LYNCHBURG, Va. — Diego Pavia passed for three touchdowns and ran for three more as 24.5-point underdog New Mexico State handed Liberty its third straight loss 49-14 on Saturday.
The Aggies (5-6) have been on a roll, winning four of their last five games under first-year coach Jerry Kill and reaching five wins for just the second time since 2005.
“Today was unbelievable,” said Kill. “I’ve been through a lot of great things in my life, but this is one I won’t forget.”
The two programs, both joining Conference USA next season, are at crossroads. The Aggies are hoping to find an opponent for next Saturday to replace the missed San Jose State game from earlier in the season. That could get them to six wins and bowl eligibility.
Liberty, meanwhile, looks like it could be losing its coach. Hugh Freeze is reportedly being targeted by Auburn for its opening, and after the Flames’ loss Saturday, did not deny interest in the opening.
“Is the job that everyone’s talking about one that I would have an interest in of talking with? Sure,” Freeze told reporters after the game. “That doesn’t mean they have offered me a job. Who knows where that’s headed.”
Pavia, of Albuquerque, was 16 of 21 in the air, throwing for 214 yards with touchdown passes to Jonathan Brady, Kordell David and Star Thomas. Pavia was the Aggies’ leading ground gainer with 125 yards on 20 carries. The Aggies rushed for 214 yards.
The Aggies rolled up 21 points in the second quarter on a 2-yard Pavia run and his TD passes of 39 yards to Thomas and 42 yards to David. Pavia’s 2-yard TD run and Jamoni Jones’ 42-yarder made it 42-7 in the third quarter.
Three quarterbacks combined for 207 yards passing, a TD and an interception for Liberty (8-4), which was outgained 428-315. The Flames, who had three straight wins over the Aggies, lost two fumbles and were sacked five times.
Freeze coached at Ole Miss for five seasons before leaving in disgrace in 2017 after the school discovered he used a university cellphone to call an escort service.
He has gone 34-14 in four seasons with the Flames.
New Mexico State 49, Liberty 14
Associated Press
New Mexico St. 7 21 14 7 — 49
Liberty 7 0 0 7 — 14
First Quarter
NMSU—Brady 34 pass from Pavia (Albertson kick), 6:11.
LIB—T.Green 1 run (N.Brown kick), :03.
Second Quarter
NMSU—Pavia 2 run (Albertson kick), 7:16.
NMSU—S.Thomas 39 pass from Pavia (Albertson kick), 6:29.
NMSU—David 42 pass from Pavia (Albertson kick), :43.
Third Quarter
NMSU—Pavia 2 run (Albertson kick), 8:02.
NMSU—Ja.Jones 49 run (Albertson kick), 5:28.
Fourth Quarter
NMSU—Pavia 3 run (Albertson kick), 6:23.
LIB—Lofton 6 pass from Salter (Stricker kick), :15.
A—18,837.
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NMSU LIB
First downs 24 21
Total Net Yards 428 315
Rushes-yards 43-214 35-108
Passing 214 207
Punt Returns 1-24 1-32
Kickoff Returns 0-0 5-71
Interceptions Ret. 1–1 0-0
Comp-Att-Int 16-21-0 25-39-1
Sacked-Yards Lost 1-5 5-34
Punts 3-37.667 3-49.0
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-2
Penalties-Yards 4-25 8-85
Time of Possession 35:33 24:27
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—New Mexico St., Pavia 20-125, Ja.Jones 13-74, S.Thomas 7-11, Watkins 2-6, (Team) 1-(minus 2). Liberty, T.Green 9-55, Louis 11-38, Brewer 2-10, Bennett 6-7, Douglas 1-5, Salter 6-(minus 7).
PASSING—New Mexico St., Pavia 16-21-0-214. Liberty, Salter 12-17-0-101, Bennett 8-13-0-72, Brewer 5-9-1-34.
RECEIVING—New Mexico St., Brady 4-52, David 3-51, Whitford 2-23, S.Thomas 1-39, Marsh 1-25, Warner 1-9, Bellamy 1-7, Childress 1-6, Powers 1-6, Watkins 1-(minus 4). Liberty, Douglas 7-78, Snead 6-45, J.Jackson 3-24, Louis 3-15, Frith 2-17, Yarbrough 2-14, Hanshaw 1-8, Lofton 1-6.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Liberty, N.Brown 52.
