MOSCOW, Idaho – Quarterback Chase Holbrook set a New Mexico State single-game record, completing 78.7 percent of his 47 passes, but the Aggie football team could only muster up 14 points in a 20-14 loss to Idaho Saturday at the Kibbie Dome.
Down by six with under a minute and a half to play, the Aggies got the ball at their own 34-yardline. A 26-yard completion to Kenneth Buckley on a fourth down put NMSU in Idaho territory. But as time was running out, Idaho (2-7, 1-4 WAC) picked off a Holbrook pass near the end zone to end the game.
The Aggie defense only allowed 103 yards of total offense and just six points in the second half after giving up 227 yards in the first half. NMSU (3-4, 1-2 WAC) was able to move the ball after a sluggish first half, but three turnovers in the last two quarters prevented the Aggies from scoring in the second half.
“Hats off to Idaho,” head coach Hal Mumme said. “They came out fired up and we didn’t execute on offense today like we needed to. I thought the defense played pretty well today, especially against the pass. We gave up a few yards on the ground, but overall it was a good defensive effort. We need to regroup and get ready for Boise State now.”
Holbrook completed 37 of his 47 passes for 324 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. Breaking Buck Pierce’s old record of a 77.1 percent completion percentage, he now owns 32 school total offense and passing records.
Wide receiver Chris Williams tied his career-high with 13 catches that went for 112 yards and he had both Aggie touchdowns. This marked Williams’ fourth straight 100-yard receiving game and his fifth overall this season.
Senior free safety Derrick Richardson led the Aggie defense with 16 tackles, which is the third time this season he has record 15 or more tackles.
Idaho running back Princeton McCarty finished with 160 yards of the Vandals 271 yards on the ground and he had one touchdown. UI was only able to pass for 59 yards in the game and the Aggies picked off quarterback Nathan Enderle two times.
The Vandals got on the scoreboard first Saturday with a 54-yard touchdown run by Princeton McCarty at 9:40 of the first quarter. Following a missed 51-yard field goal by Idaho’s Tino Amancio, the Aggies drove down 66 yards on eight plays to tie the game up. Holbrook hit Williams on a screen pass that he took 18 yards down the sideline into the end zone for NMSU’s first score of the game.
New Mexico State took its first lead with five minutes before halftime on Holbrook’s second TD pass to Williams. This one was set-up by a Nick Paden interception and on the score Williams juked his defender out of his shoes to walk in for the 13-yard TD.
Idaho tied the game up with just over a minute before halftime on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Enderle to Daniel Hardy. The Vandal’s threatened to put more points on the board in the final minute after Justin Allen picked off a tipped Holbrook pass at the Aggie 33. Idaho drove back down into the red zone, but Alphonso Powell picked the right time to intercept his first career pass to keep it tied at the half.
After gaining 227 yards of total offense in the first half, the Aggies held the Vandal’s to just 57 yards in the third quarter. Idaho did get three points on a 52-yard Amancio field goal at 2:47 following a fumble by NMSU’s Tonny Glynn.
On NMSU’s ensuing possession, Holbrook drove the Aggies down to the Idaho 17-yardline, but a mishandled snap on a third down at the start of the fourth quarter kept them down by three.
Much like the third quarter, Idaho kept the Aggies’ offense at bay for the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter. However with under eight minutes to go, a 38-yard Holbrook completion to Williams led to a 48-yard Kyle Hughes field goal attempt. Hughes missed it wide to the right and the Vandals gained possession with 5:19 left in the game.
Idaho then ran off nearly four minutes as they drove down to the NMSU 34-yardline and with 1:29 left in the game Amancio made a 51-yard field goal to put Idaho up, 20-14.
NMSU got the ball on its own 34-yardline after the kickoff, but a sack on first down put them back 10 yards. Then on fourth-and-10 with under 30 seconds to go Holbrook hit Kenneth Buckley who made an outstanding leaping catch at the Idaho 40.
However, several plays later Holbrook’s heave to the end zone was intercepted, ending the game with the Idaho victory.
Courtesy: Tim Barnett-Queen
