Sept. 3, 2011
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SAN DIEGO -
Cal Poly-San Diego State Postgame Notes
TEAM NOTES
* San Diego State wins its third consecutive game dating back to last season and has not trailed in any of the three games. It marks the first time the Aztecs have posted a three-game winning streak without trailing since November 1998, when the Aztecs ended the regular-season with wins over Fresno State (10-0), San Jose State (34-6) and UTEP (34-29).
* San Diego State wins it season opener for the second consecutive season for the first time since the 2003 and 2004 campaigns.
* San Diego State extends its win streak against unranked teams at any location to six straight games dating back to a 24-21 loss at Brigham Young on Oct. 9, 2010. It is the longest such win streak since a six-game win streak during the 1997-98 season.
* San Diego State has won six straight games against non-ranked teams at home dating back to a 30-27 loss to Wyoming on Nov. 14, 2009. That is the longest such winning streak since a seven-game winning streak during the 2003-04 campaigns.
* Rocky Long wins his inaugural game as the head coach at San Diego State, improving Aztec head coaches to 10-5-3 in their first game at SDSU. He is the first coach to win his inaugural game since Ted Tollner led the Aztecs to a 56-14 victory at Navy on Sept. 3, 1994.
* San Diego State has won seven consecutive home games against non-conference opponents. The Aztecs last home loss outside of conference play came on Aug. 30, 2008, to Cal Poly (27-29).
* Ronnie Hillman records his seventh 100-yard rushing game of his career and posts the 250th 100-yard rushing game in San Diego State history.
* San Diego State snaps a two-game losing series losing streak to Cal Poly and get its first victory over the Mustangs in 16,044 days, dating back to a 26-20 victory on Sept. 30, 1967. SDSU is now 14-11 all-time vs. Cal Poly.
* SDSU's 28-first-half points tonight are the Aztecs' most in a season-opening first half since scoring 31 against Idaho State in 2004 (W - 38-21).
* SDSU ran for over 200 yards on the ground for the third consecutive outing and the seventh time in the last 14 outings.
* SDSU did not committ a turnover for the second game in a row (also vs. Navy). It is the first time the Aztecs did not committ a turnover in a season opener since 1999, and first time SDSU has logged back-to-back games with no giveaways also since 1999 (vs. South Florida, at Illinois).
* SDSU's 49 points tie as the second-most in a season-opener in school history ... SDSU has scored more than 34 points in five straight outings dating back to last season.
PLAYER NOTES
Ryan Lindley, Sr., QB
* Lindley made his 32nd consecutive start and his 37th of his career overall ... He recorded his fifth career game with four or more passing touchdowns (career high is 6 vs. CSU in 2009).
* With his four touchdown tosses tonight, Lindley set the school's all-time career record for most passing touchdowns with 71. He surpassed the previous record-holder Todd Santos, who had 70 from 1984-87.
* Lindley entered the game with no interceptions in his previous 53 pass attempts and increased that figure to 80 tonight.
Ronnie Hillman, So., RB
* Hillman scored a rushing touchdown for the fourth consecutive game and the 18th time in his career in the first half ... Added another rushing TD in the fourth quarter, his fifth career outing with two or more rushing scores.
* Hillman recorded his seventh 100-yard rushing game in just his 14th career game at the college level. He ranks 12th in school history in most 100-yard rushing days (NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk tops the list with 23). All seven of Hillman's career 100-yard rushing games are for more than 150 yards.
* Hillman records his third straight 100-yard rushing game dating back to last season (152 yards vs. UNLV and 228 yards vs. Navy). This is the 18th time in school history that an Aztec player has recorded 100 yards rushing in at least three straight games. The last time it happened, was by Lynell Hamilton during the 2005 season. No player has done it in four consecutive games since Larry Ned in 1998.
* Hillman is the 14th Aztec to run for over 100 yards in an opener and the first since Michael Franklin ran for 106 yards vs. Idaho State in 2004.
Dylan Denso, So., WR
* Denso scored his first two career touchdowns in the second quarter with a 3-yard reception (on fourth down) and a 33-yard grab. The two receiving TDs tie as the most by an Aztec in a season-opening game and marks the second year in a row an SDSU player has accomplished the feat (DeMarco Sampson, 2010 vs. Nicholls).
Colin Lockett, So., WR
* Colin Lockett became the first Aztec to return a kickoff for a touchdown since 2008, when Davion Mauldin brought one back 93 yards vs. Colorado State. Lockett's 94-yard return is the eighth-longest in school history and longest kick return overall since Jesus Reyes brought one back 96 yards for a TD vs. Wyoming in 1997.
* Colin Lockett's first career catch was a 59-yarder in the first quarter. He later added his first career receiving touchdown in the third quarter.
OTHER NOTES
* Aztecs making their first career starts tonight included: Colin Lockett (WR), Dylan Denso (WR), Jordan Thomas (DL), Jake Fely (LB), Gabe Lemon (WAR) and Larry Parker (CB).
* Aztecs playing their first career games tonight included: King Holder, Adam Roberts, Cody Galea, Josh Gavert, John Ghandour, Sam Meredith, Dontrell Onuoha, Adam Dingwell, Riley Gauld, Brice Heers, Garrett Corbett, Dwayne Garrett and Paul Pitts.
* The Aztecs scored a touchdown on their opening drive of a game for the fourth time in their last five outings (lone exception vs. Navy).
* Senior punter Brian Stahovich had three kicks land inside the 20-yard line (46th, 47th and 48th of his career) and also punted his 42nd career effort of 50 or more yards.
* Sophomore tight end Gavin Escobar logged his fifth career receiving score in the first half.
* Senior linebacker Demetrius Barksdale recovered his third career fumble in the fourth quarter. It is the third consecutive year he has recovered a fumble ... Jake Fely caused his first career fumble.