New Mexico State senior quarterback Buck Pierce practiced on Thursday and could start Saturday?s game at Texas-El Paso.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Pierce injured his right shoulder during last Saturday?s loss to New Mexico. He was injured on the first drive of the second half.
New Mexico State coach Tony Samuel wouldn?t say Thursday whether Pierce would start on Saturday.
?He looked like he was doing fine,? said Samuel of Pierce. ?He got in some work today.?
Pierce shared many of the offensive reps under center on Thursday with junior Paul Dombrowski and sophomore Joey Vincent. Pierce was in a sling after the game last week, but X-rays were negative.
Pierce has completed 56 of 81 passes this season for 507 yards and five touchdowns and Dombrowski has played some at quarterback and some at receiver. Dombrowski has caught six passes for 90 yards, run for 32 yards and completed 5-of-20 passes for 108 yards. Vincent has not had any passing or rushing attempts this season.
Texas-El Paso linebacker Robert Rodriguez said the Miners were anticipating both quarterbacks to play and were also prepared to defend the Aggies if Pierce didn?t start or play.
?Both quarterbacks are very sound and both make good things happen,? said Rodriguez on Tuesday. ?We?ll still have to execute on defense and slow their running attack down and try to create some turnovers.?
The Aggies could get the services of senior center Matt Vincent back this weekend. He missed last week?s game with New Mexico with a foot injury. If he plays, he could get the nod at center and redshirt freshman Matt Martinez could move over to left tackle. Martinez started the year at center, then moved to left tackle to replace the injured Kyle Smith for the Troy University game. Because of Vincent?s injury last week, Martinez started at center and freshman Alex Gottlieb started at left tackle.
Smith had surgery on his left shoulder on Thursday and he is out for the season. The sophomore played in two games for NMSU this year and could still get a medical redshirt. Samuel said the Aggies would have to petition for a medical redshirt after the season is over.
As of Thursday, 36,000 tickets had been sold for Saturday?s game, which begins at 7:05 p.m. The Sun Bowl seats 51,500.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Pierce injured his right shoulder during last Saturday?s loss to New Mexico. He was injured on the first drive of the second half.
New Mexico State coach Tony Samuel wouldn?t say Thursday whether Pierce would start on Saturday.
?He looked like he was doing fine,? said Samuel of Pierce. ?He got in some work today.?
Pierce shared many of the offensive reps under center on Thursday with junior Paul Dombrowski and sophomore Joey Vincent. Pierce was in a sling after the game last week, but X-rays were negative.
Pierce has completed 56 of 81 passes this season for 507 yards and five touchdowns and Dombrowski has played some at quarterback and some at receiver. Dombrowski has caught six passes for 90 yards, run for 32 yards and completed 5-of-20 passes for 108 yards. Vincent has not had any passing or rushing attempts this season.
Texas-El Paso linebacker Robert Rodriguez said the Miners were anticipating both quarterbacks to play and were also prepared to defend the Aggies if Pierce didn?t start or play.
?Both quarterbacks are very sound and both make good things happen,? said Rodriguez on Tuesday. ?We?ll still have to execute on defense and slow their running attack down and try to create some turnovers.?
The Aggies could get the services of senior center Matt Vincent back this weekend. He missed last week?s game with New Mexico with a foot injury. If he plays, he could get the nod at center and redshirt freshman Matt Martinez could move over to left tackle. Martinez started the year at center, then moved to left tackle to replace the injured Kyle Smith for the Troy University game. Because of Vincent?s injury last week, Martinez started at center and freshman Alex Gottlieb started at left tackle.
Smith had surgery on his left shoulder on Thursday and he is out for the season. The sophomore played in two games for NMSU this year and could still get a medical redshirt. Samuel said the Aggies would have to petition for a medical redshirt after the season is over.
As of Thursday, 36,000 tickets had been sold for Saturday?s game, which begins at 7:05 p.m. The Sun Bowl seats 51,500.
