LAS CRUCES, NM – Football returned to the City of Crosses on Tuesday night as New Mexico State broadcast a thriller across the national airwaves. As regulation time expired, the Aggies blocked an LA Tech field goal and sent the game into overtime, where they ultimately cruised to a 33-30 victory. Mike WashingtonJr. rolled into the southeast corner of the end zone, giving the Aggies their first CUSA win of 2024.

On the night, the Aggies were powered by a defensive performance that included eight tackles for loss, five sacks and three pass breakups. This also included a dominant four-sack performance from the defense Kale Edwards. On offense, the Aggies received a spark from Brandon Nuñez, who led the Aggies to the tie in the fourth quarter and scored two rushing touchdowns in the first FBS appearance of his career.

FIRST QUARTER

The start of the game was controlled by the team's defense as both teams only gained 63 total yards in the first quarter. That included 73 from the Aggies, while NM State's defense held the Bulldogs to minus-10 yards in the first third. The Montana transfer achieved two highlights for the Aggies Kale Edwards who recorded two sacks in the first quarter – the first two sacks of his Aggie career.

The Aggies found some success on offense as they had a total of five first downs in the first 15 minutes of play. Ultimately, the only blemish of the half came during an LA Tech punt, when the Aggies blocked the punt and allowed the Bulldogs to pounce on it. Although LA Tech was able to recover the botched punt in plus territory, an unnecessary roughness penalty would push LA Tech back to its own 44, where it would only run four plays before handing the ball back to the Aggies.

Late in the half, the Aggies showed signs of a promising drive as they needed 10 plays to advance the ball to LA Tech's 46-yard line. However, the drive only lasted one play in the second quarter before he was needed to put it away.

Rating games: None

End of Q1: LA Tech 0, NM State 0

SECOND QUARTER

NM State would finally find the end zone in the second quarter Parker Awad I discovered a strip TJ Pride who got past all LA Tech defenders and scored the first touchdown of his Aggie career.

After the Aggie scoring drive, LA Tech responded with a touchdown drive of its own, taking 15 plays to drive 75 yards down the field and into the end zone to bring the score to seven on a 7-yard passing touchdown equalize points. NM State would then fall victim for the second time that night, bringing a tired Aggie defense back onto the field.

LA Tech would seize the opportunity and mount its second straight touchdown drive to take a 14-point lead with a minute and 12 seconds left in the period.

With their fast-paced offense, the Aggies gained 20 yards and passed the ball near midfield while using 42 seconds on the clock. After a false start that set the Aggies back five yards, NM State would benefit from a 15-yard penalty because a Bulldog defender lost his helmet and continued the pursuit Parker Awad in the backfield. This would set the Aggies up at LA Tech's 42-yard line.

Two plays later, Awad managed to get the ball to the Bulldog 31-yard line with nine seconds left, setting up a field goal attempt. Aggie kicker Abraham Montaño continued his outstanding season by scoring from 48 yards out, improving to 9 of 10 on the year and bringing the Aggies to four points before halftime.

Scoring: NMSU – T. Pride 53-yard touchdown (kick by A. Montaño); LT – T. Edwards 7-yard touchdown (kick by B. Buchanan); LT – O. Wiggins 1-yard rushing touchdown (kick by B. Buchanan); NMSU – A Montaño 48-yard field goal

End of Q2: LA Tech 14, NM State 10

THIRD QUARTER

The NM State defense came out of the locker room with some added touches as LA Tech punted the ball to the Aggies after four straight passing plays, including the final possession that ended in a pass breakup Keonte Glinton.

NM State then had its best offensive possession of the game, traveling 88 yards in 11 plays to put the ball in the end zone and regain the lead. A 20-yard reception for Seth McGowan On third down, he started the drive before catching a 45-yard pass PJ Johnson III later in the possession, the Aggies would line up at LA Tech's 10-yard line. This would be the longest reception of Johnson III's career.

On the next play, the Aggies introduced a new offensive formation that brought Brandon Nuñez onto the field for the first time in his Aggie career. After a handoff on his first play, Nuñez carried the ball into the end zone on the next play to put the Aggies back in the lead.

Scoring: NMSU – B. Nuñez 7-yard rushing touchdown (kick by A. Montaño)

End of Q3: LA Tech 14, NM State 17

FOURTH QUARTER

LA Tech would put together its second long drive of the night, running 14 snaps to advance the ball into the final quarter. However, NM State's defense remained strong as it forced an LA Tech field goal. Despite being low and shaky, the 41-yard attempt split the uprights and tied the game at 17 apiece.

With the Aggies unable to move the ball on their next drive, LA Tech got the ball back less than two minutes later. The Bulldogs would then generate their third 10-play drive of the game to put the ball in the end zone after an 80-yard, five-minute, 47-second drive.

The Aggies would get the ball back with just under five minutes to play and head coach Tony Sanchez made the decision to put the ball in the hands of Brandon Nuñez, who led the Aggies 75 yards down the field before scoring the game-winning touchdown with 1:41 left.

With a chance to tie the game, LA Tech orchestrated a drive that ended at the Aggie 9-yard line – setting up the Bulldog kicker for a potential game-winner from 27 yards out. With a successful snap and hold, the ball left Buck Buchanan's foot and was cackled by the defense before it crossed the line of scrimmage Naki Fahina blocked the kick with his right hand to keep the score at 24 and ultimately send the game into overtime.

Scoring: LT – B. Buchanan 41-yard field goal; LT – T. Edwards 15-yard touchdown reception (kick by B. Buchanan); B. Nuñez 4-yard rush (kick by A. Montaño)

End of regulation: LA Tech 24, NM State 24

OVER TIME

In the first overtime, the Aggies got the ball first but couldn't generate much movement and ultimately had to settle for a 38-yard attempt. Abraham Montaño stayed perfect to give the Aggies a three-point lead before sending their defense onto the field.

NM State then got the stop it needed on the next possession to force LA Tech into a field goal of its own and send the game into overtime. The Bulldog kicker would split the uprights from 37 yards out to extend the game.

In the second overtime, the defense put up a wall again, forcing LA Tech to settle for a 36-yard field goal. After the Bulldogs made the field goal, NM State got the ball back and had the opportunity to win or tie the game.

The Aggies' second drive of overtime was highlighted by a jump-ball catch by Cordell David which set the Aggies up at LA Tech's six-yard line. From there, Mike Washington Jr. would run down the right side of the field and untouched into the end zone to solidify the Aggie victory.

Scoring: NMSU – A. Montaño 38-yard field goal (OT1); LT – B. Buchanan 37-yard field goal (OT1); LT – B Buchanan 36-yard field goal (OT2); NMSU – M. Washington Jr. 4-yard rushing touchdown (OT2)

Final – 2OT: LA Tech 30, NM State 33

NEXT

The Aggies will get a much-needed restart as they have 13 days off before traveling to Miami to face FIU on October 29th. The Aggies and Panthers kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network from Pitbull Stadium.

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).

Remarkable

• NM State now has a 10-3 (.769) record in its last 13 home games, including a 5-1 record in CUSA competition.
• For the fourth time this season, the Aggies scored the first points of the game TJ Pride's The touchdown gave the Aggies a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.
• The Crimson & White set a season high with eight tackles for loss, surpassing their mark of 6.0 at Sam Houston.
• The last time there was an overtime affair at Aggie Memorial Stadium was on Halloween night in 2015, when they defeated Idaho by a score of 55-48.
• Previously Kale Edwards' standout performance, the last time an Aggie recorded at least 3.5 sacks in a single game was Cedric Wilcots II vs. Idaho, November 25, 2017
• NM State last recorded five or more team sacks against Liberty on October 6, 2018.
• Dakerric Hobbs recorded a career-best eight tackles in the win.
• Tyler Martinez achieved his career high with 12 total tackles – a mark he also reached in the Aggies' last home game.
• Seth McGowan He managed to hit the rock 17 times in his career and managed 71 yards on the ground.
• Brandon Nuñez set numerous career highs at the FBS level, including six runs for 30 yards and two touchdowns. The junior was 4-7 through the air and recorded 49 passing yards – 33 of which came on the Aggies' final drive of regulation, which tied the game.
• TJ Pride set two career highs with 4 catches for 69 yards and scored his first collegiate touchdown in the second quarter.
• Jaden Robinson He recorded three tackles in his season debut after missing the first six games due to injury.
• NM State set a new season high with 204 passing yards against the Bulldogs.
• LA Tech's 324 total yards were the fewest by an Aggie opponent this season.
• After missing the first six games of the season, he was named a First Team All-CUSA member in 2023 Shiyazh Pete returned to the offensive line on Tuesday. The Aggie front, in turn, did not allow a single sack for the first time this season.

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