Aztecs Slip to Eastern Illinois in Opener, 40-19

QUICK STATS STATS COMPARISON First Downs 21 24 Total Yards 533 440 Passing Yards 361 318 Rushing Yards 172 122 Number of Plays 82 99 Penalties-Yards 9-62 7-65 3rd Down Conversions 6-17 7-23 4th Down Conversions 1-2 1-5 Kick Return Yards 51 79 Punt Return Yards 60 3 Punts-Yards 7-38.3 6-39.8 Turnovers 2 5 Time of Possession 22:10 37:50 STATISTICAL LEADERS Passing C-Att Yds TD Int Garoppolo 31-46 361 3 0 Dingwell 27-63 318 0 4 Rushing Car Yds TD Long Duncan 20 92 2 45 Lockett 1 48 1 48 Receiving Red Yds TD Long Lora 10 87 2 37 Lockett 8 98 0 21 MULTIMEDIA Post Game Press Conference - Coach Long RELATED LINKS Gameday Central | Notes | Depth Chart Season Stats | Mountain West | NCAA Media Guide | Home

Eastern Illinois spoiled San Diego State's season-opener by scoring three unanswered touchdowns in the second half to pull away for a 40-19 victory in front of 42,978 fans at Qualcomm Stadium.

Aztec quarterback Adam Dingwell posted career-highs of 27 completions and 318 passing yards to go along with a school-record 63 attempts. However, the junior signal-caller threw four interceptions and lost a fumble, as the Panthers converted three of those miscues into touchdowns to help secure the upset.

SDSU opened the scoring on first of Wes Feer's four field goals on night, before EIU responded with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to Erik Lora with 11:14 to go in the first quarter.

The Aztecs reclaimed the lead on their ensuing drive after wide receiver Colin Lockett sprinted 48 yards to paydirt on a reverse, putting the host school up 10-7. Feer added another field goal later in the period to boost the Aztec advantage to 13-7.

With the scored knotted at 19-19, the Panthers drove 75 yards on 12 plays, taking the lead for good when running back Taylor Duncan plowed into the end zone on a two-yard run with 7:36 remaining in the third quarter.

After limiting the Aztecs to just four plays on their next possession, Sheperd Little returned the ensuing punt 60 yards to put the visitors up 33-19.

Later in the period, Duncan closed out the scoring with a 45-yard touchdown burst with 4:40 left.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed 31-of-46 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Erik Lora as Eastern Illinois beat San Diego State, 40-19, Saturday night.

Eastern Illinois (1-0) snapped a 19-19 tie when Taylor Duncan capped a 12-play 75-yard drive with a two-yard TD run with 7:36 left in the third quarter.

Duncan, who rushed for 94 yards on 20 carries, would cap the night with a 45-yard TD run with 4:40 left.

Eastern Illinois built a 19-13 lead at halftime as Garoppolo completed 15-of-24 passes for 246 yards and threw touchdown passes of 37 and four yards to Lora and a 62-yard strike to Keiondre Gober that snapped a 13-13 tie with 3:22 left in the first half.

Lora caught 10 passes for 87 yards.

San Diego State (0-1) got a 48-yard touchdown run from Colin Lockett in the first quarter.