It wasn't the marquee game on the college football schedule.
From a national standpoint, it was far from it.
But for the New Mexico State Aggies and New Mexico Lobos, Saturday night's rivalry contest in Las Cruces was of vital importance for two teams desperate to reach the win column.
And it was the Aggies who came out on top, with a 16-14 win thanks to a Tyler Stampler 22-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in the game.
Just ask Aggie head coach DeWayne Walker where this one stacked up compared to other rivalry wins in his career.
"I'm going to enjoy this win just as well as I did when (Walker was defensive coordinator at UCLA) we beat (Southern California) and stopped them from going to the national championship," he said. "What this football team's gone through (during an 11-game losing streak prior) has been a struggle....This was something this football program needs and it couldn't come at a better time."
The Aggies are now 1-4 and have a lot of work in front of them as they continue to build the program. But the team does have a win under its belt, which is a good place to start.
"It's been tough," Walker said. "We lost seven straight last year, we're on a four-game losing streak this year and these kids continue to work and listen to us....I'm just so happy for our players and our coaches to continue and give me a good days work. This is sweet for our football team."
Like any win, a handful of players contributed to the
victory.
Freshman quarterback Andrew Manley was inserted into the game with five minutes remaining, just enough to drive the team 40 yards inside the 10-yard line where Stampler booted through the game winner.
Manley, who had his redshirt season burned at the expense of helping his team to victory, looks to be the future of the Aggie program.
"They told me to be ready, anything can happen," Manley said. "When my number was called, I just went out there and had fun."
Sophomore running back Robert Clay saw the most extensive action of his Aggie career and played a big role in the game's outcome.
Clay carried the ball 11 times for 44 yards — a 4.0 yards-per-carry average — and also made key plays on special teams — none bigger than his recovery of a muffed punt in the endzone for a second-quarter touchdown. The score cut the Aggie deficit to 14-13 going into halftime.
Clay credited special teams coach Keith Murphy for the heads-up play. The two had a meeting on Monday morning where Murphy told his player that new Lobo return man Ty Kirk could put the ball on the ground.
"Coach Murph's like a special teams guru," Clay said. "He knows his stuff. He always puts us in a good position to win."
The Aggies got their first two sacks of the year and forced five turnovers.
Both sacks came from defensive end Donte Savage, who tallied nine tackles total, four tackles-for-a-loss and two forced fumbles.
"It felt like the monkey got off my shoulder, personally," Savage said. "Every week, just keep working and working, and it finally came. And, from that (first) sack, I just kept rolling. I had to keep it going."
And, of course, there was Stampler, a transfer from Ventura College who made three field goals — a 39-yarder, a 34-yarder and the game-winner from 22-yards out.
"He was money tonight," Walker said. "Hopefully he continues making some money for us."
It was an ugly game for both teams, who played as advertised — as two of college football's most struggling programs. While the Lobos were mistake prone in turning the ball over five times, the Aggies hardly attempted a forward pass for much of the evening and were stuck in an ultra-conservative offensive gameplan with backup quarterback Tanner Rust getting the start for the injured Matt Christian.
Both teams combined for 16 penalties for 190 yards.
In the end, it was the Aggies who were able to celebrate the win.
"I just thought that it was a team effort and that's the only way this team's gonna win football games," Walker said. "We've got to do it as a team."
