LAS CRUCES – New Mexico State’s most important drive of Monday’s Quick Lane Bowl victory only traveled 43 yards and didn’t result in any points.
The Aggies were able to bleed the final 6:27 off the clock to seal a 24-19 victory over Bowling Green at Ford Field in Detroit. The Aggies had to convert four times on third down and quarterback Diego Pavia converted three times with his legs.
But before we dive into the Aggies final possession, punter George Eberle could have saved the game for the Aggies. The Aggies kicking game struggled in the second half, surrendering a kickoff return touchdown and a short punt earlier in the game. Bowling Green blocked Eberle’s fourth punt was blocked and a Bowling Green player had a line on the ball for a touchdown recovery, but Eberle was the first to the ball to make it a safety rather than a touchdown, saving the Aggies five points.
Pavia’s first third down conversion was a third and 9 run. Pavia looks his left, but eventually feels the pressure from the back side and steps up. Bowling Green’s safety looks like he is spying Pavia and ultimately forces a fumble as Pavia reaches for the first down, but Pavia recovered and the Aggies moved the chains.
The Aggies appeared to have a more manageable third and 5 on the next series, but a false start on receiver Chris Bellamy made it a third and 10. Bowling Green sends six players in pressure and play man-to-man. Pavia immediately escapes to his right, but he has to outrun a blitzing defensive back and dive across the marker and out of bounds.
Pavia only threw for 30 yards in the second half, but six of those yards were on a third and 5 from midfield for six yards to Kordell David. Bowling Green is again in man free. The Bowling Green boundary safety looks like he makes a mistake by double teaming the tight end, leaving a corner to cover both David and running back Star Thomas in the flat. Pavia probably could have hit Thomas in the flat, but David makes an adjustment on the throw just behind him to convert the third down at the Bowling Green 44.
Pavia said postgame that he wants the ball in his hands in the game’s crucial moments, and he kept for the final conversion on a read option play on third and 2 at the Bowling Green 36. Bowling Green stacks the box to stop the run, but the defensive end goes too wide at the snap and Pavia made him pay. If the defensive end sits, Bowling Green likely stops the play, but he didn’t and the Aggies converted for a final time.
Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.
Source link : https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/2022/12/30/new-mexico-state-film-room-aggies-game-sealing-drive-ices-bowl-game-win/69767522007/
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Publish date : 2022-12-26 03:00:00
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