan Early had an interception.

  • Punter Zach Haynes averaged 41.7 yards per punt and four of his six punts landed inside the 20.

NMSU running back Trent Hudson runs the ball during the NMSU homecoming game on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at the Aggie Memorial Stadium.
NMSU running back Trent Hudson runs the ball during the NMSU homecoming game on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at the Aggie Memorial Stadium.

Tight first half

New Mexico State led 10-7 at the half behind Pavia and Stowers.

Pavia passed for 173 yards and rushed for 59 more and Stowers had 83 yards on six catches.

The Aggies went up 7-0 early in the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Taivaasue, who plays tight end, which capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive.

Then the game got frantic in the final two minutes.

Middle Tennessee went 79 yards on six plays in 54 seconds to tie the game on a 27-yard pass from Vattiato to DJ England-Chisolm, which was set up by a 30-yard catch and run by Frank Peasant.

Then the Aggies raced down the field and went 67 yards on seven plays in 48 seconds and got a 26-yard field goal by Albertson.

New Mexico State outgained Middle Tennesseee 278-163 in the first half and had 15 first downs to the Blue Raiders' six.

Coming up

The Aggies have three games left in the regular season. They play at Western Kentucky and Auburn (non-conference) and play at home against Jacksonville State. The Aggies still have a chance to play in the Conference title game after the regular season is over on Nov. 25. That game will be held at league-leader Liberty.

More: NMSU kicker honored New Mexico State senior kicker honored after road win at New Mexico

Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X (Formerly Twitter)

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: NMSU secures back-to-back bowl bids for first time since 1959-60