LAS CRUCES, N.M.-In the 2009 home finale, the New Mexico State football team fell to Nevada, 63-20, Saturday, Nov. 21, at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, N.M. Sophomore quarterback Jeff Fleming and junior wide receiver Marcus Allen connected for a pair of Aggie touchdowns.
Fleming was 8-for-19 while Allen led the squad with 52 yards on five receptions along with 159 yards on kick returns. Defensively, senior linebacker Ross Conner and junior defensive back Stephon Hatchett paced the Aggies with 13 tackles each.
On Nevada’s first play of the game, sophomore defensive end Pierre Fils forced a fumble, his third of the season, that sophomore defensive end Donte Savage recovered. The Wolf Pack turnover set up NM State’s first score of the contest, a 31-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Kyle Hughes, to take a 3-0 lead.
The explosive Nevada offense responded with four touchdowns before the Aggies could score again. NM State utilized a seven-play, 66-yard drive before Hughes booted his second field goal of the game from 21 yards to cut the Wolf Pack advantage to 28-6 at the 14:51 mark of the second quarter. Nevada scored two additional touchdowns to take a 42-6 lead into the halftime break.
In the fourth quarter, the Wolf Pack muffed a punt that the Aggies recovered at the Nevada 14-yard line. The NM State offense took advantage of the opportunity when Fleming threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Allen. The score was Allen’s first touchdown and Fleming’s third passing touchdown of the season.
On the Aggies’ next drive, Fleming found Allen again for an 11-yard touchdown reception. With the extra point, Hughes made his 45th consecutive PAT. The score highlighted a 10-play, 88-yard drive that spanned 6:25 on the final series.
NM State concludes the season with two road games and the Aggies take on San Jose State, Saturday, Nov. 28, at 6 p.m., in San Jose, Calif.
Courtesy: New Mexico State University
