New Mexico outlasts New Mexico State 38-35

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Lamar Jordan’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Reece White with 27 seconds left lifted New Mexico over New Mexico State, 38-35, Saturday night.

The short scoring pass completed a six-play, 45 yard drive that featured a pass interference call against Lewis Hill, setting up a first-and-goal from the 8.

New Mexico State (2-2) led 28-24 entering the fourth, but New Mexico forced a punt and on the resulting possession, took it 54 yards on eight plays, ending in Crusoe Gongbay’s 17-yard touchdown run to put the Lobos up 31-28 with 8:53 left.

State responded. Tyler Rogers found Joshua Bowen from 10 yards out with 4:41 remaining to regain the lead, 35-31.

Jordan’s pass to Jeric Magnant fell incomplete, but Hill was called for face-guarding. After a short run by Gongbay, play-action froze the linebackers, allowing Reece to find a seam in the end zone for the game-winner.

Jordan was 3 for 3 passing for 16 yards and ran for 40 yards on eight carries. Gongbay carried 15 times for 134 yards.

The Lobos struck first with 52 seconds left in the first quarter on Jhurrell Pressley’s 47-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing drive, the Aggies went 67 yards on nine plays, capped by Tyler Rogers’ 18-yard scoring run to tie at 7.

New Mexico came right back with a 72-yard, 10-play drive that included a 23-yard run by Gongbay and concluded with Quinton McCown’s 27-yard touchdown run.

The Aggies tied it with 4:07 in the half, as Joseph Matthews hauled in fade route from Rogers one-handed for a 9-yard touchdown that was upheld upon review.

Rogers went 32 of 47 for 333 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.

But New Mexico still had a trick up its sleeve. With 1:49 before intermission, David Anaya took a pitch-sweep right, then pulled up to hit wide-open Magnant for an 18-yard touchdown pass to go up 21-14 at the half. Magnant caught four passes for 42 yards.

To start the third, the Aggies were forced to punt and downed it at the New Mexico 5. On the next play, Teriyon Gipson carried for seven yards but fumbled after being hit by Kawe Johnson. Andrew Allen recovered, and four plays later, Xavier Hall scored from 3 yards out as New Mexico State tied at 21.

The Lobos responded with an impressive 70-yard drive, highlighted by Clayton Mitchem’s 36-yard run, but had to settle for Zack Rogers’ 28-yard field goal to go up 24-21.

The track meet continued, as State went 75 yards on eight plays in 2:53, with Hall going 17 yards for his second touchdown run of the quarter.

New Mexico’s defense forced a punt at the start of the fourth quarter, and the Lobos’ offense went back to work. Starting at their 46, they went 54 yards on eight plays, setting up Gongbay’s 17-yard score.

As was the nature of this game though, State replied. Rogers hooked up with Teldrick Morgan for a 28-yard completion and the Aggies went 74 yards in 14 plays, with Rogers hooking up with Bowen for a 10-yard touchdown to give them a 35-31 lead, which was erased moments later when Jordan hit Reece for the game-winner.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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