LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State University freshman wide receiver Josiah Castillo watched from the sidelines Saturday, Sept. 26 as he experienced his first “Battle of I-25” football game as an Aggie since graduating from Goddard High School in May.
The University of New Mexico Lobos defeated NMSU 42-18 in the 116th edition of the rivalry game at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
The annual contest pits the state’s two biggest universities, and only Division 1 football programs, against one another. Its nickname recognizes Interstate 25, a highway that connects Albuquerque, home of the Lobos, and Las Cruces, home of the Aggies. The Rio Grande also flows between the two communities, thus the rivalry itself was dubbed the “Rio Grande Rivalry.”
The game was played at one of those two locations every year for more than a century.
Although he wasn’t on the field this game, Castillo, 19, said he aims to get more playing time in his first year on the team.
He said the excitement during the most recent and the 2024 edition of the rivalry, which he attended as a high school student, proved to him NMSU was where he belonged.
“Some of the NMSU coaches invited me to the game against UNM in 2024,” Castillo said. “That’s when I realized that NMSU is the school I wanted to play for.”
Castillo remembers being 7 years old when he first picked up a football, with the goal of one day playing at the college level. Four varsity seasons at Goddard helped prepare him for his biggest challenge: becoming a preferred walk-on at NMSU. He announced his commitment to play for the team in May.
Castillo earned first-team All-State honors in Class 5A in 2025. As a senior for the Rockets, he caught 39 passes for 751 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Goddard head coach Art Bolaños, who coached Castillo for two seasons, saw firsthand the effect the receiver could have on the game.
“He was huge for us,” Bolaños said. “His presence alone occupied more than one person. A lot of teams overcompensated for him, and it opened up our run game. Just him being on the field was big for us offensively, both in the passing and run game.”
Bolaños believes Castillo’s best football is still ahead of him because of the resources he has at NMSU and his desire to improve.
But the transition from high school football to college football has been a challenge, Castillo said. Players are bigger, stronger and faster, he said, meaning more time in the weight room, on the track improving his running speed and studying game footage closely to better understand defensive strategies that might get in his way.
Castillo also said Aggies head coach Tony Sanchez has helped him develop as a player. Sanchez previously served as NMSU’s receivers coach before becoming head coach.
And the team’s more experienced wide receivers TK King and TJ Pride also helped Castillo find his footing, he said, as he adjusts to the speed and power of college football.
“King and Pride have been mentors for me this season,” Castillo said. “They have a lot of experience in college football and have shared a lot of wisdom with me.”
Marshall Mecham can be reached at (915) 232-1793 or on X @mecham_marshall. Mecham serves with the New Mexico Local News Fellowship, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across the state. Learn more at www.newmexicolocalnewsfellowships.org.
