NM State Aggies may have taken a 34-17 road loss to Florida State on Saturday, but you gotta be kidding me if you didn’t see the sparks flying from transfer quarterback Trey Hedden in his debut. Forget the final score for a minute, because this was NOT the walkover Florida State hoped for, especially as a commanding 31.5-point favorite. The Aggies battled deep into the game, making it a one-score contest until the very last two minutes of the third quarter, and it was still a 10-point game with only four minutes left on the clock. That’s a fight, plain and simple, and it all started with their new signal-caller.
Hedden’s Debut: A Statement Under Pressure
We saw a welcome-to-FBS moment from Furman transfer Trey Hedden that should erase any doubt about his ability to lead this team. The guy overcame a first half interception, which honestly, in a hostile environment like Doak Campbell Stadium with 65,915 screaming fans, is totally understandable for a debut. But he shook it off, baby! Hedden didn’t just manage the game; he led the Aggies down the field on several drives, showing poise and vision. He finished the day completing 26-of-42 passes for a huge 272 yards, throwing two touchdowns, with just that one pick. Those are serious numbers against a power conference secondary, and it absolutely settles the question of whether he’s got what it takes. This wasn’t some soft opponent; this was Florida State, and Hedden looked like he belonged.
New Weapons and Missed Chances
Hedden wasn’t working alone, either. The Aggies had some serious receiving talent showing up. Brodie Malone-Bradford hauled in 6 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown, while TK King snagged 7 catches for 78 yards and another score. These guys combined for 13 catches, 174 yards, and both Aggie touchdowns, proving they are legit WR1s ready to make plays. It wasn’t just offense either; the team came out for the second half with a defensive stop, then immediately capitalized with a scoring drive that ended in a field goal, cutting the lead to 17-10. That sequence alone showed everyone that the usual second-half blowout you see in these “money games” was not happening. Linebacker Sone Aupiu was also flying around, racking up eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. And how about kicker Ilya Uvaydov, another transfer, hitting his 38-yard field goal try and both extra points in his first FBS game? Talk about clutch!
Now, we gotta talk about the gut punch: that dropped pass. After some huge runs early in the second half, the Aggies got tricky. Running back T.J. Washington threw a perfect halfback pass to a wide open AJ Williams III in the endzone. He dropped it. Ouch. They still got a field goal out of the drive, but man, that felt like a huge lost opportunity, especially when you’re trying to upset a team favored by 31.5 points. Despite that one slip, New Mexico State University still pocketed $1.4 million for taking the game, and they showed everyone they aren’t just going to roll over.
The Aggies, now 0-1, host FCS Mercyhurst, who is also 0-1, next Saturday, September 5, at 7 p.m. in Aggie Memorial Stadium. That game will be streamed on ESPN-plus. With Trey Hedden proving he can air it out and some dynamic receivers stepping up, you gotta wonder what kind of show they’ll put on at home. This team showed serious fight, and that’s something to build on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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