Football

SDSU Football-Colorado State Postgame Notes

SDSU Football-Colorado State Postgame NotesSDSU Football-Colorado State Postgame Notes

Nov. 12, 2011

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SDSU Postgame Notes vs. Colorado State in PDF Format

Final Score: San Diego State 18, Colorado State 15
Updated Records: San Diego State - 6-3 overall; 3-2 MW | Colorado State: 3-6 overall; 1-3 MW

THE BIG NOTES

* San Diego State records its sixth victory of the season and becomes bowl eligible for the second straight campaign ... The Aztecs are now in position to go to a bowl games in consecutive seasons for the first time in the Division I era (43 years) and the first time overall since 1967-68.

* Senior quarterback Ryan Lindley broke the school's career record for passing yards and tied the school record for most career starts by a quarterback which were both held by Todd Santos (1984-87) ... He also broke the league record for most career passing yards.

TEAM NOTES

* The Aztecs are 15-7 since the beginning of the 2010 campaign ... The two-year victory total of 15 wins is the most for San Diego State since the Aztecs posted a 16-7 record in 1995 and 1996.

* San Diego State head coach Rocky Long teams have now won at least six games in eight of his last nine seasons as a head coach ... Long earned his 71st career victory tonight.

* San Diego State has won consecutive games overall and have won two straight road outings ... The Aztecs are 3-1 on the road this season and have won five consecutive road games against unranked teams at game time.

* The Aztecs have defeated Colorado State three consecutive times and now own an 18-13 lead in the series... The Aztecs have won six of the last seven encounters, including the last four meetings at Hughes Stadium.

* With the team's victory tonight, Rocky Long already has more wins in his inaugural season at San Diego State than the previous four first-year coaches - Brady Hoke (4 in 2009), Chuck Long (3 in 2006), Tom Craft (4 in 2002) and Ted Tollner (4 in 1994) ... Long's 6-3 record through nine contests is the best start for an Aztec first-year coach since Denny Stolz also went 6-3 in 1986.

* SDSU logged its first two-point conversion in the first quarter since the 2009 season, when the Aztecs also had one at Colorado State on Oct. 24 ... On that play, Ryan Lindley successfully threw a pass to Dominique Sandifer to give the visiting squad a 35-28 lead in the fourth quarter ... Tonight, Aztec holder Brian Stahovich completed his second pass of the year (also vs. TCU) and of his career with this one going to Chad Young.

* The Aztec defense has allowed opposing offenses to score no more than one touchdown in the second half of all nine contests in 2011 ... This is the first time an opponent has scored in the second half since the Air Force game ... Air Force and TCU scored only 10 points, the most SDSU allowed in the second half of a game this season (1 TD, 1 FG each) ... Of the 199 points allowed this year by the defense, only 55 have been scored after the break (also 7 vs. Cal Poly, 6 at Army, 7 vs. Washington State, 7 at Michigan, 10 vs. TCU, 10 at Air Force, 0 vs. Wyoming, 0 vs. New Mexico, 8 at CSU).

* SDSU held Colorado State to only 52 yards through the air ... SDSU foes have failed to reach the century mark in passing yards in each of the last two games and in four of nine outings in 2011 ... The last time the Aztecs held an opponent to less than 100 yards through the air in back-to-back contests was in 2006 vs. Wyoming and Cal Poly.

* With one interception tonight, SDSU now has 11 this season, surpassing the team's 10 picks in 13 outings last year ... The 11 interceptions are the most by the Aztecs since they also had 11 in 2009.

* SDSU did not allow an opponent to score in the third quarter of a game for the third consecutive outing. The Aztecs have surrendered only 13 total points in the third quarter in 2011.

PLAYER NOTES

Ryan Lindley, Sr., QB
* Senior quarterback Ryan Lindley tied the SDSU record for most career starts by a quarterback of 45 held by Todd Santos (1984-87) ... Lindley broke the Mountain West Conference career passing record in the second quarter on a pass to Chad Young at the 6:42 mark of the second quarter ... He beat the previous MW record of 11,365 set by Max Hall of Brigham Young.

* Became the all-time passing leader in SDSU career history in the second half on his 12-yard pass to Osmond Nicholas ... Lindley surpassed the previous record of 11,425 yards by Todd Santos.

Ronnie Hillman, So., RB
* With his 80 yards tonight, moved into a tie for fourth in Aztec career history in rushing yards with 2,810 ... Failed to rush for 100 yards for just the second time in nine games this season, snapping a streak of three in a row ... His 1,278 yards this season rank seventh in school single-season history.

* Recorded at least one reception for the 12th straight contest ... Has 18 catches in 2011, after tallying only nine in 2010.

Walter Kazee, Jr., RB
* Reached the 1,000-yard mark in career rushing yards on the team's second-quarter touchdown drive ... Gives the Aztecs two career 1,000-yard rushers on this year's roster ... Scored his fourth TD in the last two outings on that drive ... Ended the night with 1,030 yards to become the 34th Aztec to surpass the 1K career mark.

Miles Burris, Sr., LB
* Continued his strong play for the second year in a row vs. the Rams with a team-best six tackles, including three for a loss and a sack ... A year ago, had 10 tackles, 4.0 TFLs for a loss of 35 yards, 2.0 sacks for a loss of 18 yards and two forced fumbles vs. CSU ... Recovered his third fumble of the season and in his career in the second quarter ... Logged at least a half tackle for loss for the 15th time in the last 16 outings ... Had a sack for the sixth time this season, giving him 17 for his career.

OTHER NOTES

* For the first time in nine games this season, SDSU did receive the ball on the opening kickoff.
* Junior Riley Gauld made his first career start at right guard for the injured Nik Embernate, who started each of the last 29 outings ... It was Gauld's second career outing in an Aztec uniform and first since the opener with Cal Poly ... Today is the first time the Aztecs have changed their starting offensive line this season.
* Senior wideout Marcus Russell got his first career start today ... Classmate Demetrius Barksdale also got his first career start at linebacker ... Sophomore linebacker Andrew Feaster and sophomore defensive lineman Jesse Ben-Ron saw their first career action.
* Sophomore Nat Berhe caused his first fumble of the year and his second of his career on the same play ... Later in the first half, Berhe added his third career interception and second of the year (also at Michigan).
* Senior tight end Alston Umuolo scored his second TD of the season and the sixth of his career in the first quarter.
* Junior A.C. Colquitt saw action in his second career game and logged his first career kick return to start the second half.
* Redshirt freshman Adam Muema recorded a career high in rushes, rushing yards and caught his first career pass in his second career game.
* Aztec sophomore tight end Gavin Escobar set a season high for receptions and tied his career best with a team-high six catches.