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| WIL | 
| NMEXST | 
Pavia, Thomas help New Mexico State cruise to 58-21 victory over Western Illinois
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) Diego Pavia threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns, Star Thomas added 96 yards rushing and a pair of scores and New Mexico State Aggies rolled to a 58-21 victory over Western Illinois Leathernecks on Saturday night in a season opener.
Pavia was 16-of-20 passing including a 75-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Childress and an 80-yarder to Jonathan Brady, each in the third quarter. Brady finished with 102 yards receiving on four catches.
Matt Morrissey was 16-of-30 passing for 215 yards and had two touchdown passes to lead Western Illinois.
The Leathernecks pulled to 20-14 just before halftime on a Ludovick Choquette 21-yard touchdown run. Ethan Albertson's 37-yard field goal and Pavia's two long TD passes helped the Aggies pull away in the third.
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
| Team Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 0 | 0 | 
| Rushing | 0 | 0 | 
| Passing | 0 | 0 | 
| Penalty | 0 | 0 | 
| 3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| 4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 | 
| Total Plays | 0 | 0 | 
| Avg Gain | 0 | 0 | 
| Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 | 
| Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 | 
| Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 | 
| Yards Passing | 0 | 0 | 
| Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 | 
| Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Touchdowns | ||
| Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 | 
| Passing TDs | 0 | 0 | 
| Other | ||
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 | 
| Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 | 
| Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Return Yards | ||
| Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 | 
| Safeties | 0 | 0 | 
                                            
        
                        
        
        
  | 
                                    
| Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | 
| 
                                         
                                                B. Lanier 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    B. Lanier | 1/1 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 
| Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | 
| Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | 
| 
                                         
                                                B. Lanier 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    B. Lanier | 0 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 
| Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | 
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS | 
| Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG | 
| Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD | 
| Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD | 
| Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | 
| Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | 
| 
                                         
                                                L. McMillan 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    L. McMillan | 5 | 68 | 0 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                                         
                                                P. Johnson III 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    P. Johnson III | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                                         
                                                T. Gans 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    T. Gans | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 
| Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | 
| 
                                         
                                                D. Faupel 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    D. Faupel | 0 | 8 | 98 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                                         
                                                T. Gans 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    T. Gans | 0 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                                         
                                                T. Stephens 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    T. Stephens | 0 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                                         
                                                P. Johnson III 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    P. Johnson III | 0 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                                         
                                                L. McMillan 
                                                 
                                             
                                                                                        
 
  | 
                                    L. McMillan | 0 | 1 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 
| Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | 
| 
                                         
                                                S. Aupiu 
                                                 
                                             
                                            
                                            
 
  | 
                                    S. Aupiu | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 
                                         
                                                G. Peterson 
                                                 
                                             
                                            
                                            
 
  | 
                                    G. Peterson | 0-0 | 3.5 | 0 | 
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS | 
| Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG | 
| Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD | 
| Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |