Nov. 7, 2005
SAN DIEGO - SAN DIEGO STATE GAME NOTES | COLORADO STATE GAME NOTES | SDSU TWO-DEEP
Game No. 10
San Diego State (3-6/2-4) at Colorado State (5-4/4-2)
Media Coverage
ESPN+Plus. Trey Bender (play-by-play), Kelly Stouffer (analysis), Linda Fabian (producer), Scott Barke (director), Jeremy Olson (associate producer). The game can be seen in the San Diego market on Channel 4 San Diego. The contest is available nationally through ESPN's GamePlan package.
Radio
XPRS 1090-AM, San Diego. Ted Leitner (play-by-play), John Kentera (analysis), Jack Cronin (sidelines) and Dave Marcus (producer). Josh Rosenberg serves as host for the pregame show.
Following a Bye, San Diego State Enters Final Quarter of the Season with Road Game at Colorado St.
Following its first bye week of the season, San Diego State (3-6 overall; 2-4 Mountain West Conference) jumps back into league play on Saturday with a road contest at Colorado State (5-4; 4-2 MWC). This marks the fourth consecutive game in which the Aztecs' opponent has entered the game with a .500 or better record.
The game is set for a 1 p.m. MST start (noon PST) and the contest will be broadcast by ESPN+Plus. In addition to coverage in the San Diego market on Channel 4 San Diego, the Aztec-Ram game is available nationally through ESPN's GamePlan package. This marks the 20th consecutive San Diego State game which has been available either on television or nationally via broadband.
Both San Diego State and Colorado State enter Saturday's game having last faced 18th-ranked TCU. On Oct. 29, the Horned Frogs defeated the Aztecs 23-20, while last Saturday, TCU clinched the Mountain West Conference title with a 33-6 victory over the Rams.
San Diego State led TCU 13-7 at the half and was tied after three quarters before suffering a three-point loss. The Aztecs, which lost two starters during the game due to injury, got impressive performances from sophomore quarterback Kevin O'Connell who passed for 235 yards and completed a career-high of 25 passes. Senior middle linebacker Freddy Keiaho, who left the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion, recorded 11 tackles, all solo stops, including three behind the line of scrimmage. Junior strong safety Brett Sturm had three tackles, a forced fumble and an interception against the Frogs.
Colorado State lost 33-6 at TCU last Saturday. The Horned Frogs tallied 302 yards of total offense and scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions. The Rams have been impressive at home, posting a perfect 4-0 record at Hughes Stadium this season with wins over Nevada, Air Force, Utah and Wyoming. Colorado State joins TCU as the only Mountain West teams with a perfect record at home this season.
San Diego State's 3-6 overall record is a bit deceiving as the Aztecs have lost three games to teams currently ranked among the nation's top 20 (14th-ranked UCLA, 10th-ranked Ohio State and 18th-ranked TCU). SDSU has also suffered a pair of three-point losses in Mountain West Conference play. Despite the 3-6 record, the Aztecs have only been outscored by a total of 24 points (245-221) through nine games. Dating back to last season, the Aztecs are 5-3 in their last eight games against non-ranked teams and 4-3 in its last seven contests against unranked MWC foes.
San Diego State, which features one of the nation's youngest teams, will try and close out the 2005 season in style, something the Aztecs have had success with each of the last two seasons. In 2003, SDSU won three of its final four games to finish 6-6, while in 2004, the Aztecs ended the campaign with consecutive victories at Air Force and at home against UNLV. Since Nov. 23, 2002, San Diego State has posted a 5-2 record during the Thanksgiving month. The Aztecs have also won three of their last five road games during the month of November.
Saturday will mark the 25th meeting between the teams with the series tied at 12 wins apiece. The Rams have won the last three games in the series, including a 21-17 victory last season at Qualcomm Stadium. Colorado State owns a 6-4 series lead in Fort Collins, but San Diego State has won in two of its last three visits.