LAS CRUCES, N.M. — In a thrilling matchup, New Mexico State triumphed over Louisiana Tech with a 33-30 victory after two overtime periods on Tuesday night. Malaki Ta’ase made a crucial play by blocking a field-goal attempt on the last play of regulation, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
During the first overtime, both teams managed to score a field goal, leading to a tense second overtime. Buck Buchanan opened the second session with a 36-yard field goal that grazed the upright but counted, giving Louisiana Tech a 30-27 edge.
New Mexico State’s Brandon Nunez, who replaced the starting quarterback, connected on his fourth pass of the evening in the second overtime, completing a 16-yard pass to Kordell David along the sideline. Mike Washington then broke free on a 4-yard run, scoring the game-winning touchdown without any opposition.
This marked the first overtime game for New Mexico State since their encounter against Utah State in the 2017 Arizona Bowl.
Nunez showcased his versatility, throwing for 49 yards while also rushing six times for a total of 30 yards and contributing two touchdowns to New Mexico State’s effort, which brought their record to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in Conference USA.
On the other hand, Louisiana Tech’s Evan Bullock delivered a solid performance, completing 22 of his 41 attempts for 225 yards with two touchdowns. Tru Edwards shone with nine receptions for 102 yards, marking the first time in his career that he scored multiple touchdowns in a single game.
A pivotal moment occurred when Louisiana Tech’s defensive back, Pig Cage, was penalized for targeting with 1:54 left on the clock. This foul allowed New Mexico State to advance to a first down at the 13-yard line. Nunez capitalized soon after, scoring on a 4-yard running play to tie the game at 24, marking the third tie-up of the night.
In a heart-stopping finale, Louisiana Tech pushed their way down the field in 11 plays, benefiting from significant runs by Omiri Wiggins and Amani Givins, setting them up for a potential win. However, with just three seconds left on the clock, their 26-yard field-goal attempt was thwarted by Ta’ase’s block, pushing the game into overtime.