NM State Aggies vs Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Football 9-25-22 Part 1

I really hadn’t planned on going to this Aggie Football game against Hawaii (no, I’m not putting in the unnecessary apostrophe).  However, I was persuaded.  First, Coach Kill came on the Aggie Coaches Show Wednesday and outright begged people to show up.  AD Mario Moccia came on and said that it was also AG Day at the game and there would be attractions and free food, not to mention, there’d be postgame fireworks.

 

However, what really might have done it was the team Twitter.  There was a video posted by star linebacker Chris Ojoh.  (Yes, there are “star” players on the team. Basically there are two: Ojoh and Trevor Brohard, pictured above.)  The young man was all smiles and charisma and said they really needed the fans.  “Bring the kids!”  I was charmed.

 

Ron and I were already there to watch Aggie Volleyball earlier in the afternoon.  It made for a long day, but why not?  (I’ll tell you why, because it makes writing this stuff up all at once crushing.  Not to mention, I still haven’t started writing about the Chihuahuas game I went to on Friday.)  After going for lunch and a couple of detours, we returned to the university. 

 

First, we were glad that we ate beforehand, because we never found the free food.  We went to the exhibits in the south lot next to the Pan-Am Center.  There were a bunch of booths for organizations, a little tractor pulling kids along for a ride, and a little stage with a couple of performers (who didn’t have a microphone or speakers, so we didn’t hear them).  The only booth I almost found interesting involved local beekeepers.  I’d been looking for some local honey, but they didn’t have any on sale there.  There was another lot on a field nearby that might have had animal exhibits, but Ron wasn’t interested in taking the walk over. 

 

So much for AG Day.  I saw a guy wearing a University of Hawaii t-shirt working in one of the booths, which was odd.  It did prompt me to remember that when I was in high school in El Paso, I had a Hawaii t-shirt, too.  It was really randomly at a store there and I randomly got it.  It was one of my favorites.  I wore it to death and finally had to discard it. 

 

It was about an hour till kickoff and the gates were open.  We ran into the friendly usher we’d met earlier.  She was in a cart offering rides to people who had trouble walking.  She was still there after the game and we said “goodbye” to her.  Inside, I picked up some cinnamon roasted nuts as a snack.  There were some Hawaii fans there looking over the Aggie merchandise tent. 

 

It was a beautiful evening and night here in Las Cruces, just perfect to be outside at an event.  I did see some rain in the distance earlier, but we hoped for the best.  Inside the stadium, I noticed they’d changed the American flag to a different pole and were using a larger flag.  The teams were warming up on field.  Finishing, the Aggies gathered together at midfield and let out a big roar. 

 

Wave the Wonder Dog’s handler brought him up into the stands to greet his family.  Wave was happy and waving his tail.  He’d be busy tonight.  A casually-dressed Pistol Pete sped down the sideline on a motorized skateboard.  The Aggie Pride Band came out with a few Folklorico dancers.  Ron and I were listening to the radio.  I could barely hear it, but I did hear some of Coach Kill’s pregame comments, “We gotta catch the damn ball and run the damn ball.” 

 

Considering there wasn’t a big community sales effort, there was a great crowd of nearly 13,000.  It was officially a bit more than half of the opening night crowd, though the Student Section was full.  From the broadcast, I found out that Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium was actually closed and being demolished.  Hawaii was playing on essentially on a soccer field with 9,000 capacity in the stands.  (I always thought Aloha Stadium looked cool and interesting.)  There was a moment of silence for deceased high school football player Abe Romero.  I’ve read a second and different news account of why they think he died on field.  I’m starting to smell a cover up.     

 

For the team introductions, Pistol Pete was horseless.  Sigh.  I guess the horse still hadn’t recovered from his last appearance when he got spooked.  It wasn’t a good look for Pete.  The Aggies came out and some of them did a quick prayer in the endzone.  I’m going to say that’s why they were there.  I didn’t have the opportunity to individually ask them. 

 

The visiting team usually just comes out and goes straight to their sideline.  Hawaii actually charged out on field waving an American flag and a Hawaii state flag.  The whole team went to the endzone for what was definitely a prayer huddle with a player doing an invocation.  Given their lack of a big home crowd for their games, I can see why they’d take this opportunity.  Good on them.  They actually did bring quite a few fans for their visitors section.

 

First Quarter

The Aggies won the toss and deferred.  (I’m required to report on the coin toss.)  HI had some confusion on their first play and had to take a timeout.  The Student Section was pretty loud.  Much like NM State, Hawaii had been switching between two quarterbacks, but for this game they only used Brayden Schager.  On the first play, he was being chased when he found a man 20+ yards downfield.  A Personal Foul then pushed HI deep into Aggie territory.  Brohard already had two tackles in the series.  I’d just picked up his new poster this afternoon.  It was a quick march down the field for the Rainbow Warriors that resulted in a touchdown, 7-0 HI.

 

Gavin Frakes started for the Aggies.  He was also the only QB used today, except for a couple of plays at the end.  The Aggies kept it on the ground with a couple of good rushes mostly by Jamoni Jones and Star Thomas.  On a fourth-and-one on the HI 27, Thomas blew through the line for a touchdown.  For the point after, the Aggies used a new kicker, Brett Money.  Poor Ethan Albertson.  He’d been relieved of his duties after too many misses.  It’d gotten into his head.  Money made it.  After a couple more successful kicks, PA Ed Carnathan would not be able to resist saying, “Brett Money is money!”  7-7.  There was an HI player injured on the drive.  I mention this because it’ll be a recurring theme later.

 

The Student Section went crazy for a t-shirt toss.  Later in the half, the t-shirt Gatling Cannon was rolled out and fired into the other side of the stadium.  HI went three-and-out.  There was a near tip interception.  The Aggie defense is still looking for that first turnover. 

 

The Aggie offense worked it downfield again.  Frakes ran for the second first down.  He also ran it in untouched down the middle from the HI 20.  Frakes’ fake toss was so good, I didn’t see the ball again until he was holding it up in the endzone (and the play was right in front of me).  14-7 Aggies.    

 

Next series, HI got a first down, but their drive was then hobbled by a false start penalty from crowd noise.  Ojoh got the sack on third down to force the punt.  He was credited with four tackles on this series.  The Aggies opened their drive on Star Thomas’ legs as he ripped off a 57 yard run.  Frakes rushed it to inside the HI 5 to end the First Quarter.

 

Second Quarter

I saw a couple of familiar faces on the sidelines.  A couple of officers from work were chatting with AD Moccia there.  Unless I wasn’t paying attention, I don’t think they were part of an on-field recognition.  It might be kind of cool to be invited down to be on the sidelines.

 

Even cooler was Jamoni Jones starting the quarter with a rush for a touchdown to make it 21-7 Aggies.  Hawaii started their drive backed up to their own 4 after a holding penalty on the return.  HI threw for a first down, but then had another false start.  After a 36-yard rush and a pass interference in the endzone, HI was inside the Aggie 10.  Ojoh got the tackle on a QB keeper and the crowd was fully engaged.  HI took a timeout, but were not able to get into the endzone after.  They settled for a field goal.  21-10 Aggies.  The Aggies went three-and-out on their next series.  Carlson got off a good punt to put HI inside their 20. 

 

Another Raising Canes Challenge was announced.  The Aggies needed to score at least 25 points to activate it.  Thanks, but I’ve had plenty of chicken for the week after this afternoon’s meal.  The Women’s Tennis team was honored for winning the WAC on field.  In the stands though was the game highlight.  A girl in a shredded midriff tank top came down the stairs.  I could scarcely believe I was seeing full generous exposed side boob and under boob in public in a crowd.  Ron’s eyes were popping out of his head.  Remembering his marriage, I quickly moved to shield his eyes from the spectacle.  Regrettably, we did not see this young woman again.

 

Back to the Aggie offense, on a third-and-11, Frakes connected with Justice Powers for 28 yards.  Another connection with Powers for 19 yards got the Aggies to inside the HI 5.  Jamoni took it in from the Wildcat formation.  28-10 Aggies.  During the series, the attractive Cheer coach came by with Pete working the crowd.  Unfortunately, they didn’t come by us.

 

An Aggie penalty on the kickoff put HI on their on their 35.  A third down pass went for 28 yards to Caleb Phillips.  It was a juggled circus catch, but he came down with it.  Deep in Aggie territory, HI went for it on a fourth-and-three, but the Aggies held.  From the turnover on downs, Frakes rushed for 25 yards and got an extra 15 on a facemask.  On the goal line, Jamoni initially rushed in for a touchdown, but it was waived off on review.  In the closing seconds of the half, Frakes found Thomaz Whitford for the TD.  35-10 Aggies.  At this point, I finally noticed that something was missing.  I wasn’t being startled by cannon fire after every score.  Ron said the ROTC cadets were having trouble with the primer after the first couple of shots.      

 

Continued in Part 2.