A silver lining for New Mexico State was receiving $1.6 million to play Tennessee. It was an otherwise forgettable day in Knoxville as the Aggies (3-7) fell 42-9 to the Volunteers (7-3) on Saturday, Nov. 15, on the road.
UT scored three consecutive touchdowns during a stretch in the first half, with the first two coming after a turnover on downs and an interception, respectively. The third for the Volunteers came on a 13-play, 99-yard drive after Aggies punter Max Dean had a punt downed at the one-yard line.
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NM State’s two interceptions extended its streak of multiple takeaways in a game to seven in a row. Defensive end Jamall Thompson Jr. snatched the ball away from UT tight end Miles Kitselman for the first one with 10:12 in the first quarter, and pressure from defensive lineman Ezra Christensen forced an inaccurate throw and a pick for defensive back Bernock Iya with 8:20 in the second quarter.
The Aggies didn’t score any points off either of them. They were just one of six FBS teams to have earned 20 or more takeaways entering the game, but they’re the only one with a losing record.
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The Volunteers tacked on three more touchdowns in the second half. One of them was a pick-six from defensive back William Wright in the third quarter after defensive lineman Tyre West tipped a pass up into the air.
The interception was thrown by NM State backup quarterback Adam Damante, who entered late in the third quarter for starter Logan Fife. Fife took a hard hit from UT linebacker Jadon Perlotte with 7:31 in the third quarter, but stayed in the game for the next play on fourth-and-four. The incompletion he threw was his last play of the game, as Damante played from then on.
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Fife finished at 23-for-34 passing for 166 yards and one interception, and Damante had 147 yards on 12-for-18 passing. The Aggies scored their lone touchdown with 7:47 remaining on a one-yard rush from running back Isaiah Rudison.
Here are three more takeaways from the game:
Thomas haunts former team with score
Aggies fans might remember Star Thomas, the running back who was once scoring against New Mexico and helping NM State pull off an upset of Auburn. On Saturday, he was making plays against the Aggies.
Thomas took an outside handoff going right, broke multiple tackles and darted forward for a 21-yard touchdown with 10:46 in the third quarter. Thomas was one of six UT running backs to receive a carry on Saturday and ended with five carries for 30 yards.
Thomas spent two seasons with NM State from 2022-23 and was a key player in its success during both. He rushed for 1,173 yards and nine touchdowns and tallied 351 receiving yards with five receiving touchdowns as an Aggie.
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Thomas was one of dozens of players to leave NM State after the 2023 season, transferring to Duke for the 2024 season before ending up with the Volunteers.
Four Aggies go down
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NM State got the injury bug at Neyland Stadium.
The first Aggie to get hurt was wide receiver PJ Johnson III, who suffered a lower-body injury after gaining 14 yards on a screen pass with 5:23 in the first quarter. He was seen crouching on the sideline after exiting the game, but returned a few plays later.
Running back Kadarius Calloway, NM State’s leading rusher with 313 yards entering Saturday, was the next to get hurt after being thrown down by UT defensive lineman Dominic Bailey after a one-yard gain. He exited the game with 8:09 in the second quarter and didn’t return.
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Defensive tackle Cole Schnettgoecke suffered a leg injury with 44 seconds left in the first half after being taken down by an offensive lineman while looking to shed a block. He got up while the play was ongoing, but went back down when it ended before walking off the field on his own power. Schnettgoecke returned to the game on the Volunteers’ first drive after halftime.
Fife’s injury followed in the third quarter, with NM State coach Tony Sanchez saying postgame that Damante’s continued presence was a result of his starter not feeling 100%.
Barker nails first collegiate field goal
A hematoma forced Ryan Hawk to miss Saturday’s game, and a true freshman stepped up in his place.
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The 27-year-old Australian converted his first collegiate field goal from 32 yards out with 1:25 in the second quarter. The Aggies almost scored a 15-yard touchdown on the previous play, but a third-down jump ball to wide receiver Brodie Malone-Bradford was broken up by Volunteers cornerback Colton Hood.
Barker comes from the ProKick Australia academy, which helps Australians earn college football and NFL opportunities as kickers and punters. He was NM State’s first-string kicker during spring football before Hawk announced his transfer from Valparaiso on March 31.
Barker missed an extra point off the upright on the Aggies’ only touchdown later in the game. He’s also NM State’s backup punter and took all six of its punts in last week’s defeat to Kennesaw State.
Scoring summary
NM State 9, UT 42 (7:47 4th)
Isaiah Rudison rushes for a one-yard touchdown. David Barker missed the extra point off the upright.
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NM State 3, UT 42 (1:24 3rd)
Tyre West tipped an Adam Damante pass up into the air before it was intercepted by William Wright. He took it 35 yards back for a touchdown.
NM State 3, UT 35 (2:35 3rd)
Peyton Lewis powers forward for a one-yard touchdown.
NM State 3, UT 28 (10:46 3rd)
Star Thomas, a former Aggies running back, rushes for a 21-yard touchdown.
NM State 3, UT 21 (1:25 2nd)
Barker kicks a 32-yard field goal, the freshman’s first as an Aggie.
NM State 0, UT 21 (11:24 2nd)
Braylon Staley catches a 15-yard touchdown with one hand.
NM State 0, UT 14 (5:43 1st)
Quarterback Joey Aguilar rushes for a 27-yard touchdown.
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NM State 0, UT 7 (7:54 1st)
DeSean Bishop rushes for a one-yard touchdown.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Takeaways from NMSU football’s defeat to Tennessee
