LAS CRUCES, N.M.-Junior running back Seth Smith recorded his third 100-plus yard rushing game of the season, but the New Mexico State football team fell to Fresno State, 34-3, Saturday, Oct. 24, at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, N.M. The game was nationally televised on ESPNU.
Smith ended the game with 105 yards on 19 carries. As a team, the Aggies out rushed the Bulldogs, 238-189, including 78 yards from sophomore quarterback Jeff Fleming.
“In the first half I thought the defense played really well,” head coach DeWayne Walker said. “I thought for most of the night the defense played well enough for us to win, but we couldn’t score points.”
The Aggies earned the first points of the game on a sophomore kicker Kyle Hughes’ 32-yard field goal. The score resulted from a career-long 70-yard rush from Smith.
On Fresno State’s following series, the NM State defense collected its first takeaway of the contest when junior defensive tackle Chris Romero recovered a junior quarterback Ryan Colburn fumble. The pick-up was Romero’s career first. The Aggies couldn’t convert on the turnover because of a missed 42-yard field goal.
The Aggies contained the Bulldogs in the red zone when junior defensive back Davon House intercepted a Colburn pass in the end zone. The pick was the eighth of House’s career, and he now owns the No. 10 spot on NM State’s all-time interception list.
Fresno State claimed a 7-3 lead when junior defensive back Lorne Bell returned a redshirt freshman Trevor Walls’ interception 17 yards for a touchdown. On their following possession, the Bulldogs added a 23-yard field goal for a 10-3 advantage.
Fleming sparked the Aggie ground game when he entered the game with seven-play, 67-yard drive. The Aggies were stopped as junior linebacker Ben Jacobs blocked a Hughes 30-yard field goal.
Fresno State finished the first half with a 43-yard field goal to take a 13-3 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, the Bulldogs committed their third turnover of the game when sophomore defensive end Donte Savage forced a fumble. Senior defensive back Chris Buckner recovered the ball for the Aggies at their own 16-yard line.
The Aggies take a break from WAC play and travel to Ohio State, Saturday, Oct. 31.
Courtesy: New Mexico State University
