Jones and Peters power New Mexico State past Western Kentucky, 34-13

James Jones ran for 155 yards, De'Marcus Peters returned an interception for a touchdown, and New Mexico State beat Western Kentucky 34-13 on Thursday night in Las Cruces. The Aggies opened Conference USA play with a victory after building a 20-6 halftime lead and answering Western Kentucky's only touchdown with a late scoring drive.

The difference came on the ground and on defense. New Mexico State rushed for 206 yards on 34 attempts, while Western Kentucky managed 43 yards on 31 carries. The Hilltoppers finished with five more total yards, 357 to 352, but their passing production did not translate into enough points.

Peters changes the first-half margin

Western Kentucky scored first on Karl Campbell's 45-yard field goal. Ilya Uvaydov answered from 52 yards, then added a 28-yarder to put the Aggies ahead 6-3 late in the opening quarter.

Peters supplied the first touchdown with 8:36 left in the second quarter. He intercepted Rodney Tisdale Jr. and returned the ball 45 yards, stretching the lead to 13-3. New Mexico State then drove 78 yards, with Adam Damante scoring on a one-yard run at 2:38.

KVIA's independent halftime reporting documented both touchdowns and the Aggies' defensive work before the break. Campbell's second field goal, from 41 yards with seven seconds remaining, made the halftime score 20-6.

The Aggies answer through the air and on the ground

Damante connected with TK King for a 15-yard touchdown at 11:13 of the third quarter, completing a 67-yard possession and extending the lead to 27-6. Western Kentucky responded quickly: Brock Glenn's nine-yard touchdown run capped a 79-yard drive and brought the Hilltoppers within 14.

They did not score again. New Mexico State stopped Western Kentucky on downs later in the third quarter and again early in the fourth. Jones finished a 63-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run at 3:18, producing the final margin.

Jones carried 20 times and averaged 7.8 yards per rush. Damante completed 15 of 26 passes for 146 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Josiah Thomas caught four passes for 60 yards to lead the Aggies' receivers.

Passing yards cannot rescue Western Kentucky

Tisdale completed 29 of 40 passes for 314 yards but had no passing touchdowns and threw the interception Peters returned for a score. Jonathan Stafford Jr. caught 10 passes for 108 yards. Western Kentucky went 0-for-3 on fourth down and committed 11 penalties for 84 yards; New Mexico State had four penalties for 30.

Nick Session led the Aggies with 10 tackles. Uvaydov made both of his field-goal attempts and all four extra points. The result gives New Mexico State a 1-0 start to its conference schedule, with a trip to FIU next on October 7.