Nov. 11, 2007
Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
FINAL SCORE: San Diego State 38, UNLV 30
Record: San Diego State is 4-5 overall and 3-2 in MWC play and has won two straight games
Next Week: The Aztecs play at Air Force next Saturday. Game time is set for 11 a.m. PT (TV: none)
AZTECS SURPASS 2006 WIN TOTAL
-San Diego State won its second consecutive game and improved to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in Mountain West Conference play. The Aztecs, picked to finish eighth in the MWC preseason poll, has now surpassed its 2006 win total when they finished 3-9.
-At 3-2 in Mountain West Conference play, the Aztecs own a winning league record through at least least two conference games played, for the first time since ending the 2002 campaign with a 4-3 MWC record (the Aztecs were 1-0 earlier this year after opening MWC play with a win at Colorado State).
- For just the third time in school history, San Diego State has defeated Colorado State, Wyoming and UNLV in the same season. The Aztecs also knocked off all three teams in 1982, 1999 and 2007.
- SanDiego State is 2-1 in its last three road games after losing the previous nine road/neutral games.
-The Aztecs have won consecutive games for the first time since the 2005 season.
-The Aztecs are 5-5 in their last 10 games after going 2-10 in their previous 12 contests.
POINTS ON THE BOARD
-San Diego State's 38 points are the program's most in a game against an NCAA Bowl Subdivision team in the Chuck Long era. The previous high was 27 points against Wyoming last week and versus UTEP in the 2006 opener.
-San Diego State's 21 points are its most in the first half of a conference outing since the Utah game in 2005, when the Aztecs also had 21 points.
-San Diego State's 17 fourth-quarter points are its most since the 2006 opener against UTEP.
MEKELL MAKES HIS MARK
-San Diego State sophomore Mekell Wesley returned the school's first kick off for a touchdown since 1997. The last time the Aztecs turned the trick was Nov. 1, 1997, when Jesus Reyes ran one back 96 yards against Wyoming. The TD was Wesley's first of his career, while the 89-yard run back ranks as the ninth-longest in school history.
-Wesley ended the game with five kick off returns for 178 yards. The 178 yards rank second in SDSU single-game history.
DEFENSE COMING TO PLAY
-Tonight marks the sixth time in the Chuck Long era and the second time this season that the Aztecs have held their opponent off the scoreboard in the first two quarters. SDSU also held Colorado State scoreless in the first half earlier in 2007.
-SDSU has 23 tackles for loss over its last two contests with 15 against Wyoming and eight tonight versus UNLV.
INTs ARE FOR US
-San Diego State has an interception in each of its nine contests this season and 12 in its last six outings. Redshirt freshman Martrell Fantroy recorded his third pick of the year in the fourth quarter, returning it 55 yards for his first career score. Fantroy, a Las Vegas native, became the second Aztec to return an interception for a TD this season, joining Vonnie Holmes, who ran one back 35 yards against Cincinnati. The Aztecs have 14 interceptions this season, after collecting just nine in 12 outings a year ago.
OPENING DRIVES
-For the fifth consecutive game, the Aztec defense held its opponent scoreless on their opening drive of the game. The last team to score on the first drive of the game against San Diego State was Cincinnati on Sept. 29.
-San Diego State scored on its first drive of the game for the fourth time this season and the first since the contest at Colorado State. The Aztecs marched 91 yards, to match their season-long scoring drive set against Portland State on Sept. 22.
BIG LEADS
-San Diego State's 21-0 lead tonight is the largest in a road game since the Aztecs shutout UTEP, 34-0, on Sept. 13, 2003.
-The 21-point lead is also the largest for SDSU in an MWC road game since posting a 34-0 victory at Wyoming in 2000.
CONSISTENT KEVIN
-San Diego State quarterback Kevin O'Connell completed his first 12 pass attempts tonight against the Rebels. Combined with last year's 7-for-7 performance and his final attempt in the 2005 game, he completed 20 straight against UNLV before seeing the streak come to an end in the second half.
SUPER SULLIVAN -Freshman running back Brandon Sullivan logged a career-long run (25 yards) and reception (23 yards) on SDSU's first possession of the game. He easily surpassed his career game highs in both rushing yards (70) and receiving yards (68) (prev. 23 rushing yards vs. WSU, UNM; 15 receiving yards vs. WSU, CSU). Sullivan's also posted a career high in receptions (six) and carries (10).
STREAKS -Wide receiver Brett Swain has a reception in 23 straight games w Defensive end Nick Osborn has a tackle in 35 straight outings, while linebacker Russell Allen has one in each of his last 33 games.
OTHER NOTES -Aztec senior tight end Steve Schmidt caught his first career touchdown on the team's first drive of the game.
-Punter Michael Hughes continued his solid play by launching a 63-yard punt in the second half. It is Hughes 14th punt of 50 or more yards this season.
-Sophomore Jerry Milling logged his first tackle of the season in his second game of 2007. Milling missed the first six contests of the year after fracturing a bone in his foot during training camp.