The New Mexico State University athletics department and football staff ask all Aggie fans to join in honoring the 15 departing seniors as they play in the final home game of their career. The list of seniors includes the following: Travaughn Colwell, Joseph Matthews, Adam Shapiro, Clint Barnard, Anthony Joyner, Jerrel Brown, Maxwell Johnson, Brandon Betancourt, Cyrus Chenault, Kelly Kingseed, Dior Moore, Jay Eakins, Valerian Ume-Ezoke, Ryan Arbelaez, Andrew Dean.
NM State Football on the Radio
The New Mexico State flagship radio station for football and men’s basketball is changing from 103.9 FM to 98.7 FM in Las Cruces. All football and men’s basketball games will be aired live and in their entirety.
This move took effect for the first home football game on Thursday, August 28 at 6 p.m. (MT).
The flagship station this year will be 98.7 FM of the NM State Sports Network, which extends across the state of New Mexico. Other stations in the network carry all football and men’s basketball games and include:
• KNMZ 107.1FM Alamogordo
• ESPN 101.7 The Team Albuquerque/Rio Rancho
• KSVP 990AM Artesia
• KAMQ 1240AM Carlsbad
Looking Back
The Aggies fell at home to Louisiana [Lafayette] 44-16, Saturday, Nov. 8. The loss was the Aggies eighth straight, moving them to 2-8 overall and 1-5 in conference play.
Although the Aggies jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter, NM State couldn’t seem to catch the Ragin’ Cajuns. UL Lafayette scored four consecutive touchdowns after the Aggie’s first field goal and never looked back holding the Aggies to only two touchdowns. The Ragin’ Cajuns ended with six touchdowns on the night.
NM State’s leading rusher for the night Xavier Hall, carried the ball for 47 yards on 19 attempts with one touchdown. Aggies quarterback Tyler Rogers went 19-for-34 for 204 yards and one touchdown. NM State leading receiver Teldrick Morgan had a 198-yard game with eight receptions for 117 yards, a kickoff return for 25 yards and punt return for 56 yards.
The Aggies are 3-0 against ULM in their series history. The first time the teams met was Sept. 29. 2001. The Aggies won 31-0 over the Warhawks in Monroe, La.
The last time the two teams met was Oct. 25, 2003, where the Aggies beat the Warhawks 21-14 in Louisiana. The Aggies are undefeated against UL-Monroe and have not met since the Aggies were playing in SBC from 2001-03.
About the Warhawks
The Warhawks enter the game versus NM State with a 3-7 overall record and a 2-4 Sun Belt Conference record after falling to Louisiana [Lafayette] 34-27 in Monroe, Saturday, Nov. 15. The Warhawks have now lost six straight with their last win coming on September 27 when they defeated Troy 22-20 at home.
ULM is coached by Todd Berry, who is a 31-year coaching veteran. He is in his fifth season as the ULM head coach and was hired as the program’s 14th head coach in December of 2009.
The Aggies will look to take on Arkansas State, Nov. 29 on the road in Jonesboro, AR. The Aggies are 6-2 against the Red Wolves in the series history.
The two teams first met on Sept. 11, 1993, where the Aggies went on the road to beat the Red Wolves 22-19. The last meeting between the two teams took place on Nov. 15, 2003 in another close game where the Aggies lost 28-24.
Arkansas State is currently 4-2 in the SBC and 6-4 overall.
Stephen Meredith Records Two Sacks
Stephen Meredith recorded two sacks in the Aggies 44-16 loss to UL Lafayette Nov. 8. Not only a career-high for Meredith and a season-high for the team, but the last time an NM State player had two sacks was when David Niumatalolo accomplished it against New Mexico on Oct. 1, 2011.
Meredith has recorded nine tackles, five-solo and four-assisted on the season, as well as 2.5 tackles for a loss of 20 yards. Meredith’s two sacks were for a loss of 19 yards.
Meredith has the Aggies only blocked kick (PAT) of the year, coming in a 36-28 loss against Georgia Southern on Oct. 4. The blocked PAT was the first allowed by Georgia Southern on the season and the first for the Aggies.
Featured Seniors
Travaughn Colwell
Senior Travaughn Colwell has been one of the best all-around Aggies to come thru the Aggie football program. He has played in a total of 35 games in the Crimson and White seeing time at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and most recently, defensive back. As a freshman in 2011, Colwell threw for 419 yards on 39-of-60 passing with two touchdowns. He played seven games at quarterback in 2012 while also being named to the Academic All-WAC team that year. Colwell rushed for 77 yards on 22 carries during the 2013 year while also pulling in a reception for 36 yards. The one reception was his first career touchdown reception against Louisiana on November 2 in Lafayette. Colwell has been playing at the defensive back position in 2014 as has tallied 13 tackles with a career-high five tackles against Georgia Southern on October 4.
Brandon Betancourt
Betancourt has played in 25 games for the Aggies. He has played an important role for New Mexico State recording 754 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 162 carries during his four years with the program. Betancourt rushed for a career-high 139 yards against Rio Grande rival New Mexico Oct. 5, 2013. This season, Bentancourt has tallied at least 50 yards rushing in three games and had a season best 65-yards rushing versus Georgia Southern on October 4. A native of Las Cruces, Betancourt helped Mayfield High School win the New Mexico State Championship in 2010 and has continued to be a part of the community with his role on and off the field.
Jay Eakins
Senior Jay Eakins transferred to New Mexico State University in 2013 from San Bernardino Valley College where he played for two seasons. Eakins has played in 22 games for the Aggies and has recording 87 tackles during his career. He has been a constant threat to opposing offenses on the defensive line for the Aggies. His first career-sack for NMSU came against I-10 rival UTEP Sept. 14, 2013. Eakins recorded a career-high 12 tackles against Texas State, Nov. 1, 2014. He has tallied six tackles for a loss this season and had an outstanding game at Georgia State with seven solo tackles, two assisted tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.
Clint Barnard
Clint Barnard has played in 19 games for the Aggies, recording 86 tackles in his career. A native of Melrose, New Mexico, Barnard recorded a career-high 20 tackles against I-10 rival UTEP Sept. 14, 2013, earning him Independent Defensive Player of the Week. Coming up big against ranked opponents throughout his career, Barnard recorded his first career interception against No. 15 Texas Aug. 31, 2013, and his first career sack versus No. 13 UCLA on Sept. 21 the same year. A leader for the Aggies on the field and in the classroom, Barnard was honored with the Capital One Academic All-District VII Selection for his performance in 2013. This season, Barnard has tallied 19 tackles with a season-best six tackles against nationally ranked LSU in Baton Rouge on Sept. 27.
Jerrel Brown
Totaling 45 games over his career since his freshman year in 2011, Brown has played in every game except one for the Aggies over the last four years. The leading receiver for New Mexico State University his junior year, over his career Brown has recorded 1,236 yards and six touchdowns. Brown made his way into the record books against Texas State November 1, with an 86-yard reception. The catch was the longest of the season for the Aggies this year and more importantly the third longest completion in Aggie history. Playing both on special teams and offense for the Aggies, Brown has been one of the faces for the Aggies over the years and has had a distinguished career for New Mexico State.
Maxwell Johnson
Transferring from Oregon State University his sophomore year, the lefty Johnson has been the leg behind the Aggies for three straight years. Johnson has gone 70-of-74 on PATs and 16-for-23 on field goals during his career in the Crimson and White and posted a season-best 41 yard field at Georgia State, September 6. His career best field goal came against Rice on Oct. 19, 2013. It was a 49-yard kick. The lefty has made his mark on the Aggie’s record book, placing No. 3 for season high in field goal percentage for his 2013 performance, No. 6 for season extra point percentage for his play this year, No. 7 in extra points made all time and No. 8 for all-time career field goals made. Johnson was selected Academic All WAC for his performance in the classroom in 2012 and was a preseason nominee for the Lou Groza award in 2014.
Adam Shapiro
Seeing action in 27 games for the Aggies over his career, Shapiro has filled several roles for the Aggies on offense as a receiver and kick returner. In 2013 as a junior, Shapiro led New Mexico State University in all-purpose yards with 975 on the year. Shapiro has recorded 540 receiving yards and two touchdowns as a receiver and accumulated 1,171 all-purpose yards over his career. During his senior season, Shapiro has had six games with multiple catches while posting a season best 62-yards receiving on a season-high seven catches. The Rio Rancho, New Mexico native posted a season-long 58 yard reception against Idaho on October 18 of this season.
Joseph Matthews
Recording 816-yards and four touchdowns in his career, Matthews has played in 41 games for New Mexico State University. A key player for the Aggie’s offense, Matthews has played a pivotal role this season, recording 370-yards and four touchdowns. Matthews played in eight games for the Crimson and White as a freshman, 11 games as a sophomore, 12 games as a junior and 10 games this season. He played well as a junior in 2011 racking up 313 yards on 23 receptions along with three kick returns for 48 yards and 10 punt returns for 69 yards. As a senior, Matthews has pulled in 34 balls for 370 year with a season-best 79 yards receiving on eight catches against in-state rival New Mexico on September 20.
Valerian Ume-Ezeoke
A nationally recognized standout for the Aggies, Ume has been the anchor for New Mexico State offensive line for the last three years. The Aggie’s center has recorded 168 knockdowns over his career, leading the team in the category for two years. This season, Ume has recorded 18 pancakes to go along with his 35 knockdowns. His outstanding play has earned him Capital One Academic All District VII honors as well as being named to the Academic All-WAC list two years. Along with his academic performance, Ume has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List for two consecutive years for his efforts on the field. Playing in 34 consecutive games to this point in his career, Ume has played every offensive down this season except for lost time against Idaho Oct. 18 due to injury. Having played in 42 games in his career, Ume was named captain this season and has been a team leader for his entire career.
Did you know?
• Freshman quarterback Andrew Allen rushed for 118 yards against LSU on Sept. 27. He is the last freshman to score a rushing touchdown against LSU since former Oregon running back DeAnthony Thomas did so on Sept. 3, 2011. He is also the last freshman to rush for 100 yards against LSU since former Auburn and current Louisville tailback Michael Dyer did so for Auburn on Oct. 23, 2010.
• Teldrick Morgan currently ranks No. 18 in the nation with 675 receiving yards and he is also No. 22 in the nation with 7.76 receptions per game.
• Kawe Johnson is currently tied No. 16 in the nation with three forced fumbles on the season.
• The NM State defense ranks No. 2 in the nation in passing yards allowed per game with 143.5.
• The Aggies are No. 6 in the Nation in fewest penalties per game with 4 and No. 2 in fewest penalty yards per game with 28.13
Aggies in the Sun Belt
After the Aggies to UL Lafayette (Nov. 8) 44-16, NM State fell to 2-8 overall, 1-5 in the Sun Belt. Their only conference win of the season came against Georgia State Sept. 6. Georgia Southern leads the SBC with an 8-2 overall, 7-0 Sun Belt record. UL Lafayette sits in second place with a 7-3 overall, 6-0 SBC record. Arkansas State is tied for third in the standings at 4-2 with Appalachian State. The Aggies are ahead of Idaho, who is 1-6 in league play and Georgia State, who is 0-7 in SBC action.