Albeit the Aggies have played some impressive . . .
at
Central Michigan (3-3, 2-1 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 12 -- 3 p.m. ET
Kelly/Shorts Stadium -- Mt. Pleasant, MI
ESPN3
Series: First Meeting
ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE
-- After scoring a total of 27 points over their first three games, the Aggies erupted for 52 against New Mexico -- and still lost (55-52).
-- The Aggies last outing was a 20-13 loss to Liberty. Despite trailing 10-0 at halftime, State tied the game at 13-0 with Jason Huntley's 12-yard run at 7:4 of the fourth quarter. Liberty answer quickly, however, covering 75 yards in four plays to score the winning touchdown.
-- NMSU actually out-gained Liberty 396-334. However, the Aggies had three turnovers, while Liberty played a turnover-free game.
Both teams were heavily penalized (Liberty 9/-102) (NMSU 14/-94).
-- State is scoring 18.2 ppg and allowing 42.7 ppg. NMSU has scored 14 points off turnovers and allowed 57 off its miscues.
-- Josh Adkins has completed 149 of 236 pass atempts (63.1%), producing 1,475 yards and six touchdowns (with 11 interceptions).
-- Jason Huntley is averaging 6.6 ypg (57/375)and has three TDs.
-- The Aggies had a season-high four sacks against Liberty.
-- The Chippewas blitzed Eastern Michigan last week, rolling out to a 28-3 lead by midway through the third quarter.
-- Central outgained EMU 587-285 overall and held the Eagles to 2 of 12 on third down conversions.
-- CMU gained 308 on the ground, while holding Eastern to 63 rushing yards.
-- News brok earlier this week that quarterbck David Moore was being suspended by the NCAA after he tested positive for a banned substance. While the school is appealing, Moore is suspended and unavailable. That moves Quinten Dormady back into the starting role. He was the Chippewas starter early, but Moore moved in after Dormady was injured. Domady returned to practice a week ago. Senior Tom Lazzaro is also available in the backup role.
-- Running back Jonathan Ward provided two chunk plays against Eastern as he scored on an 86-yard touchdown run, a career long for Ward and CMU's longest TD run since 2013, and on a 64-yard pass play, on which he took a short over-the-middle pass from Moore and simply outran the defense to the goal line. Another came courtesy of Kalil Pimpleton and Moore on an 80-yard pass play.
Ward, a senior, finished with 205 yards from scrimmage, earning the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week Award.
-- CMU is sixth among MAC teams in scoring (25.3 ppg) and fifth in scoring defense (28.3 ppg).
-- CMU leads the MAC in rush defense (100.3 ypg). It is ninth in pass defense and fifth in pass defense efficiency. The Chippewas are third in total defense (365.0 pg).
-- Central leads the league in sacks (18).
-- Sophomore Kalil Pimpleton is first among MAC receivers in receptions (40, 410 yards, 3 TDs)