LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Following a 10-day hiatus, NM State is set to return to action on Saturday as it hosts the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky in the penultimate home game of the season. The Aggie football game scheduled to kickoff at 4 p.m. will bookend a slew of Homecoming activities taking place throughout the week.
The Aggies will look to return to the win column following a road loss at FIU last Tuesday. A win for the Crimson and White would mark the Aggies' second consecutive win in front of their home crowd after they took down LA Tech in double overtime in their previous contest at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
Saturday's bout against the team currently sitting atop the CUSA standings will also represent just the second time that the Aggies and Hilltoppers meet on the gridiron and first time doing so in Las Cruces.
WEEK SIX
Who: NM State vs.
Western Kentucky
Where: Las Cruces, N.M. – Aggie Memorial Stadium (28,853) When: Saturday, November 9, 2024 – 4 p.m. MT PICK SIX
3 - The Aggies are seeking their third consecutive season with three or more wins at home - a feat they had not accomplished since 2017 prior to the 2022 season.
10 - Following a performance worthy of CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week honors, kicker Abraham Montaño remains 10th in the nation in field goal percentage at 92.3% (12 of 13).
4 - Following a trio of #WeekdayCUSA games, NM State will return to Saturday gamedays for the final four games of the 2024 season with two coming in Aggie Memorial Stadium.
1 - Saturday will mark the first-ever time that the Aggies play host to Western Kentucky and will be just the second meeting between the two programs.
200 - NM State rushed for a total of 216 yards last Tuesday at FIU to mark the fourth time this season Aggie rushers have combined to eclipse 200 yards in a game.
8 - With eight field goals across five Conference USA games, the Aggies are tied for first in the league in total field goals in conference games.
GOOD TO BE HOME
NM State will return to the friendly confines of Aggie Memorial Stadium for Homecoming on Saturday where it holds an 11-5 record across the last three seasons, including rattling off five wins in six games last season.
This season, the Aggies' only two wins have come in front of their home crowd as they defeated SEMO in the home opener before knocking off LA Tech in double overtime in their last home contest.
Like the Aggies, Conference USA teams have struggled to win on the road this season and have posted a 9-31 road record through 10 weeks while maintaining a 26-16 record in home games.
MONEY MONTAÑO
Senior kicker Abraham Montaño continued his stellar season as he connected on attempts from 57 yards out and 53 yards out in the Aggies' road tilt at FIU last week.
The 57-yarder he made in the second quarter is tied for the longest kick in program history and is tied for the fourth-longest kick in CUSA history. This is also the longest kick from any CUSA kicker since 2012 and is tied for the 10thlongest kick at the FBS level this season.
Later, Montaño would make a 53-yarder to become the first Aggie kicker since 1978 to have two kicks of 50-plus yards in a single game. He also becomes just the second FBS kicker this season to make two kicks of 50 yards or longer in a single game - joining Florida State's Ryan Fitzgerald who made a 59-yarder and a 52yarder versus Georgia Tech on Aug. 24.
On the season, Montaño is now 12-of-13 on field goal attempts to rank tied for 10th in the nation in field goal percentage at 92.3%.
ENDING THE STREAK
In their last home game, the Aggies came away with a hard-fought 33-30 victory over LA Tech in double overtime. This put an end to a five-game losing streak which marked the longest such streak since the 2021 season. This victory also marked the Aggies' first double overtime game since 2005.
AGGIE MEMORIAL MIRACLE
Arguably the play of the year for the Aggies came on the final play of regulation against LA Tech when defensive tackle Naki Fahina busted through the line to block a potential game-winning field goal from the Bulldogs. This blocked field goal marked the first time that the Aggies had blocked a field goal since Oct. 4, 2014, when they did so against Georgia Southern.
This also marks the Aggies' second blocked kick of the season which is good for 16th-most in the nation this year.
Following two seasons at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., Sanchez began his Aggie playing career in 1994. During his time, Sanchez made 54 catches for 741 yards and five touchdowns to help the Aggies win seven games. His career was highlighted by a senior season in which he tallied 42 catches for 576 yards and four touchdowns.
Sanchez's first win as a player came on Sept. 17, 1994, in El Paso, Texas, where the Aggies earned a 23-22 come-from-behind victory over UTEP after falling behind 19-0 to open the game.
WHERE TO WATCH THE AGGIES
After eight of the Aggies' 15 games were featured on national networks in 2023, including three of the final four contests, the Aggies will once again have their opportunities in the spotlight in 2024. Entering the year, NM State is slated to play six of its 12 games on a national network. This weekend, Aggie fans can tune in to ESPN+ to catch the Aggies' Homecoming bout.
WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE AGGIES
Once again, all games this season will air live on 99.5 FM KXPZ for those in Las Cruces and the surrounding areas. Additionally, all home games will be available in Spanish on 96.7 FM La Equis. Radio broadcasts for all Aggie games will also be available to listen to nationwide via the TuneIn App. Radio play-byplay will be provided by Jack Nixon with analysis provided by former Aggie running back Cory Lucas.
ONE FINAL RIDE
NM State broadcaster Jack Nixon returns for his 45th and final year of broadcasting Aggie athletics for the NM State radio network. A legend on the Aggie airwaves, Nixon begins the 2024 football season with 500 games under his belt in addition to over 1,400 basketball games.
For much of the season, the 'Voice of the Aggies' and NM State Hall of Fame selection, Nixon will handle the radio duties alongside former Aggie Cory Lucas, who joined the broadcaster ahead of the 2017 season.