The Aggies found themselves in an all-too-familiar situation
in Thursday night’s football season opener against Sacramento State.
After New Mexico State jumped out to a quick 28-3 lead near
the end of the second quarter, the Aggies faltered on defense. A few blown coverages and missed tackles
later, mostly by fault of the secondary, Sacramento State firmly controlled the
momentum and tightened the game to 28-19.
But to the Aggies credit the defense remained mentally tough
and kept fighting, even through a nightmarish start to the third quarter.
“Good football teams know how to change the momentum at the
right time and then keep the momentum, and I think that’s what we did,” head
coach Dwayne Walker said of his team’s effort.
The Aggies were able to re-capture their swagger when they
blocked an extra point, which preserved a two-possession lead, and recover a
fumble shortly after.
“Yeah I felt it,” linebacker Trashaun Nixon said of feeling that
Sacramento State controlled the tempo of the game in the third quarter. “I felt it big time because they had a little
bit of momentum, and then when the field goal got blocked it was like it just
all swung our way and we started making plays.”
New Mexico State’s offense went on to score 21 more points,
but just as important was the fact the Aggie defense would not allow another
point.
But don’t be deceived by the 49-19 final score.
The Aggies defense allowed Sacramento State quarterback
Garrett Safron to throw for 308 yards and complete 65.7 percent of his passes
(23-for-35).
At times all six of the corners/safeties that saw playing
time made wrong reeds on the ball and allowed the Hornets receivers to catch a
wide-open pass. The secondary unit also
missed some tackles, which was a big factor that led to the 308 yards
surrendered through the air.
“It’s a win. I’m not going to sit here and say I’m happy,”
Walker said. “Anytime you score 49
points and give up 19 to anybody you’re supposed to be happy. But I agree with you there’s some things we
gotta get fixed.”
But there are just as many positives to take away from
Thursday’s victory.
The Aggie front seven shut down the Hornets running game,
allowing only 89 yards on 31 carries.
And nearly half of those rushing yards (40) were due to Safron
scrambling from the pocket and deciding to run the ball when the Hornets
receivers were covered.
New Mexico State’s defensive line played with a fire in the
first half and was able to constantly pressure Safron during that time.
But most importantly, something of which Aggie fans should
be proud, the defense as a whole kept fighting through their struggles and
didn’t fold like in past years.
They showed a type of mental toughness that was not apparent
during the Hal Mumme years, and credit should go to the New Mexico State
coaching staff as a whole.
Projecting forward, New Mexico State must get improved play
from the secondary if they have any chance of beating the Ohio Bobcats next
week in Athens.
The Bobcats are a run-first team, but gained monster yards
when they did elect to pass the ball last year.
Although there’s a lot to critique, the Aggies did win – by
30. And fans should feel proud of their
team.
