Sept. 17, 2000
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San Diego State (0-3) at Oregon State (2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 23, 2000 * 3:30 pm (PDT)
Reser Stadium (35,362) * Corvallis, Ore.
Television: Fox Sports NW (Delay) * Radio: KSDO (1130 AM)
Series: Aztecs lead, 2-0
TELEVISION: The San Diego State at Oregon State game will be televised in the Pacific Northwest on a delayed basis by Fox Sports Northwest on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Scott Lynn will handle the play-by-play duties with Steve Preece calling the color.
RADIO: This week's game can be heard live in San Diego on KSDO (1130 AM). Jim Stone will call the action with "The Coach", John Kentera, handling the color.
Week Four * The San Diego State Aztecs move from the desert heat to the lush Pacific Northwest this week to complete the non-conference portion of their 2000 football schedule. This week SDSU travels to Corvallis to take on the Oregon State Beavers on Saturday afternoon. The Aztecs are 0-3 and the Beavers, coming off an open date, stand 2-0, including a win over New Mexico of the Mountain West Conference.
New Stuff * Saturday's contest will mark SDSU's first day game of the season and San Diego State's first appearance on articifial turf.
End Of The Pac 10 Season * Oregon State marks the third Pac-10 opponent for San Diego State in the first month of the season. The Aztecs dropped hard-fought decisions in the first two outings (10-7 to Arizona State and 17-3 to Arizona). The Aztecs will meet both Arizona schools again next year and will begin a four-year series with UCLA in 2002.
The "I" Word * Quarterback Jack Hawley became San Diego State's latest injury victim when it was announced last week that he would be sidelined the rest of the year with a fractured vertebra. He became the fifth Aztec to be lost for the 2000 season, joining center Zach LaMonda, offensive lineman Chris Williams, tight end Gray McNeill and defensive end Akbar Gbaja-Biamilia on the sidelines. All five players were entrenched as starters at the beginning of fall camp.
More Pains * The Aztec injury bug first began affecting the squad before the pads were laced up. As a result, of San Diego State's original 22 starters (as listed on the pre-camp depth chart), nine have already missed at least one of the team's three games.
New Faces, New Places * Five more Aztecs got their first career start against Arizona. The newest starters included offensive linemen Sikoti Uipi and David Mayhew, tight end Brian Gelt, quarterback Lon Sheriff and defensive end Anthony Foli. As a result, the Aztecs have now started 19 different players on offense in just three games. Only three players, offensive lineman Mike Houghton, receiver J.R. Tolver and defensive tackle Jerome Haywood, started the final game of 1999 and each of the first three games of the 2000 season.
The Series * This week marks the third meeting between the Beavers and the Aztecs with San Diego State owning a 2-0 edge. This is the first meeting between the schools since Sept. 13, 1975, when the Aztecs posted a 25-0 shutout at Oregon State.
The Previous Meetings
SDSU 25, Oregon State 0
Sept. 13, 1975
Portland Civic Stadium
* The San Diego State defense held Oregon State to 152 yards of total offense and forced five turnovers as the Aztecs defeated the Beavers 25-0.
* The game marked the first time Oregon State had been shutout in 59 contests and the first time that a nonconference opponent had done it since Michigan blanked Oregon State, 41-0, in 1966.
* Steve LaPlant tied a school record by connecting on four field goals, a record that still stands today. LaPlant split the uprights three times and Craig Penrose threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Duke Fergerson, all in the final 6:19 of the first half, to give San Diego State a 16-0 lead at the break.
* Gary Marshall led the defensive attack, recording six tackles, recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass.
* The victory improved the Aztecs to 2-0 on the season. They went on to win their first eight games before settling for an 8-3 record. It was the fourth consecutive eight-win season for the Aztecs.
* Oregon State lost the season opener to San Diego State and opened the campaign with eight consecutive losses before claiming a 7-0 win over Washington State. The Beavers ended the season with a 1-10 record.
DSU 17, Oregon State 8
Sept. 8, 1972
San Diego Stadium
* Isaac Curtis caught five passes for 153 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown pass from Bill Donckers, as San Diego State defeated Oregon State 17-8 in front of 32,829 at San Diego Stadium.
* The Aztecs, who outgained the Beavers 412-184, scored the first 17 points of the game in the season opener for both teams.
* Pat Cassidy recorded 11 tackles and recovered a fumble for an Aztec defense that yielded just nine first downs on the afternoon.
* San Diego State went 10-1 in '72 while Oregon State ended that season with a 2-9 mark.
Running with the Pac * San Diego State is 11-46-3 against members of the Pacific 10 Conference. In addition to the 2-0 mark against vs. Oregon State, the Aztecs are 5-9 vs. Arizona, 3-3 vs. California, 1-3 vs. Stanford, 0-2-1 vs. Southern California, 0-7-1 vs. Arizona State, 0-2 vs. Washington, 0-4 vs. Oregon and 0-16-1 vs. UCLA.
* The Aztecs have dropped seven straight to Pac-10 members, dating back to a 33-9 season-opening victory over California on Sept. 2, 1995. Of the last seven losses, three have been decided by five points or less, including last season's 24-21 loss at 17th-ranked Southern California and this year's 10-7 season-opening loss to Arizona State.
* Since Ted Tollner took control of the football program prior to the 1994 season, San Diego State is 2-7 against Pac-10 competition. Counting his days as Southern California's head coach, Tollner is 23-16 against his former league rivals.
0-3 To A Winning Season * Due in part to a string of injuries and one of the toughest schedules in the country, San Diego State has opened a season winless in its first three games for only the fourth time in 78 years of football. Remarkably, in two of those three seasons, the Aztecs rebounded to post a winning overall record.
* In 1998, San Diego State opened the season with three consecutive losses (Wisconsin 14-26, at USC 6-35 and Arizona 16-35), but won seven of its final eight regular-season games and advanced to the Las Vegas Bowl. That Aztec team finished 7-5 overall and 7-1 in the Western Athletic Conference.
* The 1989 squad opened 0-2-1 with losses at Air Force (36-52), UCLA (25-28) and a tie against Cal St Fullerton (41-41), before righting the ship and finishing the season 6-5-1.
Defending the Pac * San Diego State has gotten to know the Pac-10 well this season, already having played Arizona State and Arizona. One thing the Sun Devils and Wildcats can attest to is the performance of the San Diego State defense.
* In two games against the Pac 10 conference this season, the Aztecs have yielded 27 points while forcing five turnovers. Worth noting is that seven of the 27 points San Diego State has allowed came on a return of a blocked punt. Hence the defense has only yielded 20 point.
* Arizona State and Arizona combined for 30 possessions against the San Diego State defense, resulting in only two touchdowns and two field goals. The breakdown (30 total possessions): two touchdowns, two field goals, five turnovers, three missed field goals, two ended game and 16 punts. Of the punts, eight came after three plays.
* Both games have been within seven points entering the fourth quarter. Of the seven Sun Devil and Wildcat possessions that started in the fourth quarter, none have resulted in points.
Short Drives * The San Diego State defense has been a victim of opponents' great field position. Of the 11 opponent scoring drives, three have been less than 40 yards and six have traveled 56 yards or less. The average opponent scoring drive is 51.3 yards.
Other Numbers * Although the Aztecs have been outscored 76-23 through three games, the statistics are much closer.
* San Diego State trails its opponents in first downs by a 59-52 margin and is +3 in turnover margin. In addition, the Aztecs are averaging nearly as many passing yards (173-165) and more time of possession (30:53-29:07).
Close, But No Cigar * The comparison is even more impressive when you throw out the 49-13 loss to then No. 21 Illinois. Against the two Pac-10 opponents this year, San Diego State has been outscored 27-10, but is equal in first downs (35-35), ahead in turnover margin (+3) and close in total yardage average (328-258).
You're In Good Hands * Despite numerous injuries which have forced San Diego State to start 19 different players, it has not effected the offensive cohesiveness with regard to turnovers.
* For the third consecutive game this season and fifth straight game overall, San Diego State did not lose a fumble against Arizona. In fact, the Aztecs did not put the ball on the ground against the Wildcats.
* That game brings San Diego State's streak to 382 consecutive offensive plays without a fumble. That total does not include kickoff, punt and defensive returns.
* Equally impressive is the fact that the Aztecs have only fumbled three times (recovering all three) since turning the ball over on the first play of the fourth quarter against Brigham Young on Nov. 6, 1999. During that time, San Diego State has forced 10 fumbles, recovering six.
* Through games of Sept. 16, San Diego State was one of just 13 Division I-A teams that had not lost a fumble this season. Those schools combined to go 26-10 (72.2 percent) with 11 of the 13 teams posting a winning record.
Scheduling the Best * How difficult is the 2000 Aztec schedule? The first six opponents on the San Diego State 2000 schedule received votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll this week (Sept. 17) and six of the Aztecs' first eight opponents advanced to a bowl game last season. San Diego State does not play an opponent that finished the 1999 season below .500 in its first eight games of the 2000 season.
* Through Sept. 17, the NCAA lists San Diego State's schedule to date as the 20th most difficult in the country with the four non-conference opponents now 9-1.
Aztec Angles... 3-Dot Data * San Diego State is 13-20 in road games under Tollner, including 0-6 at Pacific-10 schools... The last time the Aztecs defeated a current member of the Pac-10 conference on the road was Oct. 17, 1977, when San Diego State defeated Arizona, 21-14.... The Wildcats were members of the Western Athletic Conference... San Diego State has not allowed a third-quarter touchdown in the last five games, outscoring foes 31-3 during that stretch... San Diego State is tied for 23rd nationally in turnover margin at +1.0 per game... The record of the other 32 teams with at least a +1.0 turnover margin is 64-22 (74.4 percent)... How unlucky is San Diego State? This season, when teams allow 17 points or less, they are 115-16 (87.8 percent), that includes San Diego State's 0-2 record... The Aztecs join Colorado as the only I-A teams in the country that have held two opponents to 17 points or less - and lost... The 10-7 loss to Arizona State in the opener represents the fewest points allowed by a losing team this season (Penn State, Syracuse and Vanderbilt have all allowed 12 points in a defeat)... Through three games lastseason, San Diego State had turned the ball over six times, this year the Aztecs have four turnovers to date.
Ned Jumps Into Top 10 * With 47 yards on 18 carries versus Illinois, senior running back Larry Ned moved into SDSU's all-time top 10 in both career carries and rushing. He heads into the Oregon State game ranked 10th in rushing with 1788 yards and ninth in carries with 362.
Ground Gains * Larry Ned's 85-yard outing on 29 attempts at Arizona last week was the eighth time in his Aztec career that the senior has led SDSU in rushing. It is also the most yards gained against the Wildcats through three games this season. Ned has had some his best games versus UA. In 1998, he rushed for 146 yards on 33 carries.
Ned On Doak Walker Short List * SDSU running back Larry Ned is one of 35 players selected as a preseason candidate for the 2000 Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate running back. The award will be presented at ESPN's Home Depot College Football Award Show on Dec. 7. He is one of only two backs from the Mountain West Conferenc.
Catching On * With a team-leading 13 receptions for 134 yards already this season, wide out J.R. Tolver has significantly stepped up his production over last year. Tolver, a sophomore, opened the season with a career- and co-game high seven catches for a career-best 77 yards. He added five receptions for 38 yards at Arizona. Tolver entered the season with just nine receptions for 101 yards.
Aztecs Quarterback Debuts * San Diego State sophomore quarterback Lon Sheriff continued the trend of successful first starts for San Diego State quarterbacks. Although the Aztecs lost 17-3 at Arizona State, Sheriff became the first Aztec quarterback to complete more than 50 percent of his passes in a first-start since the 1994 season, when Billy Blanton was 14-of-24 through the air for San Diego State.
* From 1991-97, San Diego State won seven consecutive games in which an Aztec quarterback was making his first career start. San Diego State's seven-game, first-start streak ended in a 35-16 loss at Arizona on Sept. 24, 1998, when Brian Russell, currently a free safety for the Aztecs, lost in his first career start. Prior to Saturday, the last time an Aztec quarterback made his debut was Sept. 18, 1999, when Jack Hawley led San Diego State to a near-upset of 17th-ranked USC, losing 24-21.
* San Diego State first-time quarterbacks are 7-3 in first-time starts since 1991. Here is a look at the last 10 first-time starts by Aztec quarterbacks. The last nine first-time starters have led the Aztecs to victory in one of their first two starts.
Dan McGwire, junior
vs. Air Force-- Sept. 2, 1989
First game of the season... L 36-52... 30-of-46, 361 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions... Mark McGwire's brother makes impressive debut in defeat.
Cree Morris, sophomore
vs. Long Beach State -- Sept. 8, 1991
First game of the season... W, 49-13... 13-of-25, 214 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions... Aztecs led 13-7 before scoring 30 points in the third quarter.
David Lowery, sophomore
vs. Hawai'i -- Oct. 5, 1992
Fifth game of the season... W, 47-21... 14-of-25, 273 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.... Aztecs score the first 47 points of the game, including 26 second-quarter points to take a 33-0 halftime lead.
Tim Gutierrez, junior
vs. Minnesota -- Sept. 25, 1993
Fourth game of the season... W, 48-17... 32-of-48, 375 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions... Threw touchdown passes of 12, 27, 20 and 11 yards.
Billy Blanton, sophomore
at New Mexico -- Oct. 15, 1994
Seventh game of season... W, 20-13... 14-of-24, 193 yards, with a touchdown and no interceptions.
Kevin McKechnie, senior
vs. Navy -- Sept. 5, 1997
First game of season... W, 45-31... 16-of-20, 371 yards, with four touchdowns and one interception... Carried six times for 15 yards and one TD... Had fourth-quarter touchdown strikes of 78, 47 yards to break a 31-31 tie.
Mike Smith, senior
vs. UNLV -- Oct. 18, 1997
Seventh game of season... W, 20-17 (ot)... 2-of-7, 29 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions... Spencer Brinton relieved Smith and started the following week.
Spencer Brinton, freshman
at Hawai'i -- Oct. 25, 1997
Eighth game of season... W 10-3... 13-of-30, 173 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions... Scored only touchdown of the game when he hit Az-zahir Hakim with a 40-yard pass in the first quarter.
Brian Russell, sophomore
vs. Arizona -- Sept. 24, 1998
Third game of the season... L, 16-35... 12-of-32, 167 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions... Rushed six times for 36 yards... Led Aztecs to 357 yards of total offense in the game.
Jack Hawley, junior
at No. 17 USC -- Sept. 18, 1999
Third game of the season... L, 21-24... 16-of-32, 170 yards, with one touchdown and four interceptions... Carried 11 times for 39 yards... Had a 45-yard touchdown strike on the final play of the first half... Directed the Aztecs to a third-quarter touchdown to pull SDSU to within 17-14.
Lon Sheriff, sophomore
at Arizona -- Sept. 16, 2000
Third game of the season... L, 3-17... 15-for-29, 124 yards with no touchdowns and one interception... He was credited with six carries, and although he gained 11 yards, due to sacks he ended the game at -20 yards rushing.
Marathon Man * After being in on 110 plays against Arizona State and 97 snaps against Illinois, sophomore cornerback Rickey Sharpe was on the field for all 67 defensive plays against Arizona as well as 11 special teams plays for a total of 78 versus the Wildcats.
* SDSU's second-leading tackler against Arizona with eight tackles (four solo), Sharpe has accounted for 24 stops on the season, third best on the squad, broken up two passes and recovered a pair of fumbles.
Donte's No Gamble * Junior walk-on Donte Gamble has payed big dividends for the Aztecs this season. A transfer from El Camino Junior College, Gamble worked his way from obscurity to starter during training camp, leap-frogging five contenders to earn the starting cornerback spot opposite Ricky Sharpe. He has gone on to force a turnover in all three games this season, including an interception against Arizona State and forced fumbles versus Illinois and Arizona. Gamble has also recorded 13 tackles and three pass break-ups on the year.
Quarterbacking the "D" * Senior safety Brian Russell appears to have made the most of his switch to defense midway through last season. SDSU's starter at quarterback for the first two games of the '99 campaign, Russell has started all three games at free safety in 2000, recording turnovers in each of the last two.
* Russell ranks fourth on the team in total tackles with 23.
* He had his first career fumble recover against Illinois, returning the ball 12 yards to set up SDSU's only touchdown of the game. He came back to register his first career interception at Arizona, picking off UA quarterback Ortege Jenkins in the fourth quarter at the SDSU 5-yard-line to thwart a Wildcat scoring threat.
* In the opener, Russell finished the game with six tackles, including five solo stops. He was even more impressive against Illinois, posting a career-high 10 stops.
* Russell, who calls the plays in the defensive huddle, made three starts in the Aztec secondary a year ago and was a 10-game starter at quarterback in 1998.
The Butler Did It * Linebacker Jomar Butler made his first start in 2000 at Arizona last week and didn't disappoint. The junior, who was in the starting lineup for the first time since SDSU's Oct. 3, 1998 victory at Tulsa, finished the game second on the team in tackles with seven, including knocking down an Ortege Jenkins lateral that was recovered by safety Garret Pavelko.
Demps the Man * Junior safety Will Demps was named the Mountain West Conference's inaugural defensive player of the week Sept. 4, after accounting for a career- and game-high 15 tackles, including 10 solo stops, versus ASU. The former walk-on also registered three tackles for loss and seven of his 15 stops resulted in gains of two yards or less. Demps finished with a pair of tackles against Illinois and enters the Oregon State game as the Aztecs' second-leading tackler with 27. Demps had 40 tackles for the entire 1999 campaign.
Tandberg Climbing Charts * Aztec place kicker Nate Tandberg, a Lou Groza award finalist in '99, added three points to his career total and enters the Oregon State game seventh all-time at SDSU in scoring and third in kick scoring with 196 points. In the season opener, Tandberg missed on field goal attempts of 37 and 47 yards. His 37-yard miss was his first inside 40 yards since 1998. He came back versus Illinois to connect on his only two attempts of the night (28 and 26 yards) before going 1-for-2 at Arizona, including a 45-yarder.
Kicking into Gear * After averaging just 36.8 yards per punt, the Aztecs' two-head punting tandem of senior Justin Sisco and sophomore Brian Simnjanovski is averaging nearly five yards more per boot in 2000. Simnjanovski has a slight edge in the head-to-head battle, averaging 41.5 ypp, compared to Sisco's 41.0 average.