LEXINGTON, Ky -- Despite the first touchdown on defense in over three years, the NM State Aggies fell 56-16 Saturday to the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field.
 
The defensive score, was a 25-yard scoop and score by linebacker Trevor Brohard. Brohard ended up with seven tackles, 1.5 TFLs and a sack.
 
In total, the Aggies (1-10) forced four Kentucky (8-3) turnovers.  
 
On the offensive side of the ball, the Aggies were paced by running back Juwaun Price who ran for 51 yards on 11 carries. Price also caught four passes for seven yards.

Quarterback Jonah Johnson ended the afternoon 16-of-35 for 181 yards. Johnson's lone interception of the afternoon, and first pick since Oct. 25 at Hawai'i,  was returned for a touchdown by Kentucky's (9-1) Quandre Mosley.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After the Aggies gained three and five yards on the first two plays for scrimmage, a Jonah Johnson pass was broken up, forcing the first of 10 NM State punts.
 
On the ensuing UK drive, QB Will Levis fumbled a snap at his own 46. Levis chased after the ball, but he was unable to scoop it up before Brohard ran the ball into the endzone for the Aggie touchdown that gave the visitors from Las Cruces a 7-0 lead.
 
Levis and the Wildcats would answer on the ensuing drive, needing just five plays to march 81 yards for a score. The touchdown was a 32-yard connection from Levis to Justin Rigg, and tied the score 7-7 with 9:27 left.
 
After the two teams traded punts, Kentucky grabbed the lead for good with 5:54 left in the opening period on the aforementioned Mosley pick-six.
 
Kentucky would increase its lead to 21-7 after forcing another Carlson punt, when running back Chris Rodriguez Jr capped an eight-play, 91-yard drive with a six-yard rushing touchdown with two seconds to play in the first quarter.
 
Kicker Ethan Albertson used another 50-yard field goal make (ties career-high) to bring the Aggies to within 21-10 at the 9:14 mark of the second quarter, but like they did all afternoon, Kentucky would answer, closing another 10-play drive with nine-yard connection from Levis to Josh Ali that gave the home team a 28-10 lead with 9:15 left in the half.
 
Albertson would hit a 30-yard field goal on the next NM State drive cut the UK lead to 28-13 with 5:08 left, and the defense forced a Chris Rodriguez fumble at their own two on the next drive, but the NM State offense was forced to punt.
 
Kentucky seized control of the game on the next drive, using a two-yard connection from Levis to Rigg with 46 seconds left to take a 35-13 lead.
 
Johnson would use a 15-yard connect to Alex Escobar and a 26-yard strike to freshman PJ Johnson III to set up another Albertson attempt. The kicker hit again, this time from 32 yards out to bring the aggies to within 35-16 at the break.
 
Coming out the locker room, the Aggie defense forced a stop, giving the NM State offense possession of the ball at their own 40. Johnson marched the Aggies to the UK 38, before the drive ended in another punt.
 
Kentucky used a 62-yard connection from Levis to Ali to take a 42-16 lead with put the game away for good, at 42-16. In the end, UK added two more touchdowns to cruise to the 56-16 victory.
 
COACH SPEAK (HC DOUG MARTIN):
"Today was the same effort that we've seen all season. Our players are fighting as hard as they can and giving great effort. They're a great group of kids and have great spirit about them. We're just not quite talented enough yet coming off last season. It's too hard to rebuild after one year. Isaiah [Garcia-Castaneda] was not able to practice all week, but he was able to return from injury today which was good to see. He did some good things. Hopefully he can play his best game next week, and help us send our seniors out the right way, with a win. That's our main focus."
 
On Alex Escobar:
"Alex has earned everything he has gotten here. His teammates voted him a captain which tells you everything you need to know about his character."
 
On the senior class:
"This has been a great senior group. They've been through a lot of adversity so it would be nice to send those guys out with a win. I appreciate all of their efforts through the years, and I'm sure our guys will show up and play as hard as they can for them."
 
UP NEXT:
The Aggies will close the 2021 season and honor their seniors next Saturday against UMass. Kick-off from Aggie Memorial is set for 1 p.m.