PHOTO BY JOE GRIMANDO
ALBUQUERQUE- North Texas Mean Green (12-2) squared off against the San Diego State (9-4) Aztecs in the 2025 Isleta New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium Dec. 27, and won a game that had nearly 100 points.
The final: UNT 49, SDSU 47.
“What a game, tremendous effort by the boys. First class event put on, it was spending time here in Albuquerque,” SDSU head coach Sean Lewis said.
It was an instant classic but don’t call it a shootout. This was an old school, ground-and-pound affair. Both teams combined for 694 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns.
North Texas tailback Caleb Hawkins rushed for 198 rushing yards, and two scores. His running mate Ashton Gray also racked up 152 rushing yards, and two scored.
As for the Aztecs, redshirt junior Bert Emmanuel Jr. exploded for 170 rushing yards including a 72-yard touchdown run. Star back Lucky Sutton left early due to injury, and ended the day with 60 rushing yards. However, Christian Washington was able to help pick up some slack, and racked up 77 rushing yards and a score.
Though Aztec signal caller Kyle Crum rushed for two scores, he was only able to complete 48% of his throws, and threw two interceptions. Crum was making his first start of the year as starter Jayden Denegal missed the Bowl game due to a surgery on his non-throwing shoulder.
It has been a stellar season for North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker who has 4379 passing yards, and 39 total touchdowns on the season. However, the star quarterback had his own share of struggles, and threw two interceptions. Snagging the INTs for the Aztecs were safeties Dwayne McDougle and Jelani McLaughlin
Nonetheless, Mestemaker was still able to complete 27 passes, and throw for three touchdowns.
On the defensive side, North Texas defensive back Evan Jackson was a difference maker, recording five total tackles, a sacks, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup, and an interception.
In the final quarter, North Texas was able to pull away when Mestemaker threw a dot to receiver Cameron Doner on a 31-yard touchdown which would give the Mean Green a 49-34 lead. Doner led North Texas with 66 receiving yards, two touchdowns on six catches.
The Aztecs led a noble push to even the score but fell two points short in the end, and failed on a two-point try after Washington found pay dirt.
North Texas won its 12th game of the season, and will likely climb up in the AP Top 25 poll (they were ranked 22nd as of Dec. 7)
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