Football

Football Set for Fellow MW Unbeaten USU on Friday

Football Set for Fellow MW Unbeaten USU on FridayFootball Set for Fellow MW Unbeaten USU on Friday

Oct. 19, 2015

SAN DIEGO -

SDSU NOTES vs. UTAH STATE | GAMEDAY CENTRAL

Remaining MW Teams with Unblemished League Records Meet Friday

  • The only two remaining Mountain West teams with perfect league records meet on Friday when San Diego State (3-0 in the West Division) welcomes Utah State (3-0 in the Mountain Division). The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and can be heard on Mighty 1090 AM and 105.7 The Max. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT.
  • San Diego State has opened conference play with a 3-0 record for the first time since 2002. The Aztecs have not opened league play with four straight wins since beginning the 1998 WAC campaign 4-0. That year, the Aztecs went on to claim their 18th conference title (currently SDSU has 19 football championships).
  • The Aztecs opened up a two-game advantage in the loss column of the West Division standings last Saturday after a 30-7 victory at San José State. SDSU dominated the game, holding the Spartans to 148 yards of total offense, including 35 rushing yards rushing on 35 carries.
  • This is the first time San Diego State has been involved in a game in which both teams had a perfect conference record of 3-0 or better since the Aztecs (3-0) faced San José State (4-0) in a PCAA game on Nov. 17, 1975.
  • This is one of just three games in the nation this week between teams with perfect conference records (also: Louisiana-Lafayette (1-0) at Arkansas State (2-0) and Georgia Southern (3-0) at Appalachian State (2-0) - both in the Sun Belt).
  • Dating back to last season, SDSU has won five consecutive conference games, which is tied for the 11th-longest streak in the nation. During that span, the Aztecs have outscored the opposition, 147-49 (average: 29.4-9.8). SDSU is 21-5 in its last 26 conference games.
  • San Diego State has won seven consecutive conference home games, dating back to a 35-28 loss to No. 15 Fresno State on Oct. 26, 2013.
  • The Aztecs have won 13 straight home contests against unranked conference opponents. That is the tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the country (Clemson 23, Brigham Young 18 and Alabama 15) and the longest active streak in the Mountain West.
  • During the 13-game home conference win streak against unranked opponents, San Diego State has outscored its opposition, 440-217. An average score of 33.8 to 16.7. The Aztecs are +15 in turnover margin those 13 games.
  • This month (since Oct. 1), San Diego State leads the nation in fewest yards allowed per game (162.7). Astonishingly, that is 36.6 yards per game better than the next-lowest figure. SDSU also leads the nation during that time frame in rushing yards allowed per game (33.3), rushing yards allowed per attempt (1.2) and yards allowed per play (3.8). The Aztecs are third in scoring defense (9.3 ppg), sixth in opponent passing rating (82.8) and eighth in opponent third-down conversion percentage (24.4 percent) this month.
  • San Diego State has held its last 10 conference opponents to less than 400 yards of total offense. During that period, the opposition is averaging 262.7 ypg. That is tied for the longest-conference streak nationally (LSU, 10).
  • Junior running back Donnel Pumphrey carried 20 times for 152 yards and a touchdown and added three catches for 55 yards and a receiving touchdown in the 23-point win over San José State. A native of Las Vegas, Pumphrey cleared 100 yards rushing for the third straight game, fourth time this season and 17th time in his career. Amazingly, he only played 35 of SDSU's 62 offensive snaps. He is the only player in the nation to lead his team in rushing yards, receiving yards and receptions.
  • For the first time in the school's Division I history (since 1969), San Diego State has gone five consecutive games without throwing an interception. Senior quarterback Maxwell Smith has now gone 101 attempts without throwing an interception. That is the tied for the 11th-longest active streak in the nation and longest active streak in the Mountain West.
  • Linebacker Calvin Munson followed up a career-high tying 12-tackle game at Hawai'i by recording a team-high 10 tackles with four tackles for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery in the win at San José State. Munson earned national defensive player of the week honors earlier this season when he returned two interceptions for touchdowns against San Diego. He currently is 10th in sacks per game (1.0) and 18th nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.6).
  • In the DI era, SDSU is 5-2 in game played on Friday, including 4-1 at the Q.