Late score lifts Aggies in thrilling Battle of I-10

After falling behind by 21 points in the first quarter, NM State (4-7, 2-5 CUSA) came storming back before TK King eventually scored the game-winning touchdown with just 21 seconds on the clock to defeat UTEP (2-9, 1-6 CUSA), 34-31, in the 102nd installment of the Battle of I-10. This marks the Aggies' first road win of the 2025 campaign and serves as the Aggies’ second straight win over the Miners in El Paso.

Offensively, the Aggies produced their second-highest scoring total of the season as Adam Damante finished the game 29-of-41 for 253 yards and three touchdowns in his first start as an Aggie. Damante hooked up with Donovan Faupel for two touchdowns as Faupel concluded the night with nine catches for 78 yards.

NM State also recorded its best rushing effort of the season, finishing with 194 total rushing yards. This effort was led by an 11-carry, 106-yard night for Dijon Stanley, who became the first 100-yard rusher for the Aggies this season.

Defensively, Stilton McKelvey came away with his first career interception to extend the Aggies’ streak of games with a turnover to 11, recording one in every game this season. After allowing 21 points in the first nine minutes and four seconds of the game, the NM State defense gave up just 10 points across the following 50 minutes and 56 seconds.

Following an empty first drive for the Aggies, UTEP used a 56-yard run from Ashten Emory to set up for a rushing touchdown from Skyler Locklear, giving the home side an early advantage. Just two plays later, NM State turned the ball over as a Damante pass deflected into the hands of a UTEP defender. UTEP scored on the ensuing play as Emory rushed 30 yards up the middle and into the end zone to give the Miners a 14-0 lead with 8:13 left on the clock.

Moments later, another Aggie miscue gave the Miners the ball on the NM State 41-yard line. The Miners then drove for their third touchdown of the quarter to take a 21-0 lead.

Eventually, the Aggie offense got things going, and on a drive that included a third-down conversion to Brodie Malone-Bradford, the Aggies used 12 plays to move the ball 75 yards and into the end zone for their first score of the game. The lengthy drive was capped off by an 8-yard touchdown pass from Damante to Faupel, Damante’s first touchdown throw as an Aggie.

After forcing a punt, a drive highlighted by back-to-back plays of 20-plus yards, the Aggies scored another touchdown. Damante again leaned on Faupel, lobbing a jump ball that Faupel muscled away from the UTEP defender. 

After a forced three-and-out by the NM State defense, all it took was one play for Dijon Stanley to scamper in for a 57-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game with 5:15 left on the clock in the first half.

The third quarter started with a Stilton McKelvey interception on a pass that Locklear appeared to be throwing away. While the Aggies were not able to turn the interception into points, the pick set the tone for a quarter in which UTEP threw for just four yards on five attempts.

After a defensive stop and 12-play drive on offense, Aggie kicker David Barker gave the Aggies their first lead of the game, nailing a 46-yard field goal to make it 24-21 with 5:09 left in the third quarter. The Miners tied it on 22-yard field goal heading into the fourth quarter.

NMSU started the fourth quarter with a 24-yard Barker field goal to cap a 12-play drive to give the Aggies a 27-24 lead. This lead held until the 56-second mark, when UTEP scored the go-ahead touchdown to finish off a drive that included two fourth-down conversions.

Unphased, Damante began the following drive with a 21-yard completion to TK King, then found PJ Johnson III for 10 yards to move the ball into Miner territory. With just 33 seconds on the clock, offensive coordinator David Yost caught the UTEP defense off guard with a running play up the middle that saw Dijon Stanley take the ball 25 yards to the UTEP 10-yard line with 29 seconds remaining. One play later, Damante found King along the end line for the game-winning score.

The Aggies will compete in their final contest of the 2025 campaign Saturday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. as they take on Middle Tennessee in the seventh meeting between the two teams. The battle between the Aggies and Blue Raiders will take place in Aggie Memorial Stadium.