LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The New Mexico State football team started the 2025 season with a 19-3 victory over FCS opponent Bryant University Aug. 30, at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
With the win, NMSU now has a 1-0 win-loss record to open the year for a second consecutive season against FCS teams. They defeated Southeast Missouri State University 23-16 Aug. 31, 2024, at home.
The last time the Aggies began 1-0 two straight years was 2006-07. They claimed victory against FCS Southeastern Louisiana University both seasons, beating them 30-15 Aug. 31, 2006, and 35-14 Aug. 30, 2007, at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
Despite winning the season opener last year, NMSU finished just 3-9 (2-6 in Conference USA). They faced offensive struggles, especially at the quarterback position.
Solidifying the starting quarterback prior to the first game was a point of emphasis for head coach Tony Sanchez, and Logan Fife has been the option since spring. He went 14-for-31 passing for 227 yards with a touchdown and interception in his debut.
Even though the Aggies secured the win, there were offensive struggles. Fife took accountability for this.
“I just have to be more consistent,” Fife said in the postgame press conference. “I got to do a better job talking to these guys, being in their ear before every drive and just being composed.”
Despite not playing the way he wanted, Fife still enjoyed the gameday experience.
“It exceeded my expectations and hearing the cowbells was my favorite part,” Fife said. “My high school has a tradition of doing cowbells, so that felt like I was just right at home.”
Even though the offense had a hard time finding its rhythm, the defense did not disappoint. They held the Bryant Bulldogs to one score on 13 offensive drives.
The Aggies allowed only 255 total yards. They also forced Bryant to go 0-for-2 on fourth-down conversions and 6-for-18 on third downs.
As a team, NMSU had three sacks and seven tackles for a loss. Defensive end Jamall Thompson Jr. accounted for two sacks and three of his own tackles for a loss.
The Aggies did not score on their first drive, but the defense did not allow Bryant to put up points either. This allowed NMSU to take a lead to start the season for the first time since 2022.
Fife connected with wide receiver PJ Johnson III on a 24-yard pass to give the Aggies an early 6-0 advantage.
Other receivers who made a name for themselves includes Donovan Faupel, who caught five passes for 99 yards. Gavin Harris caught three passes for 44 yards.
Following the touchdown, kicker Ryan Hawk got his extra-point kick (XP) blocked. Despite this, he went a perfect 2/2 on field goal attempts and 1/2 on XP.
The Bulldogs bounced back and put themselves in field-goal range. Kicker Bryce Soli knocked down a 43-yard field goal to cut the deficit to three.
The Aggies led 6-3 to end the first quarter. Hawk made a 41-yarder to give them a six-point cushion early in the second quarter.
These were the last points scored by either team until the fourth quarter, resulting in a 9-3 advantage for NMSU at the end of both the second and third periods.
The Aggies finally broke the scoring drought with a 27-yard field goal by Hawk at the beginning of the fourth quarter to give them a 9-point lead.
The NMSU defense followed this up with a stop. The offense then put together a 61-yard drive, where running back Kadarius Calloway gave the Aggies breathing room with a rushing touchdown at the mid-way point in the final period to put them up 18-3.
Calloway rushed for 50 yards on 12 carries during the game, but was not the only one to make noise. Running back Dijon Stanley rushed for 32 yards on 10 carries.
The Aggies planned on attempting a two-point conversion but a false start forced them to go for the extra-point kick, which Hawk buried.
On the following drive, Bryant quarterback Brennan Myer threw a pass that was intercepted by NMSU cornerback Jakobe Campbell.
Despite being unable to capitalize on the Bulldogs turnover, the 16-point advantage was enough to get the job done.
Sanchez was happy to get the win, but knows there is improvement to be made.
“It’s good to be 1-0,” Sanchez said. “We have a lot of stuff we’re going to have to correct. I thought we were a little uncharacteristically undisciplined.”
NMSU will be back in action against the University of Tulsa at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 at home. This is the third straight season the Aggies will play its first two games at home to begin the year.
If the Aggies start 2-0, it will be the first time they do so since the 2014 season. They edged out a 28-10 victory over FCS California Polytechnic State University Aug. 28, at Aggie Memorial Stadium and a 34-31 win against Georgia State University Sept. 6, on the road at the Georgia Dome.
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