close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

    • Mike Washington scores winner against LA Tech after suspension in first quarter
    news

    Mike Washington scores winner against LA Tech after suspension in first quarter

    Vaseline Posted on

    Mike Washington was on the sideline, eager to get back on the field.

    A few days before New Mexico State’s game against Louisiana Tech on Tuesday night, the junior running back was late to a team meeting. It was only one minute, but head coach Tony Sanchez believed he couldn’t tolerate it and suspended him for the first quarter.

    “I’m not going to sacrifice any of our values,” Sánchez said. “We’re going to do things the right way. We’re going to build this thing the right way. It’s a small thing, but it’s moving. It matters.”

    Washington failed to impress upon his return with just 15 rushing yards on six regular carries. But with the game tied at 24-24 with three seconds left, the Aggies blocked a Bulldogs field goal to send the game to overtime. He would get more opportunities and the Buffalo transfer intensified.

    Washington got a handoff on a second-and-goal play at the four-yard line with NM State trailing 30-27. He bounced to his right and fired into the front right corner of the end zone for the winning touchdown. The Aggies (2-5, 1-3 Conference USA) snapped their five-game losing streak, defeating the Bulldogs (2-4, 1-2 CUSA) 33-30 at home for their first overtime win since beating Utah State in the 2017 Arizona Bowl.

    As the game started, Washington reflected on his actions. When it ended, he was the hero.

    “When he came in, he got his chance and I’m so happy for him,” Sánchez said. “It’s a testament to his character. He could have easily looked me in the face and said, ‘Fuck you, coach…’ But he didn’t… He practiced his tail off all week. He’s a great player.” He will be a person who continues to do well.”

    Sanchez used many motivational methods after the Aggies fell 54-13 at Jacksonville State last week, including increasing his intensity during practice and telling his team about George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolutionary War. The tactic seemed to work as NM State won emphatically.

    The Aggies hope the win sparks a rally that ends with a bowl game, similar to the one in 2022, after a 1-5 start.

    “There’s a history of people getting hit on the back,” Sánchez said. “We had to say, ‘Aggie up.’ That was our big message this week. We were lying in the mud… It’s time to get back up and put our boots on.”

    More: NMSU women’s coaches and athletes express support for a potential $137 million donation

    Aggies greenlight Brandon Nunez

    NM State returned to a familiar formation against LA Tech.

    The Aggies used a “full house” formation several times last season, with a quarterback lining up as he would in a pistol formation with one player on each side and a running back behind him. Sanchez had senior quarterback Brandon Nunez practice in the formation all season and waited for an opportunity to use it.

    “It’s something we’ve talked about to change things,” Sánchez said. “It’s just something we’ve had over the years, and we talked about it (more) this week.”

    He felt the timing for it was right after Nunez had “the best week of practice he’s ever had,” and it paid off. The Aggies scored both of their second half touchdowns using the formation, with Nunez scoring on option plays. Sophomore quarterback Parker Awad, who started for the injured Santino Marucci, continued to play after Nunez’s first touchdown in the third quarter, but Sanchez made the final switch to Nunez on NM State’s final offensive drive in regulation.

    Nunez played three full drives, all ending with points. After cheering on three quarterbacks before him, including senior Deuce Hogan, Nunez was happy with his opportunity.

    “It was an amazing feeling,” Nunez said. “I came in every day, laid my head down and kept grinding. God’s perfect will will be done. That’s exactly what happened. I can only give all the glory to Him.”

    Nunez completed four of seven passes for 49 yards and rushed for 30 yards and two touchdowns in his first NM State game.

    More: New Mexico State men’s golf wins NB3 Match Play in upset, women finish fourth

    Kale Edwards makes for a thirsty NM State defense

    The Aggies entered Tuesday’s game with five sacks, the worst in CUSA this season. Kale Edwards provided a matchup that lightened the Aggies’ fortunes.

    The senior defensive end and Montana transfer had his first four sacks for NM State and was involved in all five of the Aggies’ total sacks. Junior defensive end Justin Beadles and redshirt freshman defensive tackle Gabe Jones earned half-sacks alongside Edwards.

    The lack of sacks weighed on Edwards and NM State’s defense, and he hopes Tuesday’s game has lifted some of the burden.

    “We carry it on our shoulders that we’ve only had five,” Edwards said. “You have to put in the work to make (more sacks) happen, and we did that.”

    Sanchez gave credit to defensive coordinator Joe Morris, believing his coaching made the Aggies’ defense hungrier.

    “Coach Morris did a good job of piling on the pressure,” Sánchez said. “We were very aggressive early on, and there were times in the third quarter where I felt like we were more aggressive. I think that pushes some of these guys to make some of those plays.”

    The Aggies recorded five sacks in a game for the first time since playing Liberty in October 2018.

    Vaseline
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like