And the heavens opened.
Rain, lightning, wind, pestilence. I’m exaggerating about the pestilence. A raging storm framing a slippery, fall down football game that started badly for San Diego State. What did not go wrong?
Air Force ran straight at the Aztec defense. Eight yards, six yards, nine yards. Ugly.
The Aztec offense felt the need to contribute. We offered, and Air Force gladly accepted, the following time of possession during our first four “drives”:
2:03.
1:51.
2:36.
1:56.
We registered zero first downs during the first quarter. Zero. The number between negative one and positive one. Zero.
There was enough standing water on the field to attract several flocks of various fowl. Sadly, ducks, geese, swans and coots could not stick the landing due to the high winds.
Just for fun, lightning strikes at 7:56. And twice more resulting in a total delay of 88 or 89 or 90 minutes depending upon the source.
Upon resuming the game, lo and behold, the Aztecs, who prefer dry weather on cool nights, decided to play football while staring at a 9-0 shutout. More people were on the field playing football than in the stands watching football.
Christian Chapman first play post-lightning was a strike to Kahale Warring. We are stirring. Rashaad Penny scores. No more shutout.
Yet, the kind-hearted nature of the Aztecs continued to shine. We refuse to take away a minimum of three Air Force fumbles. Guests are never rude. John Barron misses a field goal! Christian Chapman loses a fumble (as preferred in the general scheme of football). Brandon Heicklen has a punt blocked, but runs down the naughty cadet before he can score. That was big.
Rashaad Penny’s second score followed by David Wells td pass get the fourth quarter off to a great start until Air Force scores to go ahead, 24-21 with 6:16 remaining. However, just as the David Wells td pass was a fine case of “right back at ya”, so too was Mr. Penny’s third touchdown with 5:39 left.
Trey Lomax seals the game with his interception at the :58 second mark. Done. 28-24. All without halftime. If you watched/listened, quarters second, third and fourth were consecutive without a break.
Interesting numbers: Air Force’s total yardage was 253. Average gain per play 3.8. Swamp Aztec defense was good enough. Air Force was a combined 6/17 on third and fourth downs.
4-0/1-0. Go Aztecs. Swim Aztecs. Row Aztecs.
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