New Mexico State football plays the first of two meetings against Hawaii

LAS CRUCES - Scheduling as an independent football program has produced a number of unique situations for New Mexico State. 

Among them is playing the same team twice in the same season - something the Aggies did in 2018 and 2019 against Liberty. The Aggies play host to Hawaii on Saturday at 6 p.m., in the first of two games against the Rainbow Warriors. 

NM State travels to Hawaii on Oct. 23.

"It's a much shorter time frame (between games), so that will be  unique," said Aggies head coach Doug Martin, whose team is 1-3 after a 43-35 home win against FCS opponent South Carolina State on Saturday. "The advantage I think we do have is that before we go to Hawaii, we have an open date, and then after the game we are open. What usually gets you when you to Hawaii is the game after that. The kids usually get a little exhausted from the trip."

More:New Mexico State Film Room: Aggies limit big pass plays, Maldonado continues to deliver

The Aggies are 0-8 all time against Hawaii, a former Western Athletic Conference rival. 

Hawaii is 1-3 on the season with a 49-35 win over FCS Portland State and losses to Oregon State, UCLA and San Jose State. 

Hawaii lost 17-13 at home against San Jose State on Saturday in a matchup of the Aggies next two opponents. 

"I really enjoy watching San Jose State on offense," Martin said. "They have a really good quarterback and he can throw the ball as good as anybody. That is what is frightening about going into this game. Hawaii really shut San Jose State down. They got to the quarterback and San Jose State had a really hard time running the ball. San Jose State had 290 yards so it says a lot about how good (Hawaii's) defense is."

The Aggies are 107th nationally in pass defense, allowing 265 yards per game. 

Their next four opponents are each in the Top 27 passing offenses in the country. Hawaii is No. 27 at 289 yards per game, San Jose State is No. 16 with 318 yards per game and Nevada is No. 9 with 353 yards per game. Utah State is No. 8 with 357 passing yards per game.

"It's definitely the most challenging part of the schedule," Martin said. "They are all games against the Mountain West coming up so it's going to be difficult. We have to get more pressure on the quarterback with just four down or maybe five.

"Hopefully we got a little confidence last week and can go play a little better this week."

QB position still fluid

Martin said starting quarterback Jonah Johnson could have played last week if needed. 

Johnson (wrist) and Weston Eget (knee) will practice for the second straight week, but Martin did not name a starter on Tuesday. 

"Both of those guys, we have to see how they are in practice this week," Martin said. "I need to see how Jonah can throw the ball and see how Weston can move."

Martin indicated that Johnson is closer to returning to the lineup than Eget. Johnson suffered a wrist injury in the first half against New Mexico. 

"If Jonah is 100 percent healthy, I can just tell you that he gives us the best chance because of what we are getting ready to face and what he can do and his experience and the athletic ability that he has," Martin said. "Those are things that we as a staff have to evaluate and understand who we are playing this week and that the quarterback is going to have to do some things at the line of scrimmage that we didn't have to do last week."

Walk on quarterback Dino Maldonado passed for over 300 yards in the first half against South Carolina State and finished with 321 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. 

Maldonado is 37 for 66 (56 percent) for 513  yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He came off the bench and led the Aggies to 20 offensive points against UNM and 43 points against South Carolina State. 

"Dino did what we needed him to do in the game," Martin said. "He didn't turn the ball over. We were playing a FCS team, which is different than what we are getting ready to play and have been playing. He executed well and did some good things. He's going to struggle with things because he's inexperienced and that showed up in the second half of the game. We couldn't score and they started playing more man and pressuring more."

Johnson is 46 for 90 (51 percent) for 444 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions and 16 points in starts against UTEP, San Diego State and the first quarter against UNM.

"The great news is that even if one of those guys (Johnson or Eget) plays, we still know that we have (Maldonado), who can come in," Martin said. "We will evaluate that in practice this week and see who gives us the best chance to win the football game."