Aztec Football Falls at Boise State, 38-29

Nov. 16, 2014

Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery media_icon_photogallery.gif | USATSI Photo Gallery media_icon_photogallery.gif

29SDSU Logo

1234F
San Diego State (5-5, 3-3 MW)10103629
Boise State (8-2, 5-1 MW)01072138
NAU Logo38
spacer
STATISTICAL LEADERS
PassingC-AttYdsTDInt
Kaehler, SDSU17-2916311
Hedrick, BSU19-2818712
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Pumphrey, SDSU24147234
Ajayi, BSU31134328
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Ruffin, SDSU460038
Sperbeck, BSU682121
spacer
MULTIMEDIA
Watch Postgame Presser - Long & Kaehler
Watch Highlights
spacer
RELATED LINKS
sm_arrow.gif Gameday Live | Notes | Depth Chart
sm_arrow.gif Season Stats | Mountain West | NCAA
sm_arrow.gif Media Guide | Home

BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- San Diego State scored the first 20 points of the game, but was unable to make it three consecutive victories against Boise State in a 38-29 loss on Saturday night in Boise, Idaho.

In a battle between the Mountain West's top two rushers in the Aztecs' (5-5, 3-3 MW) Donnel Pumphrey and the Broncos' (8-2, 5-1 MW) Jay Ajayi, Pumphrey had 147 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries (6.1 avg.), while Ajayi rushed for 134 yards and three scores on 31 attempts (4.3 avg.).

All three of Ajayi's touchdowns, however, came in the second half, where BSU outscored SDSU, 28-9.

San Diego State was leading Boise State, 23-10, midway through the third quarter when the Broncos used a fake punt to spark their comeback. Facing 4th and 4 from its own 32, Chris Santani took a direct snap and raced 24 yards for the first down. Eight plays later, Ajayi scored his first of three touchdowns on a 5-yard run to cut the Aztecs' lead to 23-17, which would remain the score after three quarters.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Ajayi pounded the ball in from three yards out to give BSU its first lead of the game at 24-23.

After forcing a three and out, one of six SDSU had in the game, Boise State used a 5-play, 62-yard drive over 2:07, ending with a 10-yard run by Ajayi to put the Broncos up, 31-23.

San Diego State responded with a score of its own when Pumphrey's 34-yard scamper put the score at 31-29. On the drive, which consisted of six plays and 70 yards over 2:46, quarterback Quinn Kaehler was 3-for-3 for 30 yards, while Pumphrey added 40 yards on the ground on just three carries. The Aztecs went for the 2-point conversion, but Chase Price was stopped on the play, keeping the score at 31-29.

BSU sealed the game with a 14-play, 70-yard drive over 6:36, culminating with a 13-yard touchdown run by its quarterback Grant Hedrick. On the drive, Boise State was 4-for-4 on third down attempts.

SDSU got to its own 45, but threw an incomplete pass on 3rd and 10 and was then assessed a 15-yard personal foul, setting up a 4th and 25. Kaehler found Eric Judge for a quick 6-yard strike. Judge lateralled it to Lloyd Mills, who gained three more yards before getting knocked out of bounds.

The Broncos ran out the clock on consecutive kneeldowns to win its 11th straight game at Albertson Stadium.

San Diego State used a 41-yard field goal by Donny Hageman on its second possession of the game to get on the scoreboard first. The drive went for 28 yards and eight plays over 3:24.

After forcing BSU to punt, the Aztecs put together a 10-play, 87-yard drive over 5:10, ending with a 32-yard rushing score by Pumphrey to take the 10-0 lead.

Later in the second quarter, Hageman connected on his second field goal of the night - a 30-yarder - to put SDSU up, 13-0.

San Diego State got the ball back almost immediately as J.J. Whittaker picked off Hedrick and the Boise State 40 and returned it 26 yards to the Bronco 34. It took only three plays (34 yards) over 1:19 for the Aztecs to score once again as Kaehler found walk-on tight end Daniel Brunskill for a 6-yard touchdown pass and put SDSU up, 20-0.

BSU closed the first half on a good note as Dan Goodale got the team on the scoreboard with a 21-yard field goal and then traveled 78 yards on just six plays and 1:26 before Hedrick found Tyler Sperbeck with a 14-yard touchdown pass with just 17 seconds in the half. Down, 20-0, at one time, Boise State would go into the half just down 10 at 20-10.

Hageman hit his career-high third field goal of the night to give San Diego State a 23-10 advantage before the Broncos fake punt arguably changed the momentum of the game.

Kaehler threw for 173 yards and a touchdown, while Ruffin had team highs of four catches and 60 yards.

Malik Smith tied a career high with 10 tackles, while Calvin Munson had nine stops and his team-leading third interception of the year. Cody Galea (eight tackles, forced fumble) and Brandon Porter (seven tackles, 1.0 TFL, PBU) also set career-high tackle marks.

QUICK STATS
STATS COMPARISON

SDSU

BSU

First Downs1622
Total Yards357399
Passing Yards188187
Rushing Yards169212
Number of Plays6675
Penalties-Yards8-755-37
3rd Down Conversions6 of 159 of 17
4th Down Conversions1 of 21 of 1
Kick Return Yards81154
Punt Return Yards03
Punts-Yards5-36.65-34.4
Turnovers12
Time of Possession29:1030:50