LAS CRUCES – There isn’t much time to enjoy a victory in college football.
After beating rival New Mexico on Saturday for the first time since 2017, the New Mexico State football team is a 22-point home underdog against San Jose State on Saturday at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
The 4-2 Spartans are the best team, by far, the Aggies have faced at home.
San Jose State leads the Mountain West in passing offense (269 yards per game) and are second in the Mountain West in total offense with 371 yards per game.
The Spartans are better on defense. It’s a veteran group that returned eight starters. San Jose State leads the Mountain West in scoring defense, allowing 14.5 points per game. The Spartans are third in total defense, allowing 296 yards per game and have seven interceptions on the season.
New Mexico State Film Room: Defense shut down UNM, offense made enough plays
The Aggies lost 37-31 at San Jose State year.
“It’s the same people,” Kill said. “They are a veteran group with a bunch of seniors on defense. They know their scheme. It’s totally different than last week. They are different, but their personnel is very good.”
San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro leads the Mountain West in passing with 265 yards per game with seven touchdowns and one interception as the Spartans are pass dominant. San Jose State is second to last in rushing with 102 yards per game on a league low 179 attempts.
“We have to prepare for the run as well as the pass,” Kill said. “We have to stop the run and when they throw it, be able to get a pass rush and pressure and hope (Cordeiro) misses a few. Defenses are tested this day and age. You are going to face teams that are going to throw it all over. New Mexico had trouble throwing it, but when you face a complete team like (SJSU), they are going to have to be able to stop both.”
It’s not the first time the Aggies face a pass heavy team. The Aggies expected Florida International to throw the ball, but FIU beat the Aggies with the running game.
“I feel that they coaches have a good game plan for this week against the run and pass and getting ready for both,” Aggies linebacker Chris Ojoh said. “San Jose passes the ball a lot, but they are good in the run game in what they are trying to do with the same side zone, the inside zone, the outside zone, just trying to mess with your eyes.”
Cordeiro is a transfer from Hawaii, where he completed 16 of 25 passes for 277 yards with a touchdown in a victory over NM State in Las Cruces last year.
“He has grown as a player,” Ojoh said. “I feel the San Jose offense really fits him and he’s getting the ball in the right places. He has good receivers, which helps, but he is doing a lot of things better than last year.”
The Aggies hope to end the home stand with back-to-back victories for the first time under Kill.
“It’s always good to win, but the carryover is trying to keep that feeling of winning and trying to duplicate it,” Ojoh said. “That’s the biggest thing. It’s good to win once, but nobody likes to win, lose, win, lose. That’s what we are trying to carry over.”
Kill’s contract not signed, but Lobos win worth $10,000
Kill has been receiving his salary since he was hired in November, but the Aggies head coach does not have a signed contract.
NM State athletics director Mario Moccia said he expects Kill’s contract to be finalized soon.
One of the incentives in Kill’s contract will be a $10,000 bonus for a rivalry win.
“We are waiting for the contract to be signed, but we don’t do bonuses until the end of the year, anyway,” Moccia said. “My anticipation is it will be finalized very soon.”
NM State announces changes for Lamar; UMass kickoff time announced
NM State’s final home game of the season will move to a noon kickoff against Lamar on Nov. 12 with Senior Day festivities beginning around 11:30 am Fans are encouraged to arrive at Aggie Memorial Stadium early to celebrate the careers of 20 NM State seniors. UMass announced that the October 29 game will air on ESPN3, beginning at 1:30 pm
Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.
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