The Mountain West provided a defensive battle the when San Diego State Aztecs (6-1) squared off against the San Jose State Spartans (3-4). The Aztecs were riding a two-game winning streak and the Spartans sought to rectify a heartbreaking 41-38 loss last week at Nevada.
The MVP (Most Valuable Participant) for the evening was San Diego’s Defensive Coordinator Rocky Long. The Aztecs held a potent Spartan offense to 272 total yards and sealed a 27-17 victory.
San Diego’s David Williams opened the game with a 95-yard touchdown kick-off return. The Spartans responded with a 4-play scoring drive. The two big plays for San Jose came from the passing of quarterback Josh Love, a 41-yard pass to wide receiver Isaiah Hamilton and a 11-yard touchdown pass to running back Kairee Robinson. With the scored tied 7-7, the majority of the first half was an exchange of punts.
San Diego opened the second quarter with a drive that resulted in a 41-yard field goal. The Aztecs continued its ball control offense and held the ball on their next drive for 18 plays and 8:55 minutes. The Spartan defense held, and the Aztecs settled for a 28-yard field goal with 6 seconds left in the half. The halftime score was San Diego leading 13-7.
The second half started the same way the first quarter ended. The Aztecs controlled the ball and went 11 plays, 6:12 minutes and ended the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Juwan Washington. The Aztec’s took a 20-10 lead.
San Jose’s offense caught bad breaks on the ensuing possession. On two consecutive calls the referees ruled against the Spartans. The first call was initially ruled a catch for a 3rd down conversion. The replay review overturned the call and San Jose was forced to punt. On the punt, the ball touched a San Diego player and San Jose recovered. The call was ruled in favor of San Diego because the player was blocked into the ball. It is one of the rarest calls you will ever see made by the officials.
Later in the second half, San Diego’s Chase Jasmine took the ball for a 50-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 27-10. San Jose responded with its own scoring drive that resulted in an 8-yard touchdown pass to Bailey Gaither. The final score was 27-17. The story of the game was San Diego limiting San Jose to 53 rushing yards on the evening. The Spartans were a formidable opponent and Head Coach Brent Brennon has the Spartans headed in the right direction. You simply have to tip your hat to the San Diego State Aztecs who are the class of the Mountain West.
