Sept. 4, 1999
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Larry Ned rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns and Brian Russell threw for two TDs to lead San Diego State to a 41-12 season-opening victory over South Florida on Saturday night.
Ned, who carried 14 times, scored first-half touchdowns of 45 and 5 yards as the Aztecs took a 24-3 halftime lead over their Division I-AA opponent.
Russell was 8-of-17 for 118 yards, but threw touchdowns of 20-yard TD passes to Damon Gourdine and Jim Ange. Russell, a junior, had just eight touchdowns last season after taking over as the starter in the third game.
Russell added 51 yards on two rushes, including a 43-yard scramble.
San Diego State also scored on an 11-yard run by Jonas Lewis and Nate Tandberg kicked field goals of 22 and 37 yards.
The Bulls, starting their third season of football, scored on field goals of 27 and 44 yards by Bill Gramatica and on Marquel Blackwell's 20-yard pass to Reshod Durant.
South Florida, playing against a Division I-A team for the first time, managed just 219 yards. San Diego State had 414 yards, 229 on the ground.
Kevin Burton's 25-yard interception return to the Bulls 25 set up Russell's TD pass to Gourdine for a 7-0 lead. Later in the first quarter, Ned scored on a 45-yard run when he went untouched on a draw play.