EL PASO, TEXAS — Under the fading desert light and the roar of two fan bases divided by just 40 miles, Nov. 22’s Battle of I-10 delivered a spectacle that will echo across the Southwest for years to come.
New Mexico State and UTEP collided in a thriller that embodied everything college football is meant to be: chaotic, emotional, explosive and unforgettable. When the final second drained from the clock, the Aggies emerged with a dramatic 34-31 victory in a game that instantly cemented itself as one of the greatest chapters in this century-old rivalry.
The game began in shocking fashion as UTEP came out throwing haymakers. The Miners attacked early and often, surging to a 21-0 lead before the Aggies could find their footing.
A tough, driving touchdown run by UTEP quarterback Skyler Locklear opened the scoring.
A slicing, breakaway 30-yard run by running back Ashten Emory followed moments later, cutting through the Aggie defense for a second score.
Then, a perfectly executed 27-yard pass from Locklear to wide receiver Wondame Davis Jr. put the Miners up three touchdowns, sending the UTEP sideline into celebration and leaving fans from Las Cruces stunned.
For a moment, it looked like the Miners were on the verge of a statement blowout. However, rivalry games do not fold easily. NMSU responded with heart, urgency and belief that refused to be shaken.
The Aggies flipped the entire tone of the game in the second quarter, led by quarterback Adam Damante, who made his first start of the season. His composure set the shift in motion. Damante commanded the offense with confidence, completing sharp throws, sustaining drives and refusing to buckle under the pressure of an early deficit.
NMSU struck back through the air with a series of well-crafted passes from Damante to wide receiver Donovan Faupel, who finished in the end zone for the first two touchdowns, finally putting the Aggies on the board.
Moments later, the stadium erupted when NMSU running back Dijon Stanley delivered an explosive 57-yard touchdown. The Aggies fed off the momentum, energy and noise. Suddenly, a 21-point hole had transformed into a 21–21 tie at halftime. What once looked like a runaway was now a heavyweight fight.
The second half unfolded like a movie. Every possession mattered and each play carried the intensity of a season. NMSU took its first lead of the night with a composed drive capped by a 46-yard field goal from David Barker, making it 24-21 and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Miner kicker Tanner Cragun responded by nailing a 22-yard field goal to tie the game, but Barker once again delivered with a 24-yard kick to take the lead back.
UTEP, fueled by pride and urgency, refused to let the game slip away. Locklear orchestrated a brilliant late-game drive. With under a minute left, he dropped a beautifully thrown 28-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kenny Odom that reclaimed the lead at 31–27, sending the Miner sideline into celebration.
It felt, for a moment, like UTEP had reclaimed control of the day, but rivalry games seldom end simply and this Battle of I-10 still had one final masterpiece left.
With just seconds remaining, Damante took the field needing 75 yards. What followed was a moment that will live forever in Aggie lore. Damante, calm and fearless, completed sideline throws with precision, navigated defensive pressure and marched NMSU down field with the poise of a veteran.
Every completion drew louder cheers and each yard brought the stadium closer to eruption. Then, with just seconds left, Damante delivered the throw of the night with a perfectly placed 10-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver TK King in the back of the end zone, sealing a breathtaking comeback and giving the Aggies a 34–31 lead. The stadium shook as NMSU completed its dramatic victory.
Damante went 29-for-41 passing for 253 passing yards with three touchdowns and an interception.
The Aggie run game added explosive moments that changed the course of the game, while the defense stepped up when it mattered most.
On the other sideline, Locklear went 16-for-30 passing for 151 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He fought with heart and determination, delivering touchdowns on the ground and through the air, refusing to let UTEP go down quietly.
NMSU Offensive Coordinator David Yost said the team came up big when the game was on the line.
“Players make plays more than the play call, so we knew who we wanted and TK did a great job getting open and Adam made a great throw,” Yost said. “We just did so much to ourselves early and then they kind of did a great job of settling down and we just start our run game and that started hitting.”
This chapter of the Battle of I-10 was more than a score. It was a story of resilience, momentum swings, emotional highs and lows, and two teams pouring everything onto the field. It reminded fans why this rivalry is one of the Southwest’s most cherished traditions, passed down through generations.
Looking ahead, NMSU carries this season-defining victory into their matchup against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, riding a wave of confidence and momentum. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
UTEP will regroup and travel to face the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens, determined to rebound and prove their toughness once again. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. MT Saturday, Nov. 29, at Delaware Stadium in Newark, De.
For Las Cruces, under the glow of stadium lights and pride of a borderland city, this game became an instant classic. It was a night of unforgettable plays, unforgettable heart and a rivalry strengthened by another dramatic chapter.
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