Nov. 19, 2000
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UNLV (5-5/3-3) at San Diego State (3-7/3-3)
Saturday, Nov. 25, 2000 * 4:07 pm
Qualcomm Stadium (71,400) * San Diego, Calif.
Television: SportsWest (Ch. 4 SD) * Radio: KOGO (600 AM)
Series:Aztecs lead, 5-4
TELEVISION: The UNLV at San Diego State game will be televised live by SportsWest with local telecast on Channel 4 San Diego.
RADIO: San Diego State's season finale can be heard live in San Diego on KOGO (600 AM). Jim Stone calls the action with "The Coach" John Kentera handling the color.
Logjam In the Middle
* San Diego State enters the season finale as one of four teams tied for third in the Mountain West Conference with a 3-3 league mark. Those four teams are the only four in action this weekend in the Mountain West. UNLV visits San Diego State and Brigham Young faces Utah. The two winners will share third place in the league race.
* The Aztecs are now 6-7 in their two years of Mountain West Conference play. A win over the Rebels would improve SDSU to .500 in the league and provide SDSU with its first home win of the season.
Tollner-Robinson
* Saturday's coaching matchup should merit some attention in California. It is the second battle between Ted Tollner and his former boss John Robinson.
* In November of 1982, Tollner was named the successor to Robinson at Southern California. Tollner spent one season (1982) as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at USC under Robinson before serving the next four seasons as USC's head coach. Tollner was also quarterbacks coach under Robinson when the two were with the Los Angeles Rams during the 1992 and '93 seasons.
So Long, Seniors
* Saturday's game marks the final appearance in an Aztec uniform for San Diego State's small senior class. Pregame recognition for the senior class will include introductions of deep snapper Jason Asbury, linebacker Brian Berg, linebacker Mac Cleary, receiver Bill Hammett, quarterback Jack Hawley, defensive tackle George Heather, receiver Sean Pierce, defensive back Brian Russell, punter Justin Sisco, kicker Nate Tandberg and offensive lineman Chris Williams.
Seniors, Again
* Four seniors, running back Larry Ned, defensive end Akbar Gbajabiamila, lineman Zach LaMonda and tight end Gray McNeill will not be introduced with the rest of the class. Each of those players are hopeful to return to the squad next season. Ned and Gbajabiamila are expected to receive a "second senior season" due to academic successes and LaMonda and McNeill are hopeful for another year due to time lost to injuries. LaMonda was SDSU's starting center entering fall drills but was injured prior to the opener. McNeill, the all-Mountain West tight end a year ago, was lost to a knee injury on the first play from scrimmage in the second game of the season.
Youthful Glow
* How young are the Aztecs? SDSU's two-deep entering the Air Force contest listed just six seniors among the Aztecs' top 44 players. One of those players, Brian Russell was listed at two positions. The following is a breakdown of SDSU's top 44 players by class:
Freshmen 5Sophomores 9Juniors 21Seniors 9
First Timers
* San Diego State's game at Air Force saw three Aztecs score the first touchdowns of the season. James Truvillion rushed for a score, and J.R. Tolver and Brian Gelt caught the first touchdown passes of their careers.
Offensive Numbers
* The Aztecs enter the season finale coming off one of their better offensive games of the season. The Aztecs registered 350 yards of total offense, their third best total of the season. SDSU had its best offensive half of the season with 282 yards at halftime.
More Numbers
* San Diego State averaged 6.5 yards per snap at the Academy, a season high for SDSU. The average comes just one game after the Aztecs generated a season low of 183 yards and 3.0 yards per play in the win at New Mexico.
Jomar Butler : He Just Makes Plays
You won't find him in the San Diego State media guide, but there may not be a bigger impact player or a better story in the Mountain West Conference this season than SDSU's Jomar Butler. An unlikely hero who missed all of the 1999 season after an injury-plagued freshman campaign, Butler has exploded on the scene from his weak-side linebacker position. Consider the following: * Despite not starting the first three games, Butler enters Saturday's season finale versus UNLV as the MWC leading tackler with 107 tackles, 86 of which have been solo stops, and eight tackles for loss.
* Butler has been the Aztecs' leading tackler in six games this season and has recorded double-digit tackles in six of SDSU's last seven games, including an amazing 19-tackle performance at Air Force and 17 stops at New Mexico.
* In SDSU's last seven contests, Butler has averaged nearly 14 tackles per game, including 16 at Brigham Young and 13 versus Colorado State. He also had two pass break-ups, three tackles for loss and a sack versus the Cougars.
* Against Utah, Butler finished with a game-high 11 tackles (two for loss), and an interception. The junior also was credited with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery when he stripped Ute running back Adam Tate and then pounced on the loose ball.
* Butler made his first start this year at Arizona, finishing with seven tackles and knocking down an Ortege Jenkins lateral that was recovered by safety Garret Pavelko.
* The Carson, Calif., product posted his first double-digit tackle performance at Oregon State, recording a team-leading 11 stops (seven solo). Butler was also SDSU's leading tackler at Wyoming with seven stops.
Sheriff Steps Up
* In eight starts as the Aztecs' quarterback this season, sophomore Lon Sheriff has passed for 1,835 yards on 138 completions.
* Sheriff has also led the Aztecs to a pair of fourth-quarter comebacks this year at BYU and New Mexico.
* The Santee product has passed for at least 239 yards on four occasions, including 269 yards and two scores at Air Force last week.
* After struggling to cope with New Mexico's blitz early on, Sheriff settled down in the second half, connecting of 9-of-12 attempts for 129 yards after intermission to lead the Aztecs back from a 16-0 defecit.
* Against Colorado State, Sheriff registered his best performance as a quarterback, connecting on a career-best 30-for-46 passing (65.2 percent) for a career-high 393 yards and a touchdown. His 393 yards passing were the most by an Aztec QB since Billy Blanton threw for 395 versus Fresno State in 1996 and the most by a sophomore since Blanton totaled 447 against FSU in 1994. He also posted a career-long completion (71 yards to Tolver) and a career-long touchdown pass (64 yards to Lewis).
* Sheriff's numbers weren't eye-popping at BYU, but the sophomore made big plays at crucial times and did not turn the ball over. Sheriff finished the game 14-for-30 passing for 239 yards -- the third-most productive outing of his career -- and led SDSU on the game winning drive with 46 seconds to play.
* Sheriff had his second-best career outing in start No. 3 at Wyoming, completing 19-of-27 passes for 317 yards, including scoring strikes of nine and 40 yards.
* In the last four games, Sheriff has also been able to do something the Aztecs have tried but struggled with all season -- stretch defenses. Of his 14 completions at BYU, five went for more than 20 yards. He also had five completions of 20 yards or more against CSU to go with a pair at New Mexico. Last week at Air Force, Sheriff completed passes of 50, 47, 24 and 22 yards.
Go-To Guy
* Wide receiver J.R. Tolver has been like 7-11 so far this season -- always open. The Mountain West's leading receiver in receptions per game, Tolver ranks 35th nationally in receptions per game (5.6) and 37th in receiving yardage per game (74.8). He has also accounted for over 30 percent of all SDSU receptions (56-of-177) and 34 percent of the Aztecs' total aerial yardage (748-of-2173).
* Last week at Air Force, Tolver finished right at his average, hauling in six receptions for 75 yards, including his first touchdown reception of the season. The sophomore has now regisered at least five catches in eight of 10 games this season. He has led SDSU in receptions in each of those games.
* Tolver may have had his best game of the season against Colorado State, hauling in seven catches for a career-high 146 yards, including a 71-yard bomb from quarterback Lon Sheriff that stands as the Aztecs' longest play from scrimmage this season. His performance against the Rams was the second time this season that he cracked triple digits in receiving yardage -- 129 yards at Wyoming was the other.
* Tolver entered the 2000 season with just nine career receptions for 101 yards.
Dialing Long Distance
* After a stellar sophomore campaign, junior Derrick Lewis got off to a slow start in 2000. However, the New Orleans product has returned to form in the last four games, posting triple-digit receiving yardage performances three times.
* Lewis was back at his big-play best at Air Force, recording four receptions for a career-best 138 yards (34.5 ypc), including catches of 47 and 50 yards, with the 50-yarder leading to an Aztec score. He also had a 41-yard punt return that led to an SDSU touchdown. It was the fifth triple-digit receiving performance of his career.
* Against Colorado State, Lewis finished with four receptions for 104 yards (26.0 ypc), including a season-long 64-yard touchdown catch.
* The previous week at BYU, Lewis posting several huge catches against against the Cougars, including a 39-yarder over the middle in the final moments that set up SDSU's game-winning field goal and a 46-yarder to the Cougar 2-yard-line that led to an Aztec touchdown. In all, Lewis registered four receptions for 129 yards (32.3 ypc), his best performance since he hauled in four balls for 134 yards last year at Kansas. Lewis also had a game-opening 57-yard kickoff return at BYU that was a career best.
* Lewis' 21.0 ypc average versus New Mexico improved his season yards-per-catch average to a team-leading 20.5. Last season, he averaged 21.2 yards every time he touched the ball.
* Even more impressive is Lewis' average on touchdown receptions. Though he only has two this season -- a 40-yarder at Wyoming and the previously mentioned 64-yarder against CSU, none has been shorter than 36 yards. In fact, Lewis' six career touchdown receptions now average 55.7 yards,
Carrying the Load
* After playing sparingly for the 19 games of his career, sophomore Garric Simmons has emerged as the Aztecs' feature back in the last two games. With Larry Ned lost for the season with a shoulder injury and James Truvillion limited due to a neck injury, Simmons has rushed 42 times for 136 yards (3.2 ypc) in the last two games.
* Simmons became the 22nd Aztec to make his first career start this season when he opened the New Mexico game at running back.
* Simmons showed no first-time jitters versus the Lobos, however, toting the ball 28 times for 88 yards -- a season-high in yardage for an Aztec running back. * The 6-2, 220-pound sophomore was especially effective during the fourth quarter at UNM, rushing 14 times for 53 yards.
Gelt Gets One
* Tight end Brian Gelt may have only accounted for 12 receptions this season, but he had a huge one during the second quarter at Air Forces, giving the Aztecs their only lead of the game on a 17-yard touchdown catch. The score was the first of his collegiate career.
Stalwart Statement
* Defensive tackle Jerome Haywood has been a model of endurance during his 2.5-year Aztec career, starting every game. The junior, who prepped locally at Castle Park, made his 33rd consecutive start at at Air Force last week.
Robles Rules
* Junior outside linebacker Dylan Robles posted one of the best all-around games by an Aztec this season at New Mexico. Making just his fourth start, Robles was credited with 15 tackles, including four for loss, and a pair of sacks. He also caused a fumble and recovered a fumble. For his efforts, the junior was named Mountain West Conference defensive player of the week.
* He came back last week at Air Force with seven tackles, including a six-yard sack and now has 56 tackles (40 solo) on the season. The Aztecs sixth-leading tackler, Robles is second on the squad in tackles for loss (9.0-34 yards) and the leader in sacks (5.0-31 yards).
Demps the Man
* Junior safety Will Demps continues to emerge as one of the MWC's top defensive backs.
* The Aztecs' third-leading tackler with 83 stops, the former walk-on was credited with a career-high 17 tackles last week at Air Force. It was his third double-digit tackle performance of the season. Demps also had double-digit tackle performances versus Arizona State (15) and BYU (11).
* The junior registered his second career interception return for touchdown at New Mexico, sparking SDSU's come-from-behind victory over the Lobos with his 43-yard pick.
* 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. He also registered three tackles for loss and seven of his 15 stops resulted in gains of two yards or less.
* Demps had 40 tackles for the entire 1999 campaign.
Russell Earns Academic Award
* San Diego State's "do everything" Brian Russell has done it in the classroom as well. Russell has been named as an academic all-district pick to the Verizon-CoSIDA team. As a result, Russell will appear on the academic All-America ballot.
* Russell owns a 3.41 GPA and is majoring in kinesiology.
Russell Does it All
* Senior Brian Russell enters his final game as an Aztec listed as SDSU's starter at cornerback and as the backup at quarterback. Not wanting to burn a redshirt season for one of the Aztecs' freshmen signal callers this late in the season, coaches had Russell begin taking snaps in practice prior to SDSU's game versus Utah.
* Russell started the first eight games of the season at free safety prior to making consecutive starts at corner versus New Mexico and Air Force.
* Russell was switched to defense midway through last season. SDSU's starter at quarterback for the first two games of the '99 campaign, Russell ranks fourth on the team in total tackles this season with 64.
* He had his first career fumble recovery against Illinois, returning the ball 12 yards to set up San Diego State's only touchdown of the game. He came back to register his first career interception at Arizona. His biggest play of the season may have come at BYU, when the senior made a diving break up on a deep pass intended for Margin Hooks with less than two minutes to play.
* Russell posted a career-high 10 stops in game two versus Illinois.
* Russell made three starts in the Aztec secondary a year ago and was a 10-game starter at quarterback in 1998.
Looking Sharpe
* Sophomore Ricky Sharpe posted his first career interception and touchdown on the same play against Colorado State, returning a Matt Newton pass 57 yards to paydirt during the second quarter. It was the Aztecs' first interception returned for score since Will Demps' 73-yard return against Wyoming on Nov. 27, 1999.
* Sharpe also has 61 tackles on the season (SDSU's fifth-most), five pass break-ups and three fumble recoveries.
Becoming a Factor
* He has been SDSU's first option in nickel packages all season, but junior Garret Pavelko is beginning to see more and more time in non-nickel sets of late. Against Colorado State, Pavelko posted eight tackles (six solo). The effort was good enough to earn him his first career start at New Mexico. Against the Lobos, Pavelko posted a career high 10 stops.
* The junior college transfer also had a stellar outing at Air Force, recording nine tackles, a pass break-up and his first career interception. Pavelko now has 55 tackles on the season -- the seventh-most on the team. Tough in blitzing situations, Pavelko also has three sacks on the year and forced a fumble on a third versus Arizona.
* Pavelko is scheduled to make his third straight start this week versus UNLV.
Senior Leader
* If there has been one player on defense that has stepped forward and accepted the role of leader, it has been Brian Berg. Berg, who has started all 10 games thus far as the Aztecs' middle linebacker, enters the UNLV game second on the team in tackles with 84 (59 solo) after being credited for a season-high 13 stops against Air Force. Berg posted 12 tackles in the opener against Arizona State, however, he may have had his most productive outing of the season at Wyoming, finishing the game with six tackles (five unassisted), an 8-yard sack and a forced fumble. Berg made two starts last year in his Aztec debut, finishing the season with 23 tackles.
Tandberg Climbing Charts
* After booting field goal and three extra points at Air Force, senior placekicker Nate Tandberg enters the UNLV game with 233 career points. That figure ranks him third in kick scoring and fourth in career points at SDSU.
* With his fourth-quarter field goal at New Mexico, Tandberg has now tallied the final points in two games this season. He posted perhaps the most critical three points of his career earlier this season at BYU, when he drilled a 35-yard field goal with just 0:01 to play to lift the Aztecs to victory. It was his second career game-winning kick. As a freshman in 1997, Tandberg booted a 24-yarder in overtime to give SDSU a 20-17 victory over UNLV. * With his pair of field goals versus Colorado State (35 and 25 yards), Tandberg has now notched three multiple field goal games this season and 13 during his career.
* After opening the season with a pair of misses versus Arizona State (37 and 47 yards), Tandberg has connected on 11 of his last 13 attempts, including 3-of-6 from beyond 40 yards.
Just for Kicks
* Sophomore kicker/punter Brian Simnjanovski just keeps getting better and better. Simnjanovski, who walked on at SDSU prior to the 1999 season, earned the Aztecs' kickoff duties shortly after arriving on Montezuma Mesa last fall. This year, the sophomore has also won SDSU's punting job. New to the skill, Simnjanovski has taken to it like a fish to water and ranks 15th nationally with a 42.9 yards per kick average.
SDSU-UNLV Connections
In addition to the Ted Tollner-John Robinson link, there are several other connections between the Rebel and Aztec programs: * Fifty Rebels call California home with four, freshman offensive lineman Jimy Zoll, junior wide reciever Charles James, sophomore defensive back Jamal Wynn and freshman wide receiver Michael Johnson, hailing from the greater San Diego area.
* SDSU's Marcus Levi attended Las Vegas' Western HS and is the only Aztec to call Nevada home. * Aztec freshman defensive tackle Sagan Atuatasi and Rebel redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Hanson both attended Los Alamitos HS.
* SDSU sophomore defensive end Ryan Iata and UNLV freshman defensive lineman Charles Jones played together at Long Beach Poly High School.
* Three players between the programs attended California's El Camino Real HS. SDSU junior saftey Jay Kos and redshirt freshman saftey DeAngelo Nedd played with UNLV redshirt junior offensive lineman Greg Hulett.
Postseason Honors Candidates
52 Brian Berg
Senior
6-0 * 225 * Linebacker
Mission Viejo, Calif. (Saddleback JC)
* Had a strong senior season for the Aztecs as a starter at middle linebacker.
* Is second on the squad and fourth in the Mountain West Conference with an average of 9.7 tackles per game.
* Opened the season with a 12-tackle effort against Arizona State, including one behind the line of scrimmage.
* Also reached double figures in tackles against BYU (10), Colorado State (12) and Air Force (13).
* Recovered fumbles against Arizona and CSU.
* Is 10th in the conference with seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
* Has also broken up four passes and been credited with a quarterback hurry.
* Has forced a fumble and recorded one quarterback sack.
37 Jomar Butler
Junior
5-11 * 205 * Linebacker
Carson, Calif. (San Pedro HS)
* Was not expected to be on the roster this season and opened the season as a reserve, but he may have become the most effective defender in the Mountain West Conference.
* Is the second leading tackler on the squad as well as in the Mountain West Conference with 104 stops on the season, including 73 unassisted.
* Has reached double figures in tackles in five straight games with a career-best 17-tackle effort at New Mexico and 16 vs. Air Force.
* Was the Mountain West Conference defensive player of the week after a 16-tackle effort in SDSU's win at Brigham Young.
* Had 11 tackles against Utah and forced a fumble and recovered a fumble on the same play.
* Averaging over 15 tackles in each of the last three games.
* Has registered two quarterback sacks, seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage and forced two fumbles.
* Had 11 tackles at Oregon State and recorded seven tackles and forced a fumble in his first start of the season at Arizona.
* Tops the Mountain West charts with 13.7 tackles per league game, nearly two more tackles per contest than any other player.
47 Will Demps
Junior
5-11 * 210 * Strong Safety
Palmdale, Calif. (Highland HS)
* Has started every game at strong safety and is among the Mountain West leaders in several categories.
* Is ninth in the MWC in tackles (8.3 per game).
* Is second in the league in tackles behind the line of scrimmage with 10.
* Began SDSU's comeback at New Mexico by returning an interception 43 yards for a score for the Aztecs' first points of the game.
* Also intercepted a pass vs. Utah.
* Opened the season with a 15-tackle effort against Arizona State, including three tackles behind the line of scrimmage and two passes broken up.
* Was named Mountain West Conference defensive player of the week for his efforts against the Sun Devils as the Aztecs held ASU to one touchdown.
* Had 11 stops at Brigham Young, including three for losses.
* Easily leads San Diego State with 14 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
* Is second on the team with five pass deflections.
* Had a career-best 17 tackles against Air Force, including seven unassisted stops.
51 Jerome Haywood
Junior
5-9 * 280 * Defensive Tackle
Chula Vista, Calif. (Castle Park HS)
* The lone returning starter on the Aztec defense and is the squad's leader.
* Has drawn consistent double and triple teaming all season.
* A preseason all-conference selection this season.
* A second-team all-league choice in 1999.
* Barring injury, he will end the season with 34 consecutive starts in the defensive line.
* Has 34 tackles this season through nine games, including four for losses.
* Has two quarterback hurries against New Mexico.
* Has had four games with at least six tackles, including Illinois, Utah, CSU and New Mexico.
* His four tackles behind the line of scrimmage have come in the last four games, including two at Brigham Young.
60 Johnathan Ingram
Sophomore
6-2 * 290 * Guard
La Quinta, Calif. (La Quinta HS)
* Graded out at 93 percent in the season opener vs. Arizona State.
* Missed three non-conference games to injury.
* Heading into the Air Force game, was SDSU's most effective offensive lineman in four of the Aztecs' five previous conference games.
* Has allowed just one sack and been called for just one penalty on 370 snaps.
* Highest grade by coaching staff was 94 percent in the loss to Colorado State.
* Has been credited with 16 "pancake" blocks to rank second on the team in that category, despite missing three full games and part of a fourth contest.
78 David Moreno
Junior
6-2 * 290 * Guard
Poway, Calif. (Palomar JC)
* A mid-year junior college transfer who has become the Aztecs' most consistent lineman.
* Leads the squad with 23 "pancake" blocks this season.
* Is SDSU's strongest lineman in the weight room.
* Has consistenty graded out 85 percent or higher in coaches' review, including 92 percent against Colorado State.
* Received a grade of 89 percent in the season opener vs. Arizona State.
* Has been called for just three penalties on 644 snaps.
* Graded out at 93 percent as SDSU passed for 393 yards vs. Colorado State.
* Has been on the field for at least 50 more plays than any other offensive lineman.
18 Brian Russell
Senior
6-2 * 205 * Defensive Back
West Covina, Calif. (Univ. of Penn)
* May be San Diego State's most valuable player over the last three years.
* Since the beginning of the 1998 season, he has started for the Aztecs at quarterback, safety and cornerback.
* Began the season at safety, but has moved into a starter corner's spot for the last three games.
* Is fourth on the squad with 64 tackles, including five for losses.
* Has an interception (and 17 return yards), two fumble recoveries and two pass break-ups.
* Ends the season as the starter at one cornerback spot and second on the depth chart at quarterback.
* Recorded 10 tackles against Illinois and Brigham Young.
* Also returned a fumble 12 yards against the Illini.
3 Ricky Sharpe
Sophomore
6-1, 190 * Cornerback
San Diego, Calif. (Mt. Carmel HS)
* Only a sophomore, has become one of the conference's best cornerbacks.
* Is completing his first year as a starter.
* Returned an interception 57 yards for a TD against Colorado State.
* Is fifth on the squad with 55 tackles.
* Has broken up five passes and recovered three fumbles.
* Had