Roy Lopez, Sage Doxtater return from injury to close out season

LAS CRUCES - Roy Lopez and Sage Doxtater aren't here to save the season for the New Mexico State football team. 

But adding two four-year starters back into the fold for the last five games of a disappointing season can only be a good thing. 

"I'm just here to help the team," said Lopez, who went down with a leg injury in the third quarter of the season opener at Washington State. "The way the season has gone, I wasn't there to help the team, but now I'm here to try to help send the seniors out on a high note."

Although Lopez and Doxtater are both seniors, they are both eligible for a redshirt season next year. They can each play in four games this year and still be eligible for the redshirt season. 

Lopez and Doxtater each played in a road loss to Georgia Southern prior to last week's open week. 

"I didn't know when I was going to get in the game, but they just told me that I was going to play," Doxtater said. "I was nervous just because I knew there was rust I had to knock off."

Neither will play on Saturday at Mississippi (2 p.m. on SEC Network and 99.5 KXPZ-FM and TuneIn App), but Doxtater will play in the final three games and Lopez will play in the Aggies final two games. 

"I tried to give as many pointers as I could in the film room and the field," Lopez said. "I just tried to give them uplifted spirits because the season has been tough and I wasn't out there playing."

Lopez suffered a hematoma injury in his lower leg against Washington State. 

Lopez said he rehabbed three times per day, not necessarily to get back on the field, but to make sure his leg healed correctly. 

"I was scared at some points, but I was just so excited to play," Lopez said. "I was going to go back in the (Washington State) game, but it just got too tight."

Lopez returned to action against Georgia Southern, coming off the bench. 

"I feel like I was 80 or 90 percent," Lopez said. "I was tired. A couple times I felt like myself and a couple times I didn't. I was just happy to be out there. My parents were able to go and I was just blessed to be able to play again."

Doxtater injured his shoulder in fall camp, and also played against Georgia Southern in a backup role at left tackle, where he has started nearly every game throughout his first three years.

"I'm trying to get better every day and try to help win these last couple games if possible," Doxtater said.

Both players are part of a senior class that head coach Doug Martin said has continued to compete throughout what has been a winless season, thus far. 

"We have a great group of young men that really care," Martin said. "They are disappointed in the season with a lot of things out of their control, but they have been a great group to coach." 

Sports Editor Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.