SportsDirect Inc. staff
Aug 28, 2014
New Mexico State 28, Cal Poly 10: Freshman Larry Rose III rushed for 149 yards and scored two touchdowns as the host Aggies pulled away in their debut as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
Tyler Rogers was 18-of-27 passing for 118 yards and two touchdowns while Teldrick Morgan and Xavier Hall added scores for New Mexico State (1-0), which was voted to finish last in the Sun Belt preseason coaches poll after going 2-10 as an independent in 2013. The Aggies held the Mustangs to 79 yards in the second half.
Brandon Howe scored a touchdown for FCS member Cal Poly (0-1), which was picked to finish fourth in the Big Sky Conference coaches and media polls. The Mustangs, who led the FCS in rushing at 309.1 yards per game in 2013, settled for 259 on Thursday while attempting seven passes and completing two for six yards.
The Aggies took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards in 11 plays, capped by Rogers' 30-yard touchdown pass to Morgan. The Mustangs answered with an 11-play drive of their own as Howe bulled into the end zone from 3 yards out before Hall's 1-yard plunge gave New Mexico State a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
The Aggies regained possession after turnovers on back-to-back plays, and Rogers finished a 10-play 48-yard drive by connecting with Rose for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 7:04 left in the third quarter to put the Aggies ahead 21-10. Rose, who carried 30 times, added a 6-yard TD scamper with 8:51 remaining.