Mercyhurst’s 31-14 victory over New Mexico State in this NMSU Football game summary was decided by a series of early scoring plays and a second-quarter burst that put the result beyond doubt. The Aggies had moments of promise, but Mercyhurst controlled the key sequences and built a lead New Mexico State could not recover from.
The game summary for Sep. 5, 2026, listed touchdowns from Byron Cardwell Jr., TJ Washington Jr., and James Jones for Mercyhurst, while Mercyhurst quarterback Alex Gevaudan also delivered the kind of efficient start that set the tone. Gevaudan completed 5 consecutive passes with 11:16 remaining in the first quarter, then extended that rhythm to 10 consecutive completions later in the game.
Mercyhurst set the pace early
The first quarter gave Mercyhurst the edge it needed. Byron Cardwell Jr. opened the scoring on a 2-yard run with 8:32 remaining, before TJ Washington Jr. added a 16-yard touchdown run with 1:45 left in the period. Those two scores showed how quickly Mercyhurst was able to turn possession into points.
Gevaudan’s passing sequence mattered just as much. His early completion run helped Mercyhurst stay on schedule, and the Aggies were forced to chase the game before halftime. In a summary that focused on selected plays, that control was one of the clearest themes.
The second quarter finished the job
Mercyhurst added another layer in the second quarter when Alex Gevaudan threw a 14-yard touchdown pass with 12:58 remaining. Camden Lewis was the receiver on the play, and the result made the margin look even more comfortable.
Later in the quarter, James Jones broke loose for the longest scoring play listed in the summary, a 46-yard touchdown run with 5:39 remaining. That was the biggest play of the night among the touchdowns recorded, and it underlined the difference between the two sides in explosiveness.
What the Aggies were trying to overcome
The summary also included historical references tied to New Mexico State. It noted that the Aggies had last scored a touchdown on their opening drive against Middle Tennessee on Nov. 23, 2024, had last had a PAT blocked against Bryant on Aug. 30, 2025, and had last returned an interception for a touchdown when Naeten Mitchell did so against Sam Houston on Oct. 2, 2025.
Those references help frame the broader picture around the program, but the story on Sep. 5, 2026 was straightforward: Mercyhurst handled the decisive moments, converted its opportunities, and came away with a 31-14 win in New Mexico State football action.
