BIG WEST ROUNDUP : New Mexico State Defeats New Mexico in a Wild One

Ray Washington ran for three touchdowns, Charles Puleri threw for 314 yards and New Mexico State won the duel of big-play offenses in a 42-39 victory over New Mexico Saturday night at Las Cruces, N.M.

The victory was only the third for the Aggies (2-0) in the last 25 years against New Mexico. It gave New Mexico State its best start since 1978, the school’s last winning season.

New Mexico (1-1) got a school-record-tying four touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Stoney Case, but its fourth-quarter comeback vanished when Aggie defensive back Quentin Tezeno intercepted Case’s pass on third and 10 at the New Mexico State 11 with 15 seconds left.

Washington scored on runs of four, 15 and 21 yards, and Puleri’s seven-yard scoring pass to Atlas Reagor put the Aggies in front, 42-32, with 9:47 left.

New Mexico State was 11 for 16 on third-down conversions, thanks mainly to Puleri’s passing.

Nevada 20, Pacific 14--Zeke Moore rushed for 182 yards and a touchdown at Reno as the Wolfpack scored its first Division I-A victory in the Big West.

Moore’s one-yard plunge with 5:42 remaining put the Wolfpack ahead, 20-7, and atoned for a second-quarter fumble at the Tigers’ one-yard line.

The Wolfpack (1-1) limited tailback Ryan Benjamin to 32 yards in 20 carries, halting Benjamin’s string of consecutive 100-yard games at 13. Pacific is 0-2.

Nevada Las Vegas 19, Texas El Paso 17--Nick Garritano kicked a 40-yard field goal with 27 seconds remaining to lift UNLV to the victory over UTEP at Las Vegas. On fourth and 19 with 2:24 to play, UNLV’s John Ma’ae hit wide receiver Demond Thompkins on a 35-yard pass play to set up the field goal.

UNLV is 1-0; Texas El Paso is 0-2