By the Daily News

Western Kentucky’s football team maintained its share of the top in the Conference USA football standings with a 41-28 win over New Mexico State on Saturday at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

It was the fourth consecutive win for the Hilltoppers (7-2 overall, 5-0 CUSA). WKU is one of two teams, along with Jacksonville State, sitting at 5-0 in CUSA play after Saturday’s games.

“Good win tonight. You always want to be 1-0 in November when you start the month,” WKU coach Tyson Helton said in a news release. “We did that. Went on the road today and got a good, hard-fought win, a good team win. We get to go back home now and get to play another good Conference USA opponent and try to make it 2-0 in November and keep it rolling.”

WKU’s defense forced five turnovers in the game, while the Hilltopper offense posted its third-highest point total of the season.’

“It was really just a mindset thing and an effort thing,” WKU defensive lineman Dallas Walker said. “We knew it was going to be a little hard, it was going to be a grind when we came out here, coming all the way from Bowling Green, and we got here a little late. We just tried to lock in together and we tried to make it be known that we’re going to fly around all day today.”

The Hilltoppers took a quick lead by scoring on the game’s opening possession with a 54-yard touchdown reception by Easton Messer on a pass from Caden Veltkamp.

After forcing a turnover on New Mexico State’s first play – a Dallas Walker interception – Veltkamp scored on a 1-yard keeper to cap off a six-play, 28-yard drive to give WKU a 14-0 lead just over five minutes into the game.

New Mexico State got on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run by Mike Washington to make it 14-7 with 3:01 remaining in the first quarter.

WKU used some trickery to extend its lead to 21-7. Wide receiver Dalvin Smith completed a 51-yard touchdown pass to Kisean Johnson on the first play of the second quarter for the team’s third touchdown of the game.

After Hosea Wheeler recovered a fumble at the WKU 17-yard line with 53 seconds left in the first half to end New Mexico State’s scoring threat, WKU drove 59 yards down the field and Lucas Carneiro made a 42-yard field goal as time expired to put the Hilltoppers ahead 24-7.

New Mexico State scored first in the second half on a 3-yard run by Washington, making it a 24-14 game.

The Aggies cut the deficit to three at 24-21 with a 7-yard touchdown run by Seth McGowan with 5:28 left in the third.

Veltkamp gave WKU some breathing room with a 3-yard touchdown run after a 34-yard pass to K.D. Hutchinson on the play before, making it a 31-21 Hilltopper lead with 59 seconds left in the third quarter.

Hutchinson caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Veltkamp with 9:58 to play to put WKU ahead of New Mexico State 38-21.

Carneiro connected on a 53-yard field goal with 5:03 to play to put WKU up 41-21.

New Mexico State capped off the scoring with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Santino Marucci to Donovan Faupel with 1:55 remaining, making it 41-28.

WKU is now 1-0 against New Mexico State in games played in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and 1-1 all-time against the Aggies.

WKU put up 413 yards of offense, with 297 passing and 116 rushing.

Veltkamp threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns on 18 of 27 passing with two interceptions, and added a pair of rushing touchdowns. Veltkamp now has seven rushing touchdowns this season, and it was the second time this season Veltkamp rushed for multiple touchdowns in a game.

Seven different WKU players caught passes in the win, with five catching multiple passes and three catching touchdown passes. Kisean Johnson led receivers with 88 yards and a score on five catches, while K.D. Hutchinson had 73 yards and a touchdown on four catches and Easton Messer had 69 yards and a touchdown on four receptions.

Dalvin Smith’s 51-yard touchdown pass to Kisean Johnson in the second quarter was the receiver’s second touchdown pass of the season and the fourth of his career.

“Just coming out early, man, and getting to a good start,” Johnson said. “Coach preaches that we had to get out to an even earlier start in the second half, but we kind of stalled a little bit, but bounced back, made plays and got the W. It got kind of ugly in the second half, but we made plays and found a way.”

It was WKU’s third straight game scoring a touchdown on the opening drive of the game.

WKU forced five turnovers in the game – its most this season. WKU forced four turnovers against Toledo.

Dallas Walker intercepted a deflected pass on New Mexico State’s first offensive play. It was Walker’s first career interception.

Anthony Johnson picked off a pass with 12:00 to play in the second quarter. It was his second interception of the season and his first since the win over Middle Tennessee, and it was the sixth of his WKU career.

Sixteen WKU players recorded multiple tackles in the win, led by eight from Anthony Brackenridge. WKU posted three tackles for loss.

With two makes in the win, Carneiro has now made 11 consecutive field goals. He is now 11-of-12 on field goals this season and 34-for-34 on PATs. His 53-yard make was the second-longest of his career and his third make from 50-plus yards this season.

WKU will return home to face Louisiana Tech for a homecoming game next Saturday, Nov. 16. Kickoff at Houchens-Smith Stadium is scheduled for 11 a.m. The game will be televised on CBSSN.