Nov. 22, 2003
POSTGAME NOTES
-San Diego State vs. Air Force
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003
(Qualcomm Stadium/San Diego, Calif.)
Final Score: San Diego State 24, Air Force 3
SDSU victory notes: With the win, the Aztecs finished .500 (6-6) for the first time since 1998 and tallied just the third .500 season or better since 1994 ... the win gives SDSU back-to-back victories over Air Force for the first time in series history ... SDSU improved to 7-15 all-time versus the Academy ... the Aztecs had not beaten the Falcons in San Diego since a 28-23 win in 1996 ... the victory paired with SDSU's 25-20 win over Wyoming marks just the second time in MWC history that the Aztecs have won two straight conference home games ... the four home wins in 2003 is SDSU's most at Qualcomm since the same number of victories in 1998.
The three points is the lowest point total for the Falcons in the 22-game series (prev. 10 pts. in 1980) ... the two schools combined for just 27 points, the second-lowest point total in the series ... the record low is 23 points in the 1980 contest, which saw the Aztecs earn a 13-10 victory.
SDSU held Air Force without a touchdown for the first time since the Falcons' 2001 season opener when they were defeated 44-3 by defending national champion and No. 3 Oklahoma on Sept. 1, 2001... the Aztec defense held Air Force to only a first half field goal, the fourth time an SDSU opponents' offense has failed to reach the endzone in a game ... It was also the ninth time this season SDSU did not allow an offensive touchdown in the opening half.
Marviel Underwood returned an INT 74 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The INT return for a TD was the Aztecs' second this season with the first being Jacob Elimimian's 85-yard return in a win over UTEP.
SDSU held Air Force to 286 yards of total offense, the seventh time this season the Aztecs have held an opponent under 300 yards ... The 2003 defense finished the year allowing only 289.8 yards of total offense per game and is the first at SDSU to allow less than 300 yards per game since 1976 when they held opponents to 276 ypg.
The Aztec defense held its opponent off the scoreboard on its opening possession in every game this season. In 12 games, SDSU allowed a combined six first downs and 89 total yards on its opponents' opening drives (0 FD, 9 yards vs. EWU; 0 FD, 0 yards at Ohio State; 1 FD, 6 yards at UTEP; 1 FD, 12 yards vs. Samford; 0 FD, -2 yards at UCLA; 0 FD, -5 yards vs. BYU; 0 FD, -15 yards at Utah; 0 FD, -1 yard vs. N.M.; 0 FD, 6 yards vs. Wyo.; 0 FD, 7 yards at UNLV; 3 FD, 59 yards vs. CSU; 1 FD, 13 yards vs. AFA).
The game marked the first time this season that the Aztecs did not commit a turnover in a game. The last time SDSU did not have a turnover in a game was a year ago against Colorado State (a 49-21 Ram victory).
DB Marcus Demps recorded the first sack of the season against the Air Force offense in the first quarter ... The sack was also the first career sack for Demps ... The Aztecs posted 27 sacks this season.
Aztec place kicker J.C. Mejia tied the SDSU school record with 18 field goals on the year with a kick from the 34-yards out in the first quarter... Mejia shares the record with Andy Trakas (1990).
QB Matt Dlugolecki set a career game high for attempts (31) and completion percentage (.741) ... he tied a season-best with 23 completions and his 226 yards passing rank second this season. He had 234 yards passing against Samford.
RB Michael Franklin rushed for 122 yards on 29 carries, his second consecutive game with career highs (18 carries, 105 yards last week at CSU) and his second career 100-yard effort... Franklin also posted his second touchdown of the year and third of his career... SDSU posted six individual 100-yard rushing games in 2003, after having only one last season.
CB Hubert Caliste was the fifth Aztec this season to attempt a pass as his first career pass went for a 25-yard touchdown... Caliste also hauled in two catches for nine yards, the first receptions of his career... The other pass attempts earlier this season from non-QB's came from tight end Jeremy Justice and punter Seth Santoro... LB Kirk Morrison became the fifth Aztec this season to take a snap from center when he ran the offense for a play in the first quarter... Also playing quarterback in 2003 for SDSU was Adam Hall, Matt Dlugolecki, Tanner Engstrand, and DB Carl McCullough.
Flanker Devin Pitts recorded the second touchdown of his career and matched his career game high for catches with five ... Flanker Wesley Williams tallied career game highs in both receptions and yardage with seven catches for 73 yards ... Williams' previous highs were five catches for 37 yards at Ohio State.
Aztec senior Brendan Darby rounded out his career with his 42nd straight start, including 28 straight.