NMSU 'cautiously optimistic' Diego Pavia can play in New Mexico Bowl

Dec. 4—In a press conference on Monday, NMSU head coach Jerry Kill said he's "cautiously optimistic" quarterback Diego Pavia — an Albuquerque native and Volcano Vista High School graduate — will play in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl.

After the Aggies' 49-35 loss to Liberty in the Conference USA title game on Friday, Kill said Pavia played through a shoulder injury before being replaced in the second half by third-string quarterback Blaze Berlowitz. Kill has largely avoided discussing specific injuries, but has previously indicated that Pavia has played through various injuries this season.

The Aggies (10-4) are set to take on Fresno State (8-4) at University Stadium on Dec. 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.

"He's gotta get an MRI," Kill said of Pavia. "He's gotta go through a lot of procedures to get there. The other one's hurt, too. Blaze played his butt off in that game."

If NMSU does not have Pavia for the New Mexico Bowl, the Aggies will either turn to Berlowitz, who also suffered an undisclosed injury against Liberty, or traditional backup Eli Stowers, who played through an illness against the Flames.

In his second season as the Aggies' starting quarterback, Pavia completed 210 of 341 passes for 2,915 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He's also rushed for 851 yards and six touchdowns, keying NMSU's ground game on a game-to-game basis.

A look at Fresno State

After starting 8-1 with wins over Purdue and Arizona State, Fresno State collapsed down the stretch with three straight losses — including a historic 25-17 loss to New Mexico on Nov. 18 in Fresno, Calif.

The Bulldogs likely won't be a pushover, though. Despite battling a few injuries himself this season, quarterback Mikey Keene (2,596 yards, 21 touchdowns, nine interceptions) has led an offense that's been among the Mountain West's most dangerous when healthy.

On Monday, Kill said he couldn't speak to any challenges Fresno State poses given that NMSU hadn't yet completed a full scouting report. In light of Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford's planned absence at the New Mexico Bowl, Kill did wish the former Cal coach well as he deals with an undisclosed health issue.

"Fresno State's Fresno State," Kill said. "They've been good for a long time. I feel bad that Jeff can't be in the game. He's a great coach and I pray for his health. I've been there.

"But his coaches and his people will be ready to play and they got an outstanding team."

Fresno State assistant head coach and linebackers coach Tim Skipper will serve as the Bulldogs' acting head coach during the New Mexico Bowl.

Another shot at history

NMSU has won 11 games only once — a perfect 11-0 season in 1960 under former head coach Warren B. Woodson.

How important would an 11th win be this year?

"I think it's important. I mean, history's great but it's important for the future of the program because you just keep rolling. And you get to finish on a positive note. It certainly helped us a year ago, you know, playing back-to-back bowl games in two years and we were the worst team in the country before I got here."

Kill took over in late 2021 after NMSU finished 2-10. In his first year, Kill led the Aggies to a 7-6 season and a win in the Quick Lane Bowl.

Winning a bowl game in-state would be a point of pride. Kill said his team's excited to play in the New Mexico Bowl and looking forward to seeing what figures to be a largely Aggie-friendly crowd.

"As I said, some of the bowl games you go to, there's nobody really there," Kill said. "This (will) be a situation where we're only three hours down the road. It's a lot easier access for our fans here. And also, we got a lot of fans in Albuquerque.

"Even if you're a Lobo, we're representing the state of New Mexico. I think that we need all the fans we can get — we're representing our state and our kids are excited about it."

This will be NMSU's first appearance in the New Mexico Bowl.

Football ... AND basketball ... school?

During Monday's press conference, Kill made it crystal clear: He's more than comfortable sharing the spotlight with a winning men's basketball program.

"I love football, but I grew up in Kansas," said Kill, a Cheney native. "You're a Jayhawk when it comes to that. But it's important for us, and at Southern Illinois, we fed off it. We weren't the number one thing at Southern Illinois — we were (NCAA I-AA) but (former Southern Illinois basketball head coach) Bruce Weber said, 'I need you to win. Because it helps us in recruiting and so forth.'

"Well, this has been a tremendous basketball school. And we need basketball to win. We've both gotta win because it generates more money for the athletic program, period ... You get both of us winning together, then you're talking."

The NMSU men's basketball program — which upset UConn in the NCAA Tournament two years ago — is 4-6 this year, including a near-historic 106-62 loss at rival UNM on Saturday.