JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Tyler Huff passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, Tre Stewart had two rushing touchdowns and a receiving score, and Jacksonville State eased by New Mexico State 54-13 on Wednesday night.
Jacksonville State (3-3, 2-0 Conference USA), which recorded eight rushing touchdowns at Kennesaw State on Friday, used six rushers to combine for 49 carries, 334 yards and five touchdowns. Logan Smothers’ lone run went for a 72-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 54-6 lead.
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New Mexico State (1-5, 0-3) was held to just 13 first downs and 220 yards through three quarters. The Aggies finished with 350 yards and three turnovers — the last being an interception by Travis Franklin Jr. in the end zone on the final play of the game.
JSU scored on four of its last five drives of the first half for a 33-6 lead. The Gamecocks kept in going in the second half with three straight scoring drives to put the game away.
Stewart broke free up the middle to score from 48-yards away to take a 26-6 lead with 1:25 left in the first half. Then New Mexico State turned it over on the following possession when Jawaun Campbell forced a fumble that teammate J-Rock Swain recovered. Jacksonville State’s field position got even better after an unnecessary roughness penalty led to Huff’s 2-yard TD.
Huff was 11 of 18 for 196 yards and he carried it 13 times for 58 yards. Stewart carried it 21 times for 118 yards, and his one catch went for a 32-yard score.
SCARY MOMENTS
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NMSU running back Monte Watkins was carted off the field and loaded into an on-field ambulance with 9:27 left in the second quarter after a trick play went wrong. Quarterback Santino Marucci faked like he was getting an audible from the sideline and the direct snap went to Watkins, who was hit hard while trying to gather a fumble.
Two minutes later, Marucci stayed on the field for several minutes after taking a shot to the head by Fred Perry. After a review, Perry was ejected for targeting. Marucci returned on New Mexico State’s next possession.
Marucci finished 3 of 10 for 24 yards. Backup Parker Awad, who played a majority of the second half, completed 9 of 16 passes for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A successful University of New Mexico Lobo athletics season and the athletics director’s departure has culminated in players and coaches making moves.
The moves follow a successful 2025 season and the departure of athletics director Fernando Lovo.
Running back coach John Johnson, special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato and wide receiver coach Colin Lockett are all leaving the Lobos after just one season. Johnson is headed to Iowa State while Da Prato is expected to join Minnesota and Lockett is headed to UCLA, all for the same jobs.
Johnson’s Lobo running backs ran for more than 1,400 yards. Da Prato’s special teams finished top-five nationally in kickoff returns.
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Running back D.J. McKinney entered the portal, he confirmed on social media the day the portal officially opened. McKinney rushed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns with the Lobos.
Two players who received all-Mountain West Conference recognition also made moves. All-Mountain West tight-end Dorian Thomas, who caught for touchdowns for the Lobos, entered the portal. Meanwhile, all-Mountain West honorable mention punter Daniel Hughes is set to leave.
Others set to leave include:
Cole Welliver, backup quarterback who played in one game
Landon Williams, defensive end who graduated from La Cueva High School
Randolph Kpai, senior linebacker who is at the end of his college football career without a waiver
After Lance St. Louis served as the starting long snapper for the Texas Longhorns for four seasons, special teams coordinator Jeff Banks landed an experienced replacement when New Mexico Lobos transfer Trey Dubuc pledged while on a visit to the Forty Acres.
The pledge from Dubuc ensures that Texas has experienced replacements for three specialists despite signing high school prospects at each position — with the SEC expanding to 105 scholarships in 2026, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian can afford to develop high school recruits at those positions behind experienced transfers like Dubuc.
The Fort Lauderdale product started his career at USF after playing on two state championship teams at Cardinal Gibbons. A 6’1, 209-pounder, Dubuc redshirted during his freshman season in 2023 before appearing in one game as the backup long snapper the following year.
After transferring to New Mexico, Dubuc served as the starting long snapper while making two tackles for the Lobos.
