Meanwhile, the Lobos, positioned 76th in passing offense and 34th in rushing offense nationally, pose a balanced offensive threat.
Lobo Quarterback Dylan Hopkins will play his final FBS college football game; he leads the Lobos with 1960 yards passing (178.2, 146-252 with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Freshman Quarterback Devon Dampier has rushed for 297 yards (27.0 per game) on 51 carries with two touchdowns.
Jacory Merritt’s team-high 941 rushing yards (85.5 per game) have come on 157 carries, with 16 touchdowns this year. WR Caleb Medford’s 526 receiving yards (47.8 yards per game) lead all receivers on the team. He’s totaled 29 receptions and two touchdowns.
He was followed by Jeremiah Hixon’s 433-yard season so far (39.4 receiving yards per game) with five touchdowns, reeling in 35 passes.
D.J. Washington’s 27 receptions have turned into 333 yards (30.3 ypg), three touchdowns, and Andrew Erickson’s 17 catches, 221 yards, and a touchdown.
The Aggie Defense will face one of the premier running backs in the Mountain Conference and all FBS football.
He is called “Bill” by family and friends, and this transfer from Alabama State has been impressive for this OC Vincent Bryant offense, having scored over 16 touchdowns and 957 yards rushing for the year.
“He is 43 yards short of reaching 1000 yards for his first year with the Lobos. He runs behind the very large Offensive Line coach, Cam Blankenship.”
And he was listed as the second-best performance of running backs on the top 50 running backs of the week listed on twitter.
Bill will be back, along with Dorian Lewis, who was injured with a foot injury and will be back next season.
Defensively, the Lobos have faced challenges, ranking 120th in scoring defense. However, their recent performance against Fresno State showcased resilience and the ability to capitalize on turnovers.
The Lobo secondary has faced significant challenges this year, primarily due to a multitude of injuries, such as the absence of starting wolf Tavian Combs due to injury.
Consequently, the secondary is now predominantly composed of first- and second-year students.
These young players have been thrown into the proverbial baptism of fire, contending against offensive coordinators from the Mountain West Conference who are very aware of their opponent’s youthful secondary.
Some of the Aggie’s key players this year: Quarterback Cooper Legas has thrown for 1,815 yards while completing 64.8% of his passes (138-of-213), with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions this year (165.0 yards per game). He’s also carried the ball 68 times for 122 yards, averaging 11.1 yards per game.
Aggie’s running game, led by Davon Booth, has run for a team-high 691 yards on 109 carries (62.8 yards per game) and five touchdowns. RB Rahsul Faison has rushed for 582 yards on 87 carries (52.9 yards per game), with four touchdowns on the ground this year.
Leading the Aggies in receptions would be Jalen Royals, who has 61 receptions for a team-high 934 receiving yards (84.9 per game) and 12 touchdowns, and Terrell Vaughn has contributed with 809 yards (on 76 catches) and ten touchdowns.
Micah Davis has caught 36 passes for 628 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 57.1 yards per game this year.
Blake Anderson is known for an up-tempo style of offense and uses every inch of the field, so this will be a big challenge for this young Lobo secondary.
The reality of this game is the offense that has the majority of the time of possession to keep the opposing team’s offense off the field will have a clear advantage.
Especially given the fact that the defenses of both of these teams are a clear work in progress.
As kickoff approaches, keep an eye on key players’ statuses, including the availability of quarterbacks Hillstead and Legas for Utah State for this Blake Anderson team.
This Black Friday clash promises Mountain West Football fans an exhilarating battle on the gridiron, with both teams hungry for victory and a memorable conclusion to the regular season.
Depending on the developments this week, both teams might need their primary starting quarterback as this game starts; Aggie Quarterbacks Legas and McCae are listed as up in the air if they play Friday.
Both teams have struggled defensively throughout the season, suggesting the potential for a high-scoring matchup.
Utah State is driven by the prospect of becoming bowl-eligible with a win, adding extra motivation.
On the other hand, after an impressive showing against Fresno State, New Mexico may have exhausted their resources in that game, possibly affecting their performance here.
Expect a high-scoring matchup away, where the team displaying superior defensive prowess holds a distinct advantage.
The point spread is too close to predict the outcome confidently. Still, the Lobos will narrowly defeat the Aggies at home, virtually securing Danny Gonzales’s contract for his fifth year next season.
The injuries to the Aggies’ quarterback position are poised to have a notable impact on the game, providing an opportunity for the Lobo defense to excel on home turf.
Following the Boise State game, some of the Aggies’ key players, including starting quarterbacks, running backs, and other positions, are questionable.
While it’s that time of the year when all teams contend with injuries to crucial players, I firmly believe the Lobos are less hampered. This advantage is likely to influence the outcome of the game.
As a result, the four seniors stand to conclude their college careers as winners.
Prediction: New Mexico 31, Utah State 28
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