Nov. 3, 2007
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Postgame Notes
Wyoming at San Diego State - Nov. 3, 2007
FINAL SCORE: SDSU 27, Wyoming 24
Record: San Diego State is 3-5 overall and 2-2 in MWC play
Next Week: The Aztecs play at UNLV next Saturday. Game time is set for 8 p.m. PT (TV: CSTV)
AZTECS MATCH 2006 WIN TOTAL
-San Diego State snaps a two-game losing streak and improves to 3-5 overall, matching the win total from the 2006 campaign when SDSU was 3-9. The Aztecs next two games are against opponents they defeated last season.
-The Aztecs improve to 2-2 at home this season and 5-5 at Qualcomm Stadium under head coach Chuck Long.
-SDSU is 2-2 in MWC play this season and has won three of its last five league games dating back to last season.
-Wyoming still leads the all-time series, although the Cowboy edge is now just 15-14. The Aztecs have won seven of the last nine games played between the teams including the last six encounters in San Diego.
-The Aztecs are now 2-1 in the Long era when coming off in-season open weeks.
-San Diego State is 3-0 this season and 6-3 all-time in games televised by The Mtn.
THE COMEBACK
- San Diego State overcame a 21-point deficit marking the largest deficit overcome in a game at least since 1976. Results of games prior to the 1976 season were not immediately available for research purposes. Since the 1976 season, the largest prior comeback was 19 points at Hawai'i on Dec. 7, 2002 (SDSU overcame the deficit but loss the game 41-40). The largest comeback in a win since '76 was a rally from a 17-point deficit at Air Force on Sept. 18, 1993 (SDSU won 38-31).
- Tonight snapped an 23-game losing streak for SDSU in games in which the opponent scored first. Prior to tonight the last time the Aztecs won a game in which they did not score first was Oct. 12, 2002, against Utah (a 36-17 SDSU win).
-Overcoming a 14-point deficit to claim a win, marked the largest deficit after halftime SDSU has overcome to win a game since rallying from 16 points down to win at New Mexico, 17-16, on Nov. 4, 2000.
WINNING THE GAME DESPITE LOSING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
- For the first time this season, San Diego State lost the turnover battle (SDSU 2, Wyoming 1), snapping a string of eight consecutive games in which the Aztecs had either won or been even in the turnover category.
- The Aztec win marked the first time SDSU has won a game in which it had a turnover disadvantage since Sept. 5, 2004, when San Diego State defeated Nevada 27-10 despite a -1 turnover margin.
- San Diego State had lost 15 straight games when committing more turnovers than its opponent.
On the run: QB Kevin O'Connell scored his 15th career rushing touchdowns and seventh of the year tonight. O'Connell now owns the school career record for most rushing scores by a quarterback, which he previously shared with Matt Kofler, who had 14 from 1980-81.
O'Connell tied Kofler's season record of seven rushing TDs, which Kofler posted in both 1980 and 1981. Six of seven rushing TDs by O'Connell have come in MWC play.
Running For Six: SDSU added its 11th and 12th rushing touchdowns of the year to already eclipse last year's team season total of 10 in that category.
TFLs are for us: The SDSU defense recorded a season-high for TFLs, ending the game with 15. The team's previous high in that category this season was just 6.0 against Portland State and New Mexico. The 15 tackles for loss matches the most in a game since tallying 15 versus Colorado State in 2004.
Four and half of the team's 15 TFLs tonight were by Aztec junior defensive lineman Siaosi Fifita, who entered the game with 1.5 career TFL, which have all come this season. Sophomore linebacker Luke Laolagi also had a career-high 4.0 TFL, after having just 2.0 in his career entering the night.
On D: Aztec safety Corey Boudreaux logged his second career game in double-figure tackles tonight (12), while Luke Laolagi added his third straight game with 10 or more stops.
Tough Against The Run: SDSU limited Wyoming to just 91 yards of net yards rushing. The Cowboys had entered the night averaging 165.2 yards per game on the ground, ranking second in the MWC and 50th nationally. The 91 yards rushing mark the second time SDSU has held an opponent under the 100-yard barrier this season, giving up just 13 yards against Portland State.
Wyoming's 250 yards of total offense are the fewest by an Aztec opponent this season.
Brown Brings Them In: Aztec true freshman wideout Vincent Brown has 20 catches in 2007, which already rank him third all-time in school history for a freshman. Will Blackwell had 51 catches in 1995 to set the all-time mark.
INTs Are For Us: San Diego State has an interception in each of its eight contests this season and 11 in its last five outings. Sophomore cornerback Aaron Moore posted his fourth INT of 2007. It is his second in the last two games and fourth in the last five games.
The Aztecs have 13 interceptions this season, after collecting just nine in 12 outings a year ago.
Schilens Shines: In his first start since the Arizona State game, Aztec senior wideout Chaz Schilens had four catches for 40 yards, including his first touchdown since Oct. 21, 2006, vs. Air Force. Schilens has five career touchdown receptions.
At the half: SDSU has yet to be held scoreless in the first half of a game this season and has not been shutout in the first half of an outing played at Qualcomm Stadium in its last 40 contests. The last time the Aztecs were held without any points in the first half was Oct. 14, 2000, against Utah (the Utes won that game 21-7).
Streaks: Wide receiver Brett Swain has a reception in 22 straight games ... Defensive end Nick Osborn has a tackle in 34 straight outings, while linebacker Russell Allen has one in each of his last 32 games.
Other Notes: True freshman Neil Spencer made his first career start at defensive tackle ... He is the second true Aztec freshman to log a start this season, joining Vincent Brown, who has four starts including tonight ... Freshman Dey Juan Hemmings forced his first career fumble in the second quarter ... Punter Michael Hughes recorded his 11th and 12th punts this season of over 50 yards in the second quarter (56 and 58 yards) and added his 13th in the fourth quarter with a season-best 75-yard effort.
Big Numbers
3 - Victories for San Diego State in 2007, matching its total from the 2006 campaign.
6 - Straight victories for San Diego State over Wyoming at Qualcomm Stadium.
8 - SDSU quarterback Kevin O'Connell's string of one interception or less in eight starlight games came to an end against Wyoming.
15 - O'Connell broke the school-record for most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with his 15th rushing TD.
21 -The Aztecs trailed 21-0 before rallying to win, marking the largest deficit SDSU has overcome since at least 1976 (records are unavailable in the press box prior to 1976).
23 - San Diego State had lost its last 23 games when the opponent scored first.
40 - With a touchdown late in the second quarter, San Diego State extended its streak to 40 consecutive games at Qualcomm Stadium in which the Aztecs have not been shutout in the first half.