Aug. 31, 2014
SAN DIEGO -
ONE OF THE BEST OVER THE PAST 337 DAYS
The Aztecs improved to 9-2 (.818) since Sept. 28, 2013 with the 38-7 win over Northern Arizona ... That is tied with Alabama, Duke, East Carolina, Marshall, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina and UCF for the seventh-best mark over that period (does not include Georgia State and UTSA, who became eligible for DI postseason this year and are 1-0) ... The only teams with better records since Sept. 28, 2013 than SDSU are Florida State (12-0), Michigan State (11-0), Auburn (10-1), Louisville (8-1), Missouri (10-2) and Northern Illinois (10-2) ... SDSU's nine wins since Sept. 28, 2013 are tied for the sixth most over that span.
SPECIAL TEAMS SUPERSTARS
San Diego State had a pretty good outing from its special teams last night vs. Northern Arizona ... The Aztecs had a punt return for a touchdown (Lloyd Mills), kicked a field goal (Donny Hageman) and blocked a field goal attempt (Alex Barrett) ... Mills' 67-yard punt return for a touchdown was SDSU's third in its last four games (since Nov. 23, 2013) ... The three touchdowns over that span are the most in the country ... Ironically, North Carolina, San Diego State's opponent on Saturday, ranks second with two punt returns for a score since Nov. 23, 2013 ... Ten other opponents have scored one punt return touchdown over that span ... Mills' punt return for a score was the seventh special teams touchdown by the Aztecs in the Rocky Long head coaching era (since 2011) ... Brandon Davis (98-yard KOR) and Colin Lockett (94-yard KOR) each had one in 2011, Lockett (100-yard KOR and 96-yard KOR) had two in 2012 and Tim Vizzi (71-yard PR and 41-yard PR) had a pair in 2013 ... SDSU is one of just four schools in the country with at least three kick returns for a touchdown and three punt returns for a touchdown since 2011 ... Once again, North Carolina makes the list, along with Oregon and Missouri ... Hageman's 48-yard field goal was San Diego State's first make since Sept. 28, 2013 at New Mexico State ... The Aztecs were the only FBS school without a made field goal from Sept. 29, 2013 until yesterday (Aug. 30, 2014) ... Army had the second fewest over that span with three, while three others only made four ... UTSA (two) and Georgia State (one) each made field goals in their games over the weekend, respectively, but were not included since they became eligible for postseason this year ... The 48-yard field goal was SDSU's longest since Abel Perez hit a 53-yarder vs. UNLV on Nov. 27, 2010 ... Alex Barrett blocked NAU's 45-yard field goal attempt, which was San Diego State's third blocked kick over its last two games ... Scott Graves blocked a pair of punts vs. Buffalo on Dec. 21, 2013 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
TURNOVER BATTLE A KEY FOR AZTEC SUCCESS
San Diego State finished with one turnover (an interception) in its 38-7 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday night ... The Aztecs have now won 10 consecutive games when committing one or less turnovers ... The last time SDSU had one or less turnovers and lost was Dec. 17, 2011 against Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Orleans Bowl (lost, 32-30) ... San Diego State has also won 14 of its last 15 games and 20 of its last 22 when committing one or less turnovers ... The Aztecs and Lumberjacks each finished with one turnover on Saturday night ... SDSU has won six straight games when owning an even or better turnover margin ... San Diego State is also 11-1 in its last 12 contests when it has an even or better turnover margin.
SCORING MARGIN AND SUCH
San Diego State defeated Northern Arizona, 38-7, last night ... The 31-point margin of victory was tied for the 27th-largest margin of victory in the opening week of FBS play (as of Aug. 30) ... It was the Aztecs' largest margin of victory since a 38-point win (52-14) on Oct. 6, 2012 ... Among season openers, it was SDSU's largest since a 47-0 win over Nicholls State on Sept. 4, 2010 ... After playing in seven straight games decided by seven points or less last year from Oct. 4-Nov. 23, each of San Diego State's last three games have been decided by at least 25 points ... The Aztecs lost at UNLV, 45-19, on Nov. 30, 2013, then beat Buffalo, 49-24, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 21, 2013 and followed with the 38-7 victory last night vs. Northern Arizona ... SDSU has two straight wins by at least 25 points for the first time since 1999, when it beat UNLV by 30 (37-7) on Nov. 20 and Wyoming by 32 (39-7) on Nov. 27 ... San Diego State also has two straight games where it led by at least 31 points at a point in the game, which is the first time it has happened since defeating Hawai'i, 52-14, (38 points) on Oct. 6, 2012 and led Colorado State by 31 before winning by 24 (38-14) on Oct. 13, 2012 ... The seven points allowed by the Aztecs were their fewest since giving up since a 42-7 win over Army on Sept. 8, 2012 and matches their fewest allowed since shutting out Nicholls State, 47-0, in the 2010 opener (Sept. 4) ... SDSU has now gone two straight games without trailing for the first time since beating Hawai'i, 52-14, on Oct. 6, 2012 and defeating Colorado State, 38-14, on Oct. 13, 2012 ... San Diego State has scored a touchdown in 10 straight quarters, which is the second-longest active streak in the nation (San Jose State, 11) (does not include overtime periods).
SEASON OPENER NOTES
As mentioned before, San Diego State's 31-point win was its largest margin of victory in an opener since a 47-0 win over Nicholls State on Sept. 4, 2010 ... The Aztecs improved to 47-40-5 in season-opening games, including a 22-23-1 mark in its Division I era (since 1969) ... SDSU improved to 19-6-1 in the Division I era (since 1969) when its opener is at home ... San Diego State won its home opener for the fifth time in six seasons (since 2009) and for the sixth time over the last eight seasons (since 2007) ... The Aztecs won their first opener since a 49-21 victory over Cal Poly in 2011 ... Donnel Pumphrey rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns, which is the 14th 100-yard rushing game in an opener in program history and first since current Denver Bronco Ronnie Hillman did it in 2011.
MORE PLAYER NOTES
Calvin Munson's 64-yard interception return vs. Northern Arizona is the longest in Week 1 of FBS play (through Aug. 30) ... Malik Smith's three pass breakups are tied for the most in the country after the first week of FBS action (through Aug. 30) ... One of eight players on defense to earn his first Division I start and 11 overall, Smith came into the game with no career PBUs ... Lloyd Mills was one of 10 players with a punt return for a touchdown in the opening week of FBS play (through Aug. 30), while his 21.3 average ranks ninth in the nation ... Quinn Kaehler extended his streak with at least 200 yards passing to 13 games, which is the longest streak by an SDSU player since at least 1996 and the third-longest active streak in the country (FBS) ... Donnel Pumphrey had his fourth 100-yard rushing game of his career, which is tied for 20th all-time at San Diego State ... He also had his second game with multiple rushing touchdowns and third with multiple overall touchdowns ... Ezell Ruffin had a catch for the 15th straight game and multiple receptions for the 14th consecutive contest, both which lead the team ... Cody Galea started for the 23rd straight game, the longest streak on the team (not including specialists) ... Josh Gavert played in his 40th straight game, which is the longest streak on the team and includes every Aztec game since 2011.
ONE FINAL NOTE
Through games of Aug. 30, SDSU is the only team in the country to do the following in its opening game of the season: commit one turnover or less, have five penalties or less, pass for 200 yards, rush for 150 yards, hold its opponent to seven points or less and score a defensive or special team touchdown.