Across the Cougar sideline: Scouting the New Mexico State Aggies


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The BYU Cougars head to Las Cruces, N.M., this weekend to face the New Mexico State Aggies in their last game of the regular season.

New Mexico State is having a rough season with a 1-9 record, with the only win coming against Sacramento State the first week of the season.

The Aggies are coming off a bye week but faced San Jose State the week before and lost 47-7.

New Mexico State is lead by head coach DeWayne Walker, who is in his fourth season as head coach.

This will be the second meeting between the teams. The Aggies traveled to Provo last year and were defeated 42-7.

Offense

New Mexico State running back Tiger Powell (20) scores a touchdown as Auburn linebacker Cassanova McKinzy (30) and defensive end Nosa Eguae (94) defends (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
New Mexico State running back Tiger Powell (20) scores a touchdown as Auburn linebacker Cassanova McKinzy (30) and defensive end Nosa Eguae (94) defends (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

The New Mexico State offense tries to perform well, but the main problem facing this team is turnovers.

The offense is led by sophomore quarterback Andrew Manley. Manley has completed 178 of 331 this season for 2,358 yards, 10 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Manley completed 7 of 18 for 46 yards and two interceptions against San Jose State.

Junior running back Germi Morrison is the leading rusher for the Aggies with 580 yards and one touchdown this season. Against San Jose State, Morrison rushed for 50 yards.

Sophomore wide receiver Austin Franklin also helps propel this offense and is the team’s leading receiver and scorer.

Franklin has 66 receptions for 1,135 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Against San Jose State, Franklin had only two receptions for 16 yards.

Defense

The leading tackler for the Aggies is Davis Cazares with 100 tackles. Cazares is also credited with a forced fumble and a blocked kick.

Against San Jose State, Cazares was the leading defender with nine tackles.

Another defensive star for New Mexico State is junior linebacker Trashaun Nixon. Nixon is the defensive player who does it all.

Nixon has 79 tackles, two quarterback sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery

Jeremy Harris also plays a large role for the defense with 47 tackles, nine broken-up passes and two forced fumbles.

This game should be an easy win for BYU. It should be a time for the team to rest injured quarterback Riley Nelson and showcase James Lark as quarterback.

Ashley Anderson is a senior at BYU majoring in public relations with the hope of one day having a career in sports public relations.

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Ashley Anderson

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