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Mike Washington scores the winning goal against LA Tech after a suspension in the first quarter

Posted on by Kennedy
Mike Washington scores the winning goal against LA Tech after a suspension in the first quarter

Mike Washington stood on the sidelines, 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 for a team meeting. It only lasted a minute, but head coach Tony Sanchez felt he couldn't tolerate it and suspended him for the first quarter.

“I will not sacrifice any of our values,” Sanchez said. “We will do things right. We're going to build this thing right. It's a small thing, but it's poignant. It is important.”

Washington didn't make an impression after returning, with just 15 rushing yards on six carries in regulation time. But with the game tied at 24-24 with three seconds left, the Aggies blocked a Bulldogs field goal and sent the game into overtime. He would get more opportunities and the Buffalo transfer took off.

Washington received a handoff on a second-and-goal play at the four-yard line with NM State trailing 30-27. He jumped to his right and shot into the front right corner of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. The Aggies (2-5, 1-3 Conference USA) ended their five-game losing streak and defeated the Bulldogs (2-4, 1-2 CUSA) at home, 33-30, for their first overtime victory since the win over Utah State's season brought it to the 2017 Arizona Bowl.

As the game began, Washington considered his approach. When it ended, he was the hero.

“When he came in, he got his chance and I’m so happy for him,” Sanchez said. “It’s a testament to his character. He could have easily looked me in the face and said, 'Screw it, coach…' But he didn't… He practiced how to pull the dick off all week. He's great.” Child. He will be a person who will continue to be well.

Sanchez used many methods to motivate himself after the Aggies' 54-13 loss to 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 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 is a story of people getting hit on the back,” Sanchez said. “We had to say, 'Aggie up.' That was our big message this week. We were lying in the dirt… It's time to get back up and put our boots on.

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Aggies give Brandon Nunez the green light

NM State returned to a familiar formation against LA Tech.

The Aggies used a “full house” formation several times last season, in which a quarterback lined up like a pistol formation with a player on each side and a running back behind him. Sanchez had senior quarterback Brandon Nunez practicing in the formation all season, waiting for a chance to take advantage.

“We talked about it to make a change,” Sanchez said. “It’s just something we’ve had over the last few years and we talked (more) about it this week.”

He felt the time had come after Nunez had “the best week of training he’s ever had,” and it paid off. The Aggies scored both second-half touchdowns using this formation, with Nunez scoring on option plays. Sophomore quarterback Parker Awad, starting for the injured Santino Marucci, continued playing after Nunez's first touchdown in the third quarter, but Sanchez switched to Nunez for good on NM State's final offensive attack of the regular season.

Nunez played three full drives and all ended in points. After cheering on three quarterbacks ahead of him, including senior Deuce Hogan, Nunez was excited about his chance.

“It was a great feeling,” Nunez said. “I came in every day, put my head down and continued to ponder. God's perfect will will be done. That's exactly what happened. I can only give Him all the glory.”

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

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Kale Edwards anchors NM State's sack-thirsty defense

The Aggies entered Tuesday's game with five sacks, the worst in the CUSA this season. Kale Edwards delivered a match that brightened the fortunes of the Aggies.

The senior defensive end and Montana transfer recorded his first four sacks for NM State and was a part of all five of the Aggies' sacks overall. Junior defensive end Justin Beadles and redshirt freshman defensive tackle Gabe Jones earned half-sacks alongside Edwards.

The lack of sacks put a strain on Edwards and NM State's defense, and he hopes Tuesday's game removed that strain.

“We carried it on our shoulders that we only had five (sacks),” Edwards said. “You have to do the job for (more sacks) to happen, and we did that.”

Sanchez praised defensive coordinator Joe Morris for this, believing his coaching made the Aggies' defense hungrier.

“Coach Morris did a good job of building pressure,” Sanchez said. “We were really aggressive early on, and there were times in the third quarter where I felt like we were more aggressive. I think that’s what gets some of these guys to make some of these plays.”

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

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