Nov. 17, 2009
SAN DIEGO -
Complete Release in PDF Format
Having matched or surpassed it win total in seven of its last nine seasons, San Diego State closes out its first year under head coach Brady Hoke with a pair of road games to end the 2009 regular season.
On Saturday, San Diego State plays at 23rd-ranked Utah, on a game that will be televised in high definition by Versus. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT.
Both teams are trying to put disappointing results from last Saturday behind them. The Aztecs carried a 21-point lead into the fourth quarter before falling to Wyoming, 30-27. San Diego State, which had not allowed a touchdown on the last 21 opponent drive starting in the fourth quarter and had allowed just three points total during the span, gave up 24 points in the final stanza. Meanwhile, Utah fell at fourth-ranked TCU, 55-28, to snap a six-game winning streak. The Utes will carry a 16-game home field winning streak into Saturday's contest. That ranks third nationally behind Oklahoma (28) and Boise State (24).
- Saturday's game marks the 29th meeting between San Diego State and Utah, with the Utes owning a 15-12-1 series lead. Utah has won three straight, five of the last six games and eight of the last 10 encounters between the teams. SDSU will try to buck the trend as it has committed 10 turnovers in its last three games against Utah.
- How much has San Diego State improved this season? In the six conference games in 2009, San Diego State has posted a 2-4 record and has been outscored by 51 points (146-197) after going 0-6 and being outscored by 180 points (80-260) against those same MWC opponents last season. The 129 total-point improvement averages out to 21.5 points per game.
- Of the 22 new coaches in the FBS this season, only four have already led their team to at least two more victories in 2009 than last season. They are San Diego State's Brady Hoke (2 to 4), Iowa State's Paul Rhodes (2 to 5), Washington's Steve Sarkisian (0 to 3) and Auburn's Gene Chizik (5 to 7). Hoke has also helped the Aztecs, just nine games into the season, match or surpass their win total in seven of the last nine seasons.
- The Aztec offense has shown remarkable improvement over the last five games since the bye week. In the last five outings (against 18th-ranked Brigham Young, at Colorado State, vs. New Mexico, vs. 6th-ranked TCU and vs. Wyoming), SDSU has scored 132 points and compiled 1,812 yards of total offense. Lindley is 106-for-177 for 1,374 yards, with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions (an efficiency rating of 145.9). During the last five games, Sampson has 38 catches for 521 yards and eight touchdowns.
- The Aztec defense continues to show remarkable improvement seven games into the Brady Hoke/Rocky Long regime. Of the 14 defensive statistical categories the NCAA keeps, the Aztecs have shown improvement in 11 categories. SDSU ranks 77th in total defense this season after placing 113th last season.
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