Sept. 27, 2003
Recap?|? Final Stats
POSTGAME NOTES - San Diego State at UCLA
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003 (Rose Bowl/Pasadena, Calif.)
FINAL SCORE: UCLA 20, SDSU 10
Despite the loss, the Aztecs' 3-2 start is still the best by an SDSU squad since 1996 ... Despite the 20 UCLA points, SDSU has limited its first five opponents to just 62 points or an average of 12.4 points per contest. The 62-point total is the lowest in Aztec history since the 1976 squad gave up 55 points (11.0 pts./game) through the first five games.
The 10-point UCLA victory margin is the lowest by the Bruins in the all-time series since a 28-25 win in 1989 ... prior to tonight's contest, UCLA had won by at least 25 points in each of the previous four meetings.
For the fifth straight game, the Aztec defense held its opponent off the scoreboard on its opening possession of the game. In 2003, SDSU has allowed just two first downs and 25 total yards on its opponents' opening drives.
With J.C. Mejia's field goal in the second quarter, San Diego State has been the first team to score in each of its last seven games, dating back to the 49-21 loss to Colorado State on November 15, 2002.
After being shutout in the first 15 minutes, SDSU had its streak of consecutive scoring quarters snapped at 10. It was just the second time this season that the Aztecs have failed to put up points in a quarter (also vs. Ohio State - 2nd quarter).
San Diego State rebounded with a field goal in the second quarter, but then was held off the scoreboard in the third, before scoring its lone TD of the game in the fourth quarter. The Aztecs have scored in 17 of 20 quarters this season and 23 of its last 26 dating back to 2002.
Michael Franklin's fourth-quarter touchdown was the first allowed by UCLA at the Rose Bowl in 2003 - a span of 113 minutes and 30 seconds. In its only other home game this season, UCLA limited Illinois to just three points.
With UCLA's third-quarter touchdown at the 11:32 mark, San Diego State trailed in a game for the first time since the end of the Ohio State contest - a span of 153 minutes and 28 seconds ... The 10-point deficit at 13-3 marked the first time SDSU had trailed by more than one score this season. SDSU went 285:05 without trailing by more than seven points.
SDSU junior safety Josh Dean recovered his second career fumble in the first quarter against the Bruins. Dean's other fumble recovery came a year ago versus another Pac-10 foe in Arizona State on Sept. 14.