Nov. 08, 2014
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 1 
| Photo Gallery 2
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| STATISTICAL LEADERS | ||||
| Passing | C-Att | Yds | TD | Int |
| Chalich, Idaho | 11-22 | 145 | 1 | 0 |
| Kaehler, SDSU | 14-22 | 249 | 3 | 0 |
| Rushing | Car | Yds | TD | Long |
| Penny, Idaho | 22 | 90 | 1 | 18 |
| Pumphrey, SDSU | 26 | 142 | 1 | 39 |
| Receiving | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
| McCain, Idaho | 7 | 101 | 1 | 51 |
| Judge, SDSU | 4 | 107 | 1 | 58 |
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| MULTIMEDIA |
 Postgame Presser - Long Postgame Presser - Judge, Munson, Kaehler Highlights |
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| RELATED LINKS |
 Gameday Live | Notes | Depth Chart Season Stats | Mountain West | NCAA Media Guide | Home |
SAN DIEGO -- Quinn Kaehler tied a career high with three touchdown passes as San Diego State pulled away in a 35-21 victory over Idaho Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium.
Donnel Pumphrey added 142 yards on the ground with one touchdown, while Chase Price scored on a 5-yard run.
Eric Judge (4 receptions, 107 yards, 1 touchdown) and Ezell Ruffin (4 receptions, 86 yards, 2 touchdowns) combined for eight catches, 193 receiving yards and three scores as Kaehler was an efficient 14-for-22 for 249 yards and the three touchdowns.
Tied at 14 at halftime, Kaehler hit Judge on a 58-yard slant for the go-ahead touchdown, then Price scored on a 5-yard run on the Aztecs' (5-4) ensuing drive to take a 28-14 lead.
The Vandals (1-8) responded when Chad Chalich found a wide-open Joshua McCain for a 51-yard score and bring UI to within seven at 28-21.
After forcing SDSU to a 3 and out, it appeared Idaho would take the lead on its next drive after if got the ball all the way to the San Diego State 7. On a 3rd and 2, however, the Aztecs' Alex Barrett knocked the ball out of running back Jerrel Brown's hands and Josh Gavert pounced on it to give SDSU the ball back.
San Diego State took advantage, utilizing an 11-play, 86-yard drive over 5:24, culminating with a 28-yard strike from Kaehler to Ruffin.
The Vandals got into Aztecs' territory, but were unable to convert a 3rd and 2 after Gavert sacked quarterback Matt Linehan for a 7-yard loss. SDSU followed by forcing a Linehan incomplete pass on fourth down try.
San Diego State used the legs of Pumphrey to set up a field goal try on its next possession, but Donny Hageman missed from 37 yards. On the drive, Pumphrey rushed five times for 41 yards.
UI tried to mount a last-ditch effort, but could get no closer than its own 38, giving the win to the Aztecs.
Each team scored on its opening two possessions, first SDSU with an 8-play, 65-yard drive over 3:32 and ending with a 24-yard Kaehler-to-Ruffin hookup.
Idaho responded with an impressive 14-play, 75-yard drive over 6:28 to tie it when Elijhaa Penny scored from two yards out.
Pumphrey finished what he started in San Diego State's second drive with a 5-yard touchdown. On the drive, which was 10 plays and 75 yards over 4:33, Pumphrey rushed six times for 38 yards, while Kaehler was 3-for-4 for 37 yards through the air.
The Vandals tied it up once again when Chalich snuck in from 13 yards out, finishing out a 13-play, 77-yard drive over 4:42.
From there, both defenses settled down and it would be nine drives later until the next point was scored - Judge's 58-yard pass from Kaehler. The drive just took three plays and 51 seconds over 64 yards.
The Aztecs scored again on their next drive (9 plays, 61 yards, 4:28) as Kaehler (4-for-5, 60 yards) drove them down before Price scored from five yards out.
UI responded with the 51-yard TD pass from Chalich to McCain on a drive that utilized five plays and 77 yards over 2:15.
It would stay 28-21 until Barrett's key forced fumble and SDSU's ensuing touchdown drive to seal the win.
Pumphrey got his 142 yards and one touchdown on a career-high 26 carries, averaging 5.5 yards per attempt. It was his sixth, 100-yard game of the season and ninth of his career. Price added 33 yards and a touchdown on six carries.
Judge had his first 100-yard receiving game, while Ruffin recorded his second career multi-touchdown game.
Kaehler, meanwhile, set a career high with a 203.71 pass efficiency rating and improved to 12-6 as the team's starter quarterback.
Gavert led the way for the defense with nine tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery, while Na'im McGee tied for the team lead with nine stops. Barrett recorded eight tackles, 1.5 TFL and a forced fumble, and Cody Galea tied a career high with six tops and added a career-best 2.0 TFL.
San Diego State won its sixth straight home game, its longest streak since the 1996-97 seasons and improved to 27-0 in its Division I era (since 1969) when owning a +11 margin in average field position (SDSU 35, Idaho 22).
Additionally, the Aztecs finished +1 in turnover margin and won their 11th straight game when having fewer turnovers than their opponent.
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| First Downs | 26 | 18 | ||||
| Total Yards | 379 | 405 | ||||
| Passing Yards | 186 | 249 | ||||
| Rushing Yards | 193 | 156 | ||||
| Number of Plays | 82 | 61 | ||||
| Penalties-Yards | 4-30 | 4-51 | ||||
| 3rd Down Conversions | 8 of 16 | 9 of 14 | ||||
| 4th Down Conversions | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | ||||
| Kick Return Yards | 82 | 49 | ||||
| Punt Return Yards | -3 | 4 | ||||
| Punts-Yards | 3 - 43.3 | 4 - 36.2 | ||||
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Time of Possession | 31:34 | 28:26 | ||||