Although it was a rough start to the Scotty Walden Era, the finale to the new head coach’s first season couldn’t have been any more poetic.
After having to agonizingly watch New Mexico State University hoist the Silver Spade Trophy, and the Mayor’s Cup, the two awards that switch between the winner of each year’s rivalry game– in home turf, UTEP went into Las Cruces on a mission, and left enemy ground with their picks up.
Despite facing a 24-7 deficit, the Miners epitomized their slogan of “Win the West,” and rallied to an offensive spectacle, and a defensive shutdown to claim a 42-35 win against the Aggies in the 101st Battle of I-10.
The Miners took an early lead after Aggie sophomore quarterback Parker Awad was crushed in the pocket and fumbled the ball, scooping it up and speeding to the end zone was senior defensive end Bryton Thompson.
NMSU found a groove after their early mistake. In their second offensive drive senior kicker Abraham Montano drove a 59-yard field goal try through the posts, marking the longest field goal made in NMSU history. The Aggies followed the historic kick with three unanswered touchdowns, two of which were passes from Awad, the other being a run by junior running back Mike Washington.
Possibly the biggest roadblock that UTEP had to overcome in Saturday’s win was NMSU’s potent rushing game. Running backs Seth McGowan and Washington have rushed for a combined 1,548 yards, and punched 11 touchdowns, which makes up the majority of the Aggies’ season scores in the endzone.
Walden’s unit ended up losing the ground game to NMSU, but the “orange swarm” defense found success in attacking the passing game, recording a season high eight sacks, and two fumble recoveries.
The “blue blaze” offense didn’t let NMSU’s lead hinder their belief. In nine plays, sophomore quarterback Skylar Locklear led the Miners to a touchdown that would decrease the Aggie lead to 10. The drive at the end of the first half was highlighted by two deep passes to senior receiver Trey Goodman and was capped off with a two-yard run by junior Jevon Jackson, UTEP’s leading rusher.
Special teams for NMSU were stout leading up to rivalry week, only missing four field goals before the season finale, yet the Aggies went on to miss three versus UTEP. Two of those occurred on consecutive drives, causing the Aggies to end the first, and start the second half on a whimper.
When getting the ball back, Locklear took a chance at going deep and completed a 69-yard pass to junior ‘Miner Back’ Kam Thomas. The long ball set up Jackson’s second touchdown of the day and cut NMSU’s advantage to three.
Since both teams missed their chances at a bowl, paired with the Aggies’ abysmal day on special teams, head coach Tony Sanchez decided to gamble and go for a fourth down and seven at UTEP’s 34-yard line with a three-point lead.
Awad couldn’t complete a pass on the play, turning NMSU’s risk into a UTEP touchdown from the arm of Locklear, who fired a 30-yard pass to sophomore receiver Kenny Odom to give the Miners their first lead since the start of the game.
On their next series inside Miner territory the Aggies decided to be conservative and kick the field goal, yet the only number the Aggies increased was the number of missed kicks from two to three total.
Both teams traded punts early in the fourth quarter, but awaiting the Aggie kick was Thomas, who all season long has been trying to define what being a “Miner Back” means. The junior showcased the validity of the position by returning the NMSU punt from 93-yards out to the house, extending UTEP’s lead by 11.
Thomas tied the UTEP record for longest punt return touchdown and stands beside Reggie Mathew’s 1966 return vs San Jose State, in the history books.
Another scoop and score from Thompson dug NMSU a hole too deep to get out of, as the highlight of this year’s Miner football team, the defense came up with the game winning play.
Though NSMU made a touchdown with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter along with a field goal, the Aggies’ effort still fell short 42-35.
Upon the blow of the final whistle, Scotty Walden was carried on the shoulders of his players holding their hard-fought silver spade shovel, and cup. “This was a program defining victory,” said Walden in Saturday’s press conference. “Today was all about these guys and the will to win.”
This season might not have been the prettiest, but leading a comeback against your greatest foe makes a good case that UTEP’s “Win the West” mentality is alive and well.
Sebastian Perez-Navarro is a staff reporter for The Prospector and can be reached at [email protected]
