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NM State Western Kentucky: Jones’ stunning 155-yard romp

Dustin Judge
NM State Western Kentucky recap: a football game in a stadium at night

James Jones ran for 155 yards and De’Marcus Peters returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown as New Mexico State beat Western Kentucky 34-13 on Thursday night at Aggie Memorial Stadium. This NM State Western Kentucky recap covers how the Aggies won their Conference USA opener.

NM State Western Kentucky recap: how the Aggies pulled away

The teams traded field goals to start, and New Mexico State led 6-3 after one quarter. Peters’ interception return in the second quarter made it 13-3, and Adam Damante’s rushing touchdown helped build a 20-6 halftime lead, according to New Mexico State’s game recap.

The Aggies led 27-6 in the third quarter before Western Kentucky scored to make it 27-13. New Mexico State added another touchdown in the fourth quarter for the final margin. The NM State Western Kentucky score never got close again.

Standouts for New Mexico State

Jones carried 20 times for 155 yards and a touchdown and has topped 100 yards in consecutive games. Damante, making his season debut, completed 15 of 26 passes for 146 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and also ran for a score. Peters’ touchdown was his first interception as an Aggie.

The defense had six sacks, the team’s most in a game since October 2023, the school said.

Hilltoppers struggle on the ground

Quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. completed 29 passes for 314 yards and threw one interception, but Western Kentucky ran for only 43 yards and lost 84 yards to penalties, according to the Hilltoppers’ recap. Freshman Jonathan Stafford Jr. caught 10 passes for 108 yards. Coach Tyson Helton said the team “didn’t help ourselves” with penalties.

What it means

New Mexico State improved to 2-3 and 1-0 in Conference USA, its first win in a conference opener since joining the league in 2023. Western Kentucky fell to 1-4 and 0-1. The NM State Western Kentucky result leaves the Aggies tied with Jacksonville State atop the league at 1-0. The Aggies visit FIU next Wednesday, and the Hilltoppers host Missouri State on Oct. 8.

For more, read our WKU vs. New Mexico State preview and our Liberty vs. Delaware preview.

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.