DETROIT – Bowling Green's fourth quarter rally fell just short as the Falcons fell to the New Mexico State Aggies 24-19 in the Quick Lane Bowl on Monday.
The Aggies made the game's first big play, intercepting a Matt McDonald pass to take over at their own 30 yard line.
Quarterback Diego Pavia then led NMSU on an 8-play scoring drive, where Pavia completed a 42-yard pass down the right sideline to Justice Powers to give the Aggies an early 7-0 lead.
Ahmonte Watkins ran for a first down on NMSU's first play, but Jordan Oladokun nearly intercepted the next pass. Pavia hit Jonathan Brady in stride for a 29-yard gain, then the Aggies ran for a pair of seven-yard gains. On the second rush, Chris Bacon was tagged with a personal foul for a late hit, but the initial call of targeting was overturned. This gave New Mexico State a first down at the BG 12, then Pavia scrambled for a nine-yard gain on third down to make it first-and-goal from the two-yard line.
New Mexico State (7-6) would later add to its lead, as Pavia would hit Jonathan Brady in stride for a 29-yard gain to cross midfield into Falcons territory and later add a 10-yard run to get inside the red zone.
On second-and-goal, Pavia rolled out to his right and hit Eric Marsh for a two-yard touchdown to give the Aggies a 14-point advantage halfway through the second.
Pavia completed 17 of 29 passes for 167 yards and ran for 73 yards. Ahmonte Watkins rushed for 77 yards on nine carries and a score.
The Aggies would extend their lead to 17-0 at the beginning of the third quarter when Ethan Albertson connected on a 35-yard field goal.
Needing a spark, Ta'ron Keith would field the ensuing kickoff and return it 75-yards for the score and cut the Aggies lead to 17-7.
Keith finished the game with 152 all-purpose yards.
Later in the third frame, Watkins would break free for a 45-yard touchdown run to stretch the NMSU lead to 24-7 with 3:26 left.
Bowling Green (6-7) would put together a nine-play drive in the final minutes of the third quarter that resulted in a 49-yard field goal from Mason Lawler to make the score 24-10 on the opening play of the final quarter. The kick was Lawler's career best.
Then midway through the quarter, the Falcons special teams would strike again, as Davion Daniels blocked an Aggie punt and the ball rolled out of the back of the end zone for a safety to make the score 24-12.
Following a 33-yard return from Jhaylin Embry on the free kick, Bowling Green would need just two plays to find the end zone.
Quarterback Camden Orth would toss a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Broden to make it 24-19 with 6:27 remaining in the game.
Orth, who came in to replace McDonald after an injury in the first quarter, finished the game 14 of 22 for 191 yards.
The Falcons would never see the ball again as the Aggies would run out the clock to secure the win.
New Mexico St. 7 7 10 0 = 24
Bowling Green 0 0 7 12 = 19
First Quarter NMSU–Star Thomas 15 pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 9:39. Second Quarter NMSU–Eric Marsh 2 pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 7:36. Third Quarter NMSU–Ethan Albertson 35 field goal, 11:15. BGSU–Ta'ron Keith 75 kickoff return (Mason Lawler kick), 11:02. NMSU–Ahmonte Watkins 45 run (Ethan Albertson kick), 3:26. Fourth Quarter BGSU–Mason Lawler 49 field goal, 14:55. BGSU–Safety (punt blocked and ball went out of the end zone), 7:10. BGSU–Tyrone Broden 19 pass from Camden Orth (Mason Lawler kick), 6:27.
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