Sept. 6, 2015
SAN DIEGO -
MUNSON WITH A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Junior linebacker Calvin Munson kicked off his season in fine fashion last night with a team-high and game-high-tying 11 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss, two interceptions returned for a touchdown and a fumble recovery … Munson's night earned him the Walter Camp National FBS Defensive Player-of-the-Week award, the first every by an Aztec … The two interceptions returned for a touchdown - 19 and 67 yards - tied an NCAA single-game record for a linebacker, tied for the second most in a game among all players in NCAA history and were the most in a game in San Diego State history … The last linebacker to return two interceptions for scores in a game was Northwestern's Collin Ellis vs. California (the Aztecs' upcoming opponent) on Aug. 31, 2013 … Since 1996, only 22 other players in FBS play have returned two interceptions for a touchdown in a game … The last time that happened was Nov. 29, 2013 when Ohio's TJ Carrie accomplished the feat vs. UMass … Munson is the seventh linebacker in FBS history with two interceptions returned for a touchdown in the same game … Munson's two picks were only eclipsed by teammate Damontae Kazee and West Virginia's Karl Joseph in FBS play (both had three), while the 86 interception yards ranked second in the nation … He is already tied for the most interceptions returned for a touchdown in Aztec single-season history (Leon McFadden - 2012, Tory Nixon - 1984) and now has three for his career, tying Ricky Parker (1993-96) for the most in program history … Munson's three career interceptions returned for a touchdown rank in a tie for third in FBS history among linebackers, trailing only Virginia's Randy Neal (1991-94) and Miami's (OH) Dustin Cohen (1996-99) … Munson has totaled six interceptions for his career with 232 return yards (fifth all-time at SDSU) … He also led the team in tackles for the fourth time of his career and recovered his first-ever fumble.
KAZEE WITH THE HAT TRICK
Not to be outdone was junior cornerback Damontae Kazee, who finished with three interceptions of his own to go along with three tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage … The three interceptions were the most by an Aztec since Ed Ricketts had three on Oct. 13, 1951 vs. the Marines and are ranked in a tie for the second most in a game in program history … Only Dick Adair's four-interception game bettered Kazee's output last night and that came on Oct. 15, 1949 vs. New Mexico State … The three picks, which came in the first, second and third quarter, respectively, tied West Virginia's Karl Joseph for the most in FBS last week … The three picks matches the most in FBS play since Middle Tennessee's Damon Nickson had four against Lousiaina-Lafayette on Oct. 28, 2006 … Kazee is the 25th FBS player this decade (since 2011) with three interceptions in the same game … He now has five interceptions for his career.
WE KNOW TURNOVERS
SDSU's recent streak of forcing turnovers is pretty remarkable … Last night, San Diego State recorded five interceptions and recovered a fumble … The six forced turnovers were the most by the Aztecs since Sept. 13, 2003 at UTEP … The five interceptions were the most by SDSU since picking off five passes on Nov. 17, 2001 at Wyoming … San Diego State has now forced 16 turnovers over the last four games, dating back to last season (four vs. Air Force, two vs. San Jose State, four vs. Navy and six last night vs. San Diego) … The 16 forced turnovers since Nov. 21, 2014 (the Air Force game) are the second most in FBS over that span, although the Aztecs did it in four games and Louisiana Tech (the leader) forced 17 over five games during that span … SDSU has now forced four-plus turnovers in back-to-back games for the first time since 2011 vs. Michigan and TCU … San Diego State has forced at least one turnover in 15 consecutive games, its longest streak since a 20-game streak from Dec. 2, 2006-Oct. 18, 2008 … The Aztecs finished +5 in the turnover margin last night, their best mark since a +7 on Nov. 17, 2001 vs. Wyoming and tied for the sixth-best advantage in their Division I history (since 1969) … After one week of play, SDSU leads FBS in turnovers forced (6) and interceptions (5), and is tied for first with West Virginia in turnover margin (+5).
MORE ON THE DEFENSE
The San Diego State defense picked up where they left off last season with another solid effort last night vs. San Diego … The Aztecs allowed just 193 total yards, including 109 in the air and 84 on the ground … SDSU has now gone 10 straight games without allowing a team to record 400 yards of total offense … That is tied with Clemson for the second-longest streak in FBS, trailing only San Diego State's Sept. 26 opponent Penn State's 14 straight games … The Aztecs held an opponent under 200 yards of total offense for the first time since holding Hawai'i to 173 on Oct. 6, 2012 … It was the fourth time since Rocky Long became defensive coordinator in 2009 that an opponent failed to reach 200 yards of total offense … The 2.97 yards per play were the fewest allowed by SDSU since giving up just 2.71 yards per play on Sept. 4, 2010 vs. Nicholls.