This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Logan • Utah State's season full of frustrating losses continued Saturday night at Maverik Stadium.
New Mexico's Jason Sanders kicked a 40-yard field goal with 1:06 to play, leading the Lobos to a 24-21 victory over the Aggies.
Utah State appeared to win the game on a Kent Myers-to-Ron'Quavion touchdown pass with 16 seconds left, but the officials called Tarver for offensive pass interference and wiped out the score.
On the next play, Myers was tackled inbounds and the clock ran out before a tying field goal could be attempted.
Utah State lost for the sixth time in seven games, despite owning a 21-6 lead early in the third quarter.
The Aggies dropped to 3-7 overall and 1-6 in the Mountain West Conference. The Lobos improved to 7-3 and 5-1 with their fifth straight victory.
Looking for only its second win since Sept. 16, Utah State got off to a quick start against New Mexico.
After holding the Lobos on downs at their 38 on the opening possession of the game, the Aggies marched 61 yards in eight plays. They took a 7-0 lead when Tonny Lindsey Jr. ran 13 yards for a touchdown with 5:56 left in the first quarter.
Myers was 5-for-5 on the drive, including a 26-yarder to Andrew Rodriguez on a third-and-eight.
After New Mexico went three-and-out, Utah State scored again. Back-up quarterback Damion Hobbs gained 12 yards to the Aggie 41 on first down and, five players later Myers hit Tarver on a 22-yard slant for a touchdown.
New Mexico made it 14-3 on Sanders' 36-yard field goal early in the second quarter before the Lobos threatened again.
On the next possession, New Mexico moved from its own 23 to the Utah State 20. The 15-play drive ended, however, when Aggie linebackers Anthony Williams and Brock Carmen stuffed Lobo running back Richard McQuarley on fourth-and-one.
New Mexico closed the gap with 44 seconds left in the half when Sanders drilled a 37-yard field goal, which made it 14-6.
At halftime, New Mexico owned a 213-150 advantage in total yards. The Lobos also held the ball for 21:03 but could not get into the end zone.
Utah State received the second-half kickoff and, after starting at the 15 because of a holding penalty, it drove 85 yards in only six plays. Lindsey scored his second touchdown on a four-yard run to give the Aggies a 21-6 lead.
It didn't last long.
New Mexico went back to its ball control option attack and methodically marched down the field. With the help of two offside penalties by Utah State's defensive line, the Lobos made it 21-13 with 6:40 remaining on the third quarter on Teriyon Gipson's five-yard touchdown run.
The Aggies failed to move on their next possession and a 29-yard punt triggered New Mexico's tying touchdown drove. After Gipson scored on a four-yard run to narrow Utah State's lead to 21-19, McQuarley converted a two-point conversion on a pitch from quarterback Austin Apodaca with 2:24 left in the third quarter.
Utah State played field-position perfectly to position itself score the go-ahead touchdown with less than six minutes left.
On fourth-and-10 from the New Mexico 39, Aaron Dalton's punt was down at the Lobo six. The Aggie defense forced a three-and-out and Utah State regained possession at its own 37 with 8:46 remaining.
After picking up one first down, Myers hit Tarver for 41 yards and a first down at the Lobo nine.
On fourth-and-one, however, Lindsey was stopped a foot short of the goal line and the Lobos took over. With the help of a pass interference penalty, they moved to the Utah State 24 and won the game on Sanders' kick.
Twitter: @sluhm —
Storylines
• New Mexico's Jason Sanders kicks a 40-yard field goal with 1:06 left to lift the Lobos to a 24-21 win over Utah State.
• Tonny Lindsey rushes for two touchdowns but the the Aggies fall to 3-7 overall and 1-6 in the Mountain West Conference.
• Utah State returns to action next Saturday when the Aggies travel to Nevada.