An Important Win; Maybe the Start of Good Things!

A lot of 0-3 teams getting off to an 0-16 start early in the second quarter of their fourth game, and on the road, would just figure, “It’s not our year.”

That’s not what our Aztecs did in Las Cruces. They shut out New Mexico State for the final 42 minutes and 52 seconds, and scored 26 unanswered points to win, 26-16.

They did it with a defense that came alive and shut the door. And with a balanced offense –212 yards passing and 229 yards rushing.  The brightest factor was a banner performance by RB Donnel Pumphrey, whose speed and elusiveness made the difference. He ran for 167 net yards, averaging 8.8 yards a carry, and scored three TDs, one on a brilliant 43-yard run.

Donnel Pumphrey scores his first of three TDs vs. New Mexico State (Photo by Ernie Anderson)

If there was a true “turning point,” it may well have been an odd one. After the Aggies scored their second touchdown at the start of the second quarter, and appeared to be on their way to a big upset, the Aztecs blocked the PAT try and David Lamar returned it all the way for a 2-point score. I am convinced you could sense a here-we-go-again attitude in the Aggies. 

David Lamar returns a blocked PAT for a defensive 2-point conversion (Photo by Ken Ables)

Suffice it say, they never scored again. And, more significant, after rolling up 170 yards to that point, the Aggies had only 98 yards the rest of the way.

Now, with a Friday night game here against Nevada, let’s see if we can get off to a fast start! 

Go Aztecs!