It’s a battle of .500 teams as bowl season rolls on when one of the nation’s lone remaining independent programs takes on a member of the MAC in the Motor City. The New Mexico State Aggies make the trip to face the Bowling Green Falcons in the Quick Lane Bowl on Monday afternoon. New Mexico State finished the regular season 6-6: they flattened FCS program Valparaiso 65-3 at home in their regular season finale December 3, covering the line as a 31.5-point favorite. Bowling Green ended the regular season 6-6 as they were flattened 38-14 by Ohio on the road in their finale November 22 as a 5.5-point underdog. This marks the first time that the two programs have met as FBS opponents on the gridiron.
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New Mexico State started the year 1-5 but won five of their final six games to finish the year at .500 and earn a bowl bid for the first time since 2017. The Aggies are 6-6 on the season with their signature win a 49-14 road demolition of Liberty. Against Valparaiso, New Mexico State bolted to a 21-0 lead after the opening quarter and wasn’t challenged the rest of the way. The Aggies led 35-3 at the half and poured it on in the second half: quarterback Diego Pavia threw for 323 yards and four scores despite completing only nine passes. New Mexico State rolled up a 621-188 advantage in total offense and picked up 20 first downs while allowing 15 in the win. The big play strikes overshadowed that the Aggies committed the game’s only turnover while getting demolished 40:09 to 19:51 in time of possession in the contest.
For the year, the Aggies are 120th in the nation in passing offense with 169.3 yards per game while they are 66th in rushing offense with 155.5 yards per contest. New Mexico State stands 81st in the FBS in scoring offense as they put up an average of 25.6 points per game while they are 53rd in scoring defense by allowing 24.3 points per contest. Gavin Frakes is 55 of 110 passing for 736 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions along with 143 rushing yards plus two scores. Diego Pavia is 84 of 161 for 1,236 yards with 11 touchdowns against five interceptions while adding 443 yards and six scores on the ground. Star Thomas leads the team with 99 carries for 477 yards plus five scores on the ground this season. Jamoni Jones (102 carries, 368 yards, six TD) and Tim Gans (26 carries, 127 yards, TD) are also in the mix for the Aggies. Justice Powers has 19 catches for a team-leading 398 yards plus a score. Kordell David (19 grabs, 289 yards, four TD), Jonathan Brady (19 receptions, 267 yards, three TD) a nd Bryce Childress (15 catches, 211 yards, TD) each have gone over the 200-yard receiving yard mark this season. Brett Money has hit all 11 extra point attempts and is one of two on field goal attempts with a long of while Ethan Albertson is 27 of 28 on extra points and six of nine on field goal attempts with a long of 45 this season.