The first quarter was awful. The start smelled of stale starts against Wyoming and Colorado State. The SDSU offense was three and out the first three possessions. The fourth possession featured our first first down due to a Houston defender running into Tanner Blain. Next, Nick Bawden makes a circus catch for yet another first down. My heart be still. Are we playing functional football? Alas, no. Tanner Blain punts, yet again.
The second quarter begins with another three and out by the Aztec offense (or what I assumed to be the Aztec offense). However, our next possession features Donnel Pumphrey’s first substantial run of the game which made way for John Baron’s first field goal (his season long impact cannot be overstated).
As the first half ends, we are down 10-6 which is much better than being on the wrong side of a shutout. Additional good news was our 5 yards of offense in the first quarter became Houston’s second quarter total. Change is underway.
Change is Kyle Kelly’s first pick at 14:05 in the third. Yet, no score results! Calvin Munson’s interception happens at 5:03. This stopped a Cougar drive with the ball on the Aztec 30. And better yet, the Aztec offense scores off the interception, 13-10.
Change becomes deeper with Ron Smith’s interception with 56 seconds remaining in the third. Plus, his run to the end zone was perfect. 20-10, Aztecs.
The fourth quarter was a continuous Aztec defensive highlight. Kyle Kelley begins the sack parade. Donnel interrupts the process by breaking some type of NCAA rushing record. The number 6,405 was mentioned. I’m sure I’ll read about this at a later date.
Anyway, sack #2 of the fourth quarter happens at 9:05. Greg Ward, Jr. is tad woozy and uncertain at this point. Playing quarterback against a swarm of directed chaos is no fun.
Christian Chapman hits Curtis Anderson for a touchdown of the passing variety. We go up, 27-10.
Brent Musburger re-states that this game is a match between a “stable coaching staff” versus “better athletes”. Indeed. Though, any commentator, observer or maven of college football who believes SDSU is shy of “athletes” should grab his ankles and pull.
Shame on me.
The sacks continue: 9:19, 4:27, 3:59 and 2:57. In between, Juwan Washington scores the final Aztec touchdown. 34-10.
Finally, Kyle Kelly enjoys interception dos with 17 seconds remaining. Joy.
Items of note: We had one more yard of offense than the Cougars (255 to 254). The Aztec defense allowed an average of 0.6 yards per rush and 3.4 yards per Cougar play. Impressive. Houston ran 75 offensive plays. The Aztecs ran 51. The 7 Aztec sacks accounted for 51 yards while the 4 picks racked 87 yards and the Ron Smith td. A healthy crowd of 29,286 watched a dominating SDSU football team. Plus, the traveling Aztec faithful were quite loud the entire second half.
11-3. Done. Bring me next year.
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