Nov. 23, 2010
SDSU Football Game Notes vs. UNLV in PDF Format
San Diego State looks to pay tribute to a senior class that has helped guide the Aztecs to bowl eligibility for the first time since 1998 and has a chance to post the most victories in a season since 1977 on Saturday.
The Aztecs (7-4; 4-3 MWC) play host to UNLV (2-9; 2-5 MWC) at 5 p.m. PT at Qualcomm Stadium in what will be the final regular-season game for 17 San Diego State seniors. The game will be televised in high definition by The Mtn. and can be heard throughout Southern California on AM 600 KOGO.
The Aztecs are looking to snap their first two-game losing streak of the season. Last Saturday, for the second consecutive week, San Diego State was unable to hold a double-digit lead against a nationally-ranked opponent, suffering its first home loss of the season to 25th-ranked Utah, 38-34.
SDSU exploded for 528 passing yards, the fifth-highest total in school history and the most since Nov. 16, 1991. The Aztecs built a 27-10 lead late in the second quarter, but were unable to overcome a -3 turnover margin and a blocked punt inside its own five-yard line.
Junior quarterback Ryan Lindley passed for a career-high 528 yards and four touchdowns and Aztec senior wide receivers Vincent Brown (eight catches, career-high 184 yards, three touchdowns) and DeMarco Sampson (season-high 12 catches, 154 yards) each went over 1,000 receiving yards for the season.
Junior linebacker Miles Burris had eight tackles and a tackle for a loss and senior Aztec back Andrew Preston added seven stops and a tackle for a loss to spearhead a defensive effort that forced the Utes to punt five times and held the Utes to 4-for-14 on third-down conversion attempts.
It was the fourth hard-fought loss for the Aztecs this season. San Diego State is left to wonder what could have been, with the four losses coming by a total of 15 points. Among those four losses are three that occurred on the road, three that came to teams currently ranked 23rd or higher by the Associated Press and two games in which San Diego State enjoyed fourth-quarter leads.
Saturday marks the final regular-season appearance at Qualcomm Stadium for 17 seniors (there are 19 on the roster, but defensive back Dey Juan Hemmings and tight end Alston Umuolo are petitioning the NCAA to receive a medical redshirt and plan to return next season, and will not take part in pregame senior ceremonies). This class has been part of the biggest turnarounds in college football during their time at SDSU, helping guide the Aztecs from records of 3-9 (2006), 4-8 (2007), 2-10 (2008) and 4-8 (2009) in consecutive campaigns to a 7-4 mark entering play on Saturday. In 2008, the team was outscored by 215 points and lost seven games by 25 or more points. This season, those seniors will end their career by playing in a bowl game.
GAME INFORMATION
UNLV (2-9; 2-5 Mountain West) at (--/rv) San Diego State (7-4; 4-3 Mountain West)
SENIOR NIGHT
Date: Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010
Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. PT (announced)/5:06 p.m. PT (kickoff)
Location: San Diego, Calif. | Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium
Capacity: 54,000
Series: San Diego State leads, 11-8
Television: The Mtn. HD. Ari Wolfe (play-by-play), Blaine Fowler (analyst) and Jenny Cavnar (sidelines)
Radio: AM 600 KOGO. Ted Leitner (play-by-play), Chris Ello (analyst), Mike Costa (sidelines)
Internet: Live stats, radio broadcast and SDSU postgame news conference available at GoAztecs.com.