Just after 1 a.m. ET on the East Coast and 11 p.m. ET in your local time zone, the bizarre standalone matchup that captured the nation’s attention finally came to a close.
Tuesday night’s Conference USA matchup between Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State took 60 minutes of regulation time and two overtimes to determine a winner, but the clock ended at 11 p.m. in the Mountains. When the time was right, New Mexico State running back Mike Washington jumped back. He took a handoff to the perimeter and trotted into the end zone for the winning touchdown.
Washington’s walk-off score gave the Aggies a 33-30 double-overtime victory over Louisiana Tech, snatching victory from the brink of defeat. But the celebration in Las Cruces would never have happened without the special teams performing in heroic fashion. On the final play of regulation, Louisiana Tech set up a 26-yard field goal up the middle to tie the game. But what seemed like a likely kick wasn’t guaranteed. New Mexico State blocked Buck Buchanan’s attempt and the game was extended into overtime.
In the first overtime, both teams barely made field goals, with New Mexico State scoring on a right hash and Louisiana Tech scoring one on a knuckleball just inside the left hash. The wild kicking saga extended into two overtimes as the Bulldogs established a 30-27 lead with a field goal. New Mexico State didn’t have to rely on kicks in the two overtimes. Quarterback Brandon Nunez found Kordell Davis on the second play of the period for a 16-yard gain that inched the Aggies toward the goal line and set up the game-winning four points for Washington. . Running in the garden.
It was a back-and-forth battle from beginning to end, with six lead changes. New Mexico State took the lead about three minutes into the game when starting quarterback Parker Awad connected with TJ Pride for a 53-yard touchdown. Louisiana Tech took its first lead one minute before halftime on Omiri Wiggins’ touchdown run, but the Aggies had enough time for a 48-yard field goal. This proved crucial in a game tied at the end of the fourth quarter.
The Aggies led at the end of the third quarter, but Louisiana Tech took full control in the fourth with the reliable connection of Evan Bullock and True Edwards. Edwards had nine receptions, 102 yards for his third 100-yard game of the season, and his second touchdown reception of the night with 4:54 to play, giving the Bulldogs a 24-17 advantage. Ta.
At a critical point in the game, New Mexico State elected to make a quarterback change, replacing Awad with Brandon Nunez. Awad led the offense down the field with a series of quick passes and targeted penalties, driving the Aggies to the Louisiana Tech 13-yard line. Once he reached No. 13, Nunez called his number on two consecutive rushing plays and powered into the end zone on a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:41 remaining.
At this point, Louisiana Tech wasn’t happy about going into overtime. Wiggins had a 22-yard run and Edwards had 17-yard receptions on third-and-15 yards, pushing the Bulldogs deep into Aggie territory. With Buchanan making his only attempt of the night (a 41-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter), Louisiana Tech put full faith in its kicking game. However, the Aggies refused to take the kick at the line of scrimmage, earning their first FBS and CUSA win under head coach Tony Sanchez.
Key playmakers contributing to New Mexico State’s home win included Seth McGowan and Cale Edwards. McGowan continued to move his sticks on the offensive side of the ball, gaining 69 rushing yards on Tuesday night, the most by a ball carrier. Edwards dominated the defense that night with four sacks and one quarterback rush, and his pass rush helped keep Louisiana Tech from achieving the same offensive numbers it achieved last week against Middle Tennessee. did.
Louisiana Tech (2-4, 1-2 CUSA) hasn’t won back-to-back games since 2020, when it defeated UAB on Oct. 31, 2020 and North Texas on Dec. 3, 2020. 19 related cancellations. The Bulldogs went 0-2 in overtime in 2024, but five of the six games were decided by 10 points or less, and close games were not uncommon. They return home for Tuesday night’s contest and hope to match last year’s win total when UTEP visits Ruston, Louisiana next week.
New Mexico State (2-5, 1-3 CUSA) finally qualified with a conference win. The Aggies struggled mightily on the road, but they played consistently well in Las Cruces, improving to 2-2 at home in 2024. New Mexico State currently enters the bye week riding a wave of positive momentum, having won two straight against Louisiana Tech since joining CUSA. The Aggies will play FIU next Tuesday, Oct. 29, at Pitbull Stadium.
