Featured photo by Josh McDaniel, Louisiana Tech
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs had a golden opportunity to get their third win of the season Tuesday night against New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M.
With 3 seconds left and the game tied at 24, they lined up for a 27-yard field goal attempt by Buck Buchanan. Surely the ‘Dogs would soon be celebrating.
But the Aggies’ Malaki Ta’ase blocked the kick and the game went into overtime.
Tech had a chance to win in the first overtime after holding NMS to a field goal. But the Bulldogs gained only six yards and Buchanan made 37-yard field goal to send the game into a second overtime tied at 27.
Tech went on offense first and couldn’t get a first down. Buchanan gave the Bulldogs a 30-27 lead with a 36-yard kick.
On second-and-7, New Mexico State’s Brandon Nunez completed a 16-yard pass to Kordell David to the 4. One play later Mike Washington scored on a 5-yard run, giving the Aggies a stunning 33-30 victory.
New Mexico State (2-5, 1-3 Conference USA) snapped a five-game losing streak. Tech dropped to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
It was Tech’s second overtime loss. The Bulldogs have three losses by seven points or less. The other was by 10.
“It was a tough game,” Tech Head Coach Sonny Cumbie said in his postgame press conference. “The biggest takeaway from me on down, I don’t know if we gathered our team’s attention like we should have.
“We had chances to make plays on all three sides of the football. That is disappointing.”
“Our team has to be able to handle what we did five days ago (a 48-21 win over Middle Tennessee). Everybody in this league can win. When you let a team hang around like we did, you are going to be in for a ball game. We just did not make the plays we needed.”
The four-hour contest was tight all the way.
After a scoreless first quarter in which neither did much offensively, the Aggies took a 7-0 lead on a 53-yard pass from Parker Awad to TJ Pride.
Tech answered with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The Bulldogs converted four third downs, including a 7-yard pass from Bullock to Tru Edwards for the score.
Tech took a 14-7 lead on a 1-yard run by Omiri Wiggins with 1:12 left in the half.
But with 4 seconds left, NMS cut the lead to 14-10 on a 48-yard field goal by Abraham Montano.
The Aggies regained the lead on their first possession of the third quarter, going 88 yards in 11 plays. They converted four third downs, including two third-and-10s. Nunez scored on a 7-yard run and the Bulldogs trailed 17-14.
That was the only score of the third quarter.
Buchanan kicked a 41-yard field goal to tie it at 17 with 12:11 left.
After forcing a punt, the Bulldogs took a 24-17 lead on a 10-play, 80-yard drive.
Bullock hit Jay Wilkerson for 32 yards on the second play. Jimmy Holiday picked up 3 yards on fourth-and-3 from the Aggies 23.
One play later Bullock connected with Edwards for a 15-yard touchdown with 4:54 left.
NMS then went 75 yards to tie it on a 4-yard run by Nunez with 1:41 left in the game
The Bulldogs then drove 66 in 11 plays, including a 17-yard pass to Edwards on third-and-15 and a 22-yard run by Wiggins, for the potential game-winning field goal that was not to be.
After a slow start, Bullock completed 22-of-41 passes for 225 yards. Edwards had nine catches for 102 yards.
Wiggins had a team-high 60 yards rushing on 13 carries. Amani Givens had 57 on 10.
Kolbe Fields led the defense with eight solo and 10 total tackles.
NMS starting quarterback Awad completed 11-of-22 passes for 155!yards before giving way to Nunez, who completed 4-of-7 for 49 yards.
The Aggies had success on the ground, rushing for 160 yards.
Tech had nine penalties for 93 yards. NMS had just four for 30. The Bulldogs had no turnovers. The Aggies had two on muffed punts.
The Bulldogs play the second of three straight Tuesday night games next week. The will host UTEP at 7 o’clock. The Miners (0-6, 0-3) host FIU Wednesday night.