On the first play of New Mexico State’s third and final scrimmage, Josiah Charles seized his moment.
Logan Fife’s pass over the middle was tipped up into the air by wide receiver Donovan Faupel and right in the direction of the third-year cornerback. Charles didn’t waste the opportunity, intercepting the pass to start the scrimmage in style.
It wouldn’t be the only time the Aggies’ defense dazzled. Charles’ pick was the first of four takeaways during the Aug. 16 scrimmage at Aggie Memorial Stadium, with two others coming in the first half and the other coming on the first drive of the second half. There could’ve been more, as there were four instances when a defender either dropped or nearly came up with an interception.
Just like NM State’s second scrimmage, its defense earned a majority of the highlights. The Aggies’ offense earned some of them, scoring one touchdown on a two-yard catch from quarterback Adam Damante to running back Isaiah Rudison and three field goals for 16 points. But it was the defense that will feel like the winners of Saturday evening’s fall camp conclusion.
It’s the ending defensive coordinator Joe Morris wanted as he attempts to fix a defense that gave up the most average points in CUSA last season (36.3). But for offensive coordinator David Yost’s unit, he may have desired more across the three scrimmages.
Here are some more highlights from the Aggies’ third scrimmage:
Scrimmage rules
Saturday’s affair featured running game clocks and play clocks, 15-minute quarters and a Conference USA officiating crew, creating the most game-like atmosphere of the three scrimmages.
A major difference came on punts, where there was never a full return team fielded. The scrimmage also had just three quarters: the first and second formed the first half, and a ‘fourth quarter’ served as the final period.
First half highlights
After Charles’ interception, the defense forced three straight punts before the offense gained three first downs en route to a Ryan Hawk 50-yard field goal. Wide receiver TK King caught multiple first-down passes from Fife to put the Aggies into field goal range again, but kicker Kyah Francone missed his 43-yarder after fellow receiver Shawn Brown dropped an open pass inside the 10-yard line.
The succeeding drive almost ended in points after the offense drove inside the 10-yard line in plus territory, aided by two more first-down catches from King. But the Aggies stalled, and a Fife pass to running back Kadarius Calloway was jarred loose after cornerback Zedekiah Rodriguez-Brown dove at his legs to bring the California transfer down.
The Aggies’ defense earned their second takeaway when defensive end Jamall Thompson Jr. recovered a fumble forced by defensive lineman Ta’Avili Tuitama’s strip sack of Damante. This put the next offensive group in field goal range, but kicker David Barker missed a 49-yard field goal. The attempt was preceded by a sack from safety Desmin Hatfield-Rushton on quarterback Parker Awad, with a referee marking the ball at the point of likely contact because quarterbacks were not allowed to be hit.
Defensive end Demanuel Brown recovered NM State’s second fumble recovery for the defense’s third takeaway after multiple bobbles on the ground by fellow defenders. Rudison, who scored the only touchdown of the Aggies’ spring game, then earned the scrimmage’s lone touchdown after converting a fourth-and-one earlier in the drive. Shawn Brown redeemed himself on this drive by making a catch over the middle after a Damante scramble to set the offense up in the red zone.
Second half highlights
Most of the Aggies’ offensive starters didn’t take the field after halftime, with Awad and Damante leading all second-half drives.
Safety Nick Session came up with the defense’s third fumble recovery after the ball was forced out on a short run play. Running back Dailan Goodman gave the offense a rebound with a 57-yard catch-and-run to the 11-yard line, setting up a successful 21-yard field goal from Francone.
Two straight punting drives preceded a 52-yard field goal from Hawk after Damante nearly made something out of by almost completing a 35-yard touchdown pass after a long scramble. A final two-minute drill took place, but was stalled out at the 27-yard line in plus territory after the offense came up a half-yard short on a fourth-and-medium play.
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