Florida International shuts down New Mexico State, Aggies 1-5 at midway point
LAS CRUCES - Ups and downs were to be expected for the New Mexico State football team in the first year under head coach Jerry Kill.
The Aggies appeared to have an opportunity for their second straight win against a Florida International team that was shut out 73-0 at Western Kentucky last week. NM State entered the game as 14.5 point favorites, but FIU came across the country for a 21-7 victory on Saturday at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
"Obviously we saw it and we talked about it, but that does not define a team at all," said Aggies quarterback Gavin Frakes, who started his second straight game on Saturday. "On the film, sometimes the box score can be deceitful. We had a really good week of practice. I guess it didn't translate to the field."
The Panthers dominated the first half and led 21-7 at the break, scoring on three straight possessions while the Aggies punted on three of their four possessions and were shut out in the second half.
The Aggies dropped to 1-5 and will host rival New Mexico on Oct. 15. FIU won its first game against an FBS opponent in the past three years.
"There wasn't any indication that we weren't ready to come out," Kill said. "I thought we had a great Thursday and Friday. We came out lethargic. You can always tell you aren't ready to play if you don't tackle or catch balls.
"As much as we have not been successful, everybody wants to look at those scores and say (FIU) got beat by so and so. We aren't good enough to do that with anybody. Lesson learned, very hardly."
Jerry Kill said the word soft a lot tonight. pic.twitter.com/WZGHq1lBpX
— Jason Groves (@JPGroves) October 2, 2022
FIU entered the game averaging 291 yards per game. The Panthers had 226 yards at halftime and outgained NM State 334-221 for the game. The Aggies could not contain the FIU read option, losing containment FIU quarterback Grayson James in the first half and FIU’s tempo caught the Aggies defense off guard.
The NM State rushing game was held to 55 yards in the first half as quarterback Gavin Frakes faced seven or eight-man fronts. NM State had 109 yards in the first half and Frakes was 5 for 13 passing for 54 yards.
Diego Pavia started the second half at quarterback and didn’t fare much better. The Aggies rushed for 82 yards after gaining 357 yards on the ground in a win over Hawaii last week.
"From a quarterback perspective, I have to do a lot better job," said Frakes, who was 5 for 13 passing for 54 yards. "(Receiver Justice Powers) is open down the field, throw it a little late. We have to work on our timing and ball placement. It was just poor. Hats off to FIU. They had a great game plan and executed well. They stopped our run really well. I wasn't throwing the ball well and we couldn't get anything going.
The Panthers kept the Aggies within two scores, driving into the red zone but missing a 26-yard field goal after Chris Ojoh sacked James on third down.
The Aggies could not take advantage, with Carson Zilmer missing a 44-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter.
Pavia led the Aggies to the FIU 42 on their next possession and faced a fourth and 5. Pavia rolled to his left and appeared to have room to run, but pulled the ball down and had to throw up a prayer that was knocked down along the sideline.
The Aggies tied the game at 7-7 on a 14-play, 75-yard drive that Thomas capped on a two-yard run. NM State nearly went three and out before Frakes hit Justice Powers on an out route for a first down and followed with a pass to Bryce Childress to cross midfield.
James had three passing touchdowns in the first half.
The Panthers went up 14-7on a 25-yard touchdown on a pass in the flat. They went up 21-7 on a swing pass to Lexington Joseph on a third and 13 for 61 yards. The Aggies were late getting a substitution on the field on the play and the secondary was not lined up, resulting in a swing pass down the sideline for 61 yards for FIU’s longest offensive play of the season.
"We were expecting tempo the whole week, but as far that play, it was more about getting off blocks and knowing the mental part," Ojoh said. "Once you line up only half the battle. I don't think we executed on the mental part."
Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Florida International shuts down New Mexico State, Aggies 1-5 at midway point
