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The Santa Fe New Mexican
Aggies, seeking top spot in CUSA, face Jacksonville State on Wednesday
- Story byThe Santa Fe New Mexican
- Aggies, seeking top spot in CUSA, face Jacksonville State on Wednesday
LAS CRUCES — After securing its first road win of the season, the New Mexico State football team returns home to host Jacksonville State in a game that could vault the Aggies to within half a game of the top spot in Conference USA.
It's the fourth — and last — appearance on the Weekday CUSA schedule that has had NMSU play four straight midweek league games.
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The story of last week's outing was winning in the trenches. The Aggies controlled the line of scrimmage throughout, particularly on the final drive, when they ran out the final four minutes to prevent Sam Houston from getting the ball back. NMSU coach Tony Sanchez credited the offensive line for its role in closing out the game.
"When everybody in the stadium knows you're going to run the ball and you continue to be able to do so, that's a big deal," Sanchez said. "That's a testament to the offensive line."
The Aggies have found success when they are able to run the ball, notching all three of their wins when rushing for at least 150 yards as a team. New Mexico State is 0-4 when it fails to reach that mark.
The Aggies rushed for 203 yards against the Bearkats, marking the third time this season they have reached their mythical magic number. Running back James Jones led the way with a career-high 178 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown.
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New Mexico State's defense did its part, controlling the line of scrimmage by holding Sam Houston to just 11 rushing yards on 20 carries. The Aggies had seven tackles for a loss.
The Aggies' secondary has also recorded an interception in every CUSA game this season, providing another way for the defense to disrupt opposing offenses.
Freshman safety Xavier Rucker is a player to watch after transitioning from running back to safety. Rucker recorded three tackles against Sam Houston and earned Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors for his performance.
With injuries thinning the Aggies' safety room, Rucker's athleticism caught the coaching staff's attention and earned him an opportunity on defense. His emergence gives NMSU another option in the secondary heading into a matchup in which they'll need it going against the Gamecocks offense.
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The Aggies' recent defensive success will be tested against a Jacksonville State offense ranked second in CUSA in total yardage, averaging 27.3 points per game and just north of 390 yards per game. The Aggies, meanwhile, rank third in total defense and first in the conference in run defense, setting up a matchup between two of the league's top units.
On the other side of the ball, quarterback Adam Damante settled into the game early as the running game helped establish the offense. He finished the game with 160 yards through the air, throwing an interception and two touchdown passes to AJ Williams III.
Damante has begun to get more comfortable as the starter, finding opportunities to make plays through the air. Despite the inconsistencies, Sanchez believes the quarterback is continuing to develop and is no longer playing with the concern of being replaced.
However, the Aggies will need to improve their efficiency on third down to sustain drives against Jacksonville State. Last week, NMSU converted just third-down attempts and is converting 37.8% on the season.
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Extending possessions will be important for an offense that has relied on its running game to control the pace and keep opposing offenses off the field, especially against a Gamecocks team that has started CUSA play 3-0.
With an opportunity to improve to .500 overall and strengthen their position in the conference standings, the Aggies will need to limit turnovers. They lead CUSA with 13 giveaways, leaving little room for mistakes against a squad that has taken advantage of its opponents' miscues.
