Oct. 28, 2001
Game No. 9New Mexico (3-4, 2-2 MWC) at
San Diego State (2-6, 1-3 MWC)
Nov. 3, 2001 -- 6:07 p.m. PST
Qualcomm Stadium -- Capacity: 54,000
San Diego, Calif.
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Television: The New Mexico at San Diego State game will be televised live locally by SportsWest on Channel 4 San Diego. Eddie Doucette will handle the play-by-play with Blaine Fowler providing the color analysis.
Radio: All San Diego State football games can be heard live in southern California on XTRA Sports (690 AM). Jim Stone calls the action with "The Coach", John Kentera, handling the color. Mike Costa provides sideline reports.
The Records: San Diego State enters the game with a 2-6 (1-3 MWC) record after falling to BYU, 59-21, at home, Oct. 27. New Mexico is coming off a 52-33 victory over Air Force. The Lobos are 3-4 (2-2 MWC).
The Rankings: Neither team is ranked.
SDSU Coach Ted Tollner: Aztec head coach Ted Tollner (Cal Poly '62) is in his eighth season at San Diego State and has compiled a 42-46-0 (.477) record on The Mesa. Tollner's overall career mark stands at 68-66-1 (.507).
UNM Coach Rocky Long: New Mexico head coach Rocky Long is in his fourth seaon at the helm of the UNM football program. His overall record at New Mexico is 15-27 (.357).
The Series: San Diego State leads the all-time series, 20-7. However the Aztecs have lost two straight to the Lobos at home. SDSU's has not defeated New Mexico in Mission Valley since 1995.
Week Nine
The San Diego State Aztecs (2-6, 1-3) return to action Saturday night by hosting the University of New Mexico Lobos (3-4, 2-2) at Qualcomm Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. The Aztecs then close the season with a trip to Utah and a home game against Wyoming.
Television
As usual, the Aztecs game will be televised. The SportsWest production will be carried live on Channel 4 San Diego with Eddie Doucette and Blaine Fowler calling the action. The game will mark the seventh time in nine outings that SDSU has appeared on local, regional or national television.
Ned Takes National Rushing Lead
San Diego State's Larry Ned enters the New Mexico game as America's leading rusher after his 239-yard effort against Brigham Young. Ned now has 1,168 rushing yards this season and his average of 146 yards per game tops the charts. More in depth information is available later in this release.
The Aztecs Lately
It has been a strange three-game losing streak for the Aztecs. San Diego State dropped a 31-3 game at UNLV in which it was never in contention. That loss was followed by a trip to Ohio State and a 27-12 setback. San Diego State was leading and driving in the third quarter when a string of five consecutive turnovers ended the upset bid against the Buckeyes. The Brigham Young loss was even more bizarre with the Aztecs losing 59-21. SDSU had doubled the Cougars in total offense at the half. However, BYU used touchdowns on an interception return and a blocked field-goal return to springboard to the win. The game ended with a total offense difference of 35 yards.
BYU Recap
San Diego State's Larry Ned ran wild again with a 190-yard first half. However, San Diego State allowed a variety of big scoring plays in the loss. A blocked field goal was returned 82 yards for a score by the Cougars to open the scoring. SDSU recovered, however, and was leading 14-10 and driving when an interception stopped the threat. On the ensuing drive, Luke Staley raised 63 yards and BYU led 17-14. Still in the second quarter, Isaac Kelley picked off a deflected pass and raced 60 yards for a touchdown to put BYU in control at intermission, 24-14, despite being outgained 291-150.
Not A Big Secret
Across America, college football coaches insist that turnover-margin is the most important stat when tracking a team's successes or failures. In 2001, SDSU is an obvious example. The following is a quick look at San Diego State's turnover margin this season.
* If I-AA Eastern Illinois is thrown out of the equation, the Aztecs are 0-5 when they lose the turnover battle, 1-0 when turnovers are even and 0-1 when they win the turnover battle thanks to the mirage in Las Vegas when SDSU was out of the contest early. Officially SDSU won the turnover battle, however a case can be made for hidden turnovers. SDSU had a punt blocked that set up a score and another punt was returned for a score on the last play of the first half. Although the stat crew in the press box will not credit a turnover on those special-teams plays, most coaching staffs would not hesitate. The same case could be made for BYU's first score, a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown.
Turnover Tales, II
The Aztecs enter the ninth week of the season minus-15 in turnover margin with nine takeaways and 24 giveaways. Eleven of the 24 turnovers have been turned into 73 points for the opposition for an average of 9.13 points per contest.
Mountain Talk
San Diego State, in two-plus seasons in the Mountain West, is now 7-11 against league foes. The ironic records, of course, are the home and road numbers. Since leaving the WAC, San Diego State is 1-8 in conference home games and 6-3 in league road games. The two conference opponents who visit Qualcomm Stadium to end 2001 suffered home losses at the hands of the Aztecs last year.
The Series
San Diego State has won 20 of its 27 meetings with the Lobos, dating back to the first meeting between the teams in 1953. The series advantage is the largest for SDSU against a Mountain West foe. The two teams have met every year since 1978. San Diego State has won 15 of the last 17 games, although the two squads have split the last four games and the visiting team has won five in a row and six of the last seven meetings.
Nailbiters
It doesn't get any closer than the Lobos and Aztecs over the past three years. San Diego State has won two of the last three games, including a one-point decision last season and an overtime win in 1998. In between those games, the Lobos claimed a 24-21 win in 1999 at Qualcomm Stadium. The combined score over the past three seasons is San Diego State 74, New Mexico 73.
Last Year In Albuquerque
It was a bizarre tale of two halves in 2000. San Diego State trailed 16-0 at the break after the Lobos covered a total of 102 yards for all their points. SDSU had negative yardage and little life at intermission. However, a 43-yard interception return for a score by Will Demps jump-started a rally. A nine-play drive resulted in a Lon Sheriff sneak for a score early in the fourth quarter and then Nate Tandberg capped off the comeback with a three-pointer with 5:27 remaining. The game marked San Diego State's biggest road rally for a win since a 38-31 win over Air Force in 1993.
Scouting The Lobos
Improving New Mexico enters the contest 3-4 on the year and 2-2 in league play after wiping out Air Force by a 52-33 count Saturday in Albuquerque. The Lobos, who were coming off a narrow 24-20 loss to Brigham Young, exploded for 620 yards of offense against the Academy in winning for the second time in three weeks.
Connections
San Diego State's secondary coach, Fred Bleil, spent four seasons at New Mexico as the Lobos' defensive coordinator. He is the former head coach and athletic director at New Mexico Highlands and earned his master's degree from Eastern New Mexico. Lobos linebacker coach Lenny Rodriguez is a former player and coach at the University of San Diego. UNM wide receiver Michael Brunker attended San Diego's Patrick Henry High School, just minutes from the SDSU campus. He also played at Grossmont College.
Offensive Statement
San Diego State is coming off its second best offensive output of the season. The Aztecs, who had doubled up BYU in total offense at halftime, had 415 yards against the Cougars. In the last two games at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego State averaged 522 yards and 30.5 points. The Aztecs rushed for 285 yards against the Cougars and held the ball for over 33 minutes.
Strike A Pose
He may not receive any serious Heisman or Doak Walker consideration, but the nation's top running back - at least statistically - is San Diego State's Larry Ned.
* Ned, who is now averaging 146.0 yards per game, ranks No. 1 in the nation in rushing.
* Ned's 239 yards rushing against BYU marked the fifth time in the last six games that the senior has topped the 100-yard plateau and the second time this season he has cracked 200 yards on the ground (285 vs. Eastern Illinois). It is also the most rushing yards given up by the Cougars since Marshall Faulk ran for 262 yards on Nov. 11, 1993.
* Over the last six games, Ned has rushed for 1,037 yards - an average of 172.8 yards per game. The senior has also scored 10 touchdowns over that span, with four multiple touchdown games. Big Numbers Included in Ned's 1,168 yards this season are two of the 10 best single game rushing performances in the nation this year. Ned's 285 yards against Eastern Illinois rates as the second best rushing performance in 2001, while his 239 yards versus BYU ranks 10th.
Historically Speaking
* With his 239-yard outing against BYU, Ned cracked both the 3,000-yard career rushing plateau and the 1,000-yard single-season mark. Ned, who is just the second SDSU back to ever top 3,000 yards, now has 3,181 yards for his career, including 1,168 yards this season.
* Ned's 2001 season rushing total of 1,168 yards ranks as the seventh-best in SDSU History. Though George Jones' single-season record of 1,842 yards set in 1995 is likely out of reach, Ned is on pace to jump into SDSU's top three.
* Ned's 1,168 yards also ranks as the top single-season rushing performance in the brief three-year existence of the Mountain West Conference.
Elite Company
Though San Diego State has played just seven games, Larry Ned has already posted the best single-season of his career. Ned joined an elite class in San Diego State history last week versus BYU, becoming just the 10th back in Aztec history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. It is the 13th 1,000-yard season in Aztec history and the first since Jonas Lewis gained 1,021 in 1997.
What A Difference A Year Makes
Despite not practicing all week heading up to the BYU game and gimping along on a injured left ankle, Ned averaged 6.8 yards per carry against the Cougars, lifting his per-carry average for the season to 5.4 yards. By comparison, Ned was never 100 percent a year ago, struggling with a knee injury early on and later going down for the year with a season-ending shoulder injury. He ended the 2000 campaign with just 357 yards on 139 attempts, an average of 2.6 yards per rush.
He Can Score, Too
* Ned recorded the ninth multiple touchdown game of his career and his fourth this season against Brigham Young. With his 1-yard first-quarter touchdown and his 23-yard second-quarter score, Ned has now rushed for 32 career touchdowns, including 11 this season.
* San Diego State's leading scorer, the senior has now recorded 66 points on the season - 52 percent of the Aztecs' 128 points.
* Ned enters the New Mexico game ranked third in the MWC and 28th nationally in scoring with 8.25 ppg.
* Earlier this season, Ned found the endzone a career-high three times in a game (Eastern Illinois). His other multiple touchdown games include Colorado State (2), Air Force (2) and BYU (2).
* Ned has had at least one rushing touchdown in 6-of-8 games this season and 21-of-34 games in his career. He also has nine games with at least two touchdowns.
* In the SDSU records book, Ned is in sole possession of eighth place in scoring with 192 points.
Tolver Eyeing Top 10, Too
J.R. Tolver could move into SDSU's all-time top 10 this season as well:
* With 105 career receptions, wide receiver J.R. Tolver needs just 10 catches to tie Webster Slaughter (1984-85) at No. 10 on the Aztecs' career reception list with 122.
Boom Ball
* Though he failed to make the final list for the 2001 Ray Guy award, Brian Simnjanovski continues to make huge strides as San Diego State's punter. Simnjanovski, who had never punted prior to last season, is averaging 44.7 yards per boot this season to lead the Mountain West Conference and rank sixth nationally.
* Simnjanovski, who has averaged at least 45.0 yards per punt in four games this season and has 10 boots over 50 yards, had another banner outing versus Brigham Young last week, averaging 45.8 yards on five punts, including a 53-yarder. The junior also dropped a pair of kicks inside the 20-yard-line.
* At Ohio State, Simnjanovski averaging 45.0 yards on four punts. He had one punt downed at the Ohio State 12.
* At UNLV, Simnjanovski averaged 43.7 yards on seven punts, including a 57 yarder, and killed a pair inside the 20-yard line.
* The junior also had solid outings earlier this season at Arizona State and Colorado State, averaging 47.4 yards on eight kicks versus the Sun Devils and 46.8 yards on nine punts against the Rams. Of those 17 punts, six traveled over 50 yards. He also showed off his increased skill at the discipline, dropping six of the kicks inside the 20-yard-line.
* For the season, the Escondido product has killed 14 kicks inside the 20-yardline, including four inside the opposition's 10.
Iron Man
Defensive tackle Jerome Haywood may be small in stature but he plays with a big heart. The senior, who has started every game of his three-plus year career, made his 42nd consecutive start last week versus Brigham Young. Haywood had his best statistical game of the season at UNLV, racking up nine tackles, including five solo stops.
More Streaking
In addition to Haywood, three other Aztecs extended double-digit starting streaks last week against BYU, including strong guard David Moreno (19 games), safety Will Demps (19 games) and cornerback Ricky Sharpe (18 games).
Double Deuce
Junior receiver J.R. Tolver and senior wideout Derrick Lewis each extended their consecutive games with a reception streak to 22 last week versus the Cougars. Tolver, the Mountain West's No. 2 receiver in receptions and yards per game, hauled in a game-high six receptions for 67 yards. Lewis finished up with 25 yards on two catches.
Marked Man
* Despite being SDSU's lone true pass-catching threat this season, J.R. Tolver continues to be the Mountain West Conference's most consistent receiver. After leading the league in reception in league games last year, averaging 6.57 receptions per contest, Tolver is right back near the top of the charts once again.
* San Diego State's leading receiver, Tolver has hauled in 41 balls for 563 yards for an average of 70.4 yards per game.
* Those numbers account for over 40 percent of SDSU's total aerial yardage and 34 percent of the Aztecs' total number of receptions. They are also more than double those of the Aztecs' next leading receiver, Derrick Lewis (17 catches for 226 yards).
* Tolver also owns SDSU's longest pass reception of the season, a 45-yarder versus Eastern Illinois and the Aztecs' lone touchdown receptions of the year (a 40-yard hookup with Lon Sheriff and a 21-yard reception from Adam Hall versus Eastern Illinois).
Tolver In the Rankings
* Tolver is the MWC's No. 6 receiver in yards per game (70.4) and receptions per game (5.1). Those figures rank 53rd and 45th nationally.
Gray Matters
H-Back Gray McNeill tied a season high with five receptions versus BYU, including the senior's first touchdown catch (fourth career) of the season. McNeill, who also had five catches in the season opener versus Arizona, has now caught at least one pass in 17 of his last 20 games. He enters the New Mexico game ranked fourth on the team in both receptions (15) and receiving yards per game (21.6)
Rock-Solid Safety
* San Diego State strong safety Will Demps ranks fourth in the Mountain West Conference in tackles with 73 on the season, including a game-high 11 at Ohio State and eight solo stops and two tackles behind the line of scrimmage at UNLV.
* With his 11 stops at Ohio State, Demps has registered double figures in tackles on three occasions this season and seven times over the past two years.
* Dating back to the end of the 2000 season, Demps has averaged 9.7 tackles per game over SDSU's last 11 contests. Demps is a returning all-conference safety and was also voted to repeat on that team during the preseason.
Can't Keep This Good Man Down
* Preseason Butkus Award watch list member Jomar Butler may be struggling with injuries this season, but that still hasn't kept the senior from making his presence felt on the field.
* Butler, who missed the Air Force game and large portions of the UNLV contest, ranks second on the team in tackles with 49.
* The senior has notched two double-digit tackle performance on the season, including 10 at Ohio State. He added four solo stops versus BYU and now ranks 12th in the league in tackles with 7.0 stops per game.
* The senior is also tied for third on the team in tackles for loss (5) and tied for second in sacks (2).
* Butler has led the Aztecs in total tackles twice this season, recording seven against Eastern Illinois and 10 at Arizona State. He has registered eight double-digit tackle performances in his last 13 starts.
Looking Sharpe
* Ricky Sharpe is making a strong bid for all-conference honors at the cornerback position. Entering the New Mexico game, the junior ranks fourth in the Mountain West in passes defended with eight, including a pair of games with three break-ups. Sharpe's lone interceptions on the season came in the fourth quarter versus Eastern Illinois.
* Sharpe registered his first double-figure tackle game of the season and just the second of his career against Air Force, making 10 stops versus the Falcons to tie a career high for total tackles.
Getting More From Morrison
* Redshirt linebacker Kirk Morrison showed his game-high 12 tackles at UNLV two weeks ago were no fluke, coming back to record his second double-digit tackle performance in as many weeks with 10 stops, including a pair of sacks, at Ohio State, and registering five solo stops against BYU.
* Morrison, who made his first career start at Eastern Illinois, now ranks sixth on the team in tackles with 38, 33 of which have come in the last four games. He now has an average of 9.3 per contest during that span.
Sticky Fingers
Cornerback Jeff Shoate may be in just his first year of Division I football, but sophomore-transfer is beginning to develop a knack for interceptions. Shoate, who matriculated to Montana out of high school before transferring back home to attend San Diego State, nabbed his second career interception at UNLV and nearly had his third in the first quarter at Ohio State. His first pick came earlier this year at Colorado State.
Pavelko Picks
Safety Garret Pavleko snared his second interception of the season and the third of his career at Ohio State. The senior, who ranks third on the team in tackles and 19th in the Mountain West with 46, led the Aztec defense with six solo stops against BYU.
Webb Weighs In
He may be only a freshman, but wide receiver Jeff Webb is beginning to make his presence felt in the Aztecs' offense. Webb, who made his first career start against Brigham Young, has at least one reception in 7-of-8 games, has had six catches over the past three games for 99 yards, including a career-long 29 yarder at Ohio State. His 51 yards receiving versus the Buckeyes were also a career best.