Oct. 24, 2015
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | USATSI Photo Gallery 
| Photo Gallery
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| STATISTICAL LEADERS | ||||
| Passing | C-Att | Yds | TD | Int |
| Kent Myers, USU | 8-19 | 93 | 1 | 1 |
| Maxwell Smith, SDSU | 6-10 | 93 | 1 | 0 |
| Rushing | Car | Yds | TD | Long |
| Devante Mays, USU | 15 | 8 | 1 | 26 |
| Donnel Pumphrey, SDSU | 23 | 181 | 2 | 62 |
| Receiving | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
| Hunter Sharp, USU | 4 | 63 | 1 | 45 |
| Jemond Hazely, SDSU | 3 | 35 | 0 | 26 |
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| MULTIMEDIA |
 Postgame Presser - Pumphrey, Mal. Smith & McGee Postgame Presser - Coach Long |
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| RELATED LINKS |
 Gameday Central | Notes | Depth Chart Season Stats | Mountain West | NCAA Media Guide | Home |
SAN DIEGO-- In a battle between the Mountain West's only unbeaten teams in league play, Donnel Pumphrey rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns, and San Diego State forced four turnovers in a 48-14 victory over Utah State Friday night at Qualcomm Stadium.
After a punt of their opening drive, the Aztecs (5-3, 4-0 MW) scored on each of their next six possessions to open up a commanding 34-7 lead at halftime. After a Aggie (4-3, 3-1 MW) touchdown run in the third quarter, SDSU tacked on two more running scores in the fourth quarter to hand USU its largest margin of defeat since a 36-point setback at No. 9 Boise State (50-14) on Dec. 4, 2010.
Against a team that came into the game ranked sixth (90.8) in FBS in rush defense, San Diego State rushed for 218 in the first half and 336 total. It was the most rushing yards allowed by Utah State since 2010 and ninth most allowed since 1996.
The Aztecs scored five rushing touchdowns in all, including runs of 4 and 62 yards by Pumphrey in the second quarter, quarterback Maxwell Smith (1 yard) in the first quarter, and Rashaad Penny (7 yards) and Chase Price (1 yard) in the fourth quarter.
Smith added an 18-yard touchdown pass to Mikah Holder to get SDSU on the scoreboard. Smith now has a rushing touchdown, passing touchdown and receiving touchdown on the season. He finished 6-for-10 for 93 yards and the touchdown and stretched his pass attempts without an interception to 111.
Chase Price added 97 yards on the ground as San Diego State opened up a two-game cushion in the West Division of the MW and is the only undefeated league team remaining.
After trading 3 and outs, the Aztecs finished a 7 play, 78-yard drive when Smith found Holder in the end zone for the 7-0 lead.
Alex Barrett then sacked Utah State quarterback Kent Myers and knocked the ball loose before Calvin Munson pounced on it. Price then ran the ball 13 yards to the Aggie 1, setting up Smith's first career rushing touchdown.
SDSU forced another 3 and out and used up 4:37 of the clock on 10 plays over 45 yards before Donny Hageman converted a 41-yard field goal, making it 17-0 San Diego State in the first quarter.
USU threatened to get on the scoreboard, getting all the way to the Aztec 17 before Myers' pass was intercepted by Malik Smith and returned eight yards to the Utah State 23.
SDSU capitalized with an 11-play, 77-yard drive over 6:04, ending with a 4-yard TD run by Pumphrey and making it 24-0 San Diego State.
The Aggies finally got on the scoreboard with 5:14 left in the second quarter when Myers found Hunter Sharp for a 45-yard touchdown pass.
The Aztecs answered with a 62-yard touchdown run by Pumphrey on the second play of the drive, giving SDSU a 31-7 lead.
On USU's first play of its ensuing drive, Jake Fely forced a fumble on a quarterback keeper by Myers and Jon Sanchez recovered it on the Utah State 22. San Diego State got to the Aggie 4, but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Hageman, making it 34-7 Aztecs at the half. It was the first time in SDSU's Division I history (since 1969) that it scored 17-plus points in each of the first two quarters.
USU tried to make a game of it in the second half, scoring on its opening drive on a 26-yard run by Davante Mays.
The score would remain 34-14 SDSU until Price capped an 8-play, 59-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown with 8:47 left in the fourth quarter.
Penny scored his first career rushing TD on San Diego State's next drive from seven yards out, rounding out the scoring and giving the Aztecs their most points in a game (48) since scoring 49 in the 2013 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win over Buffalo.
For the game, SDSU outgained Utah State, 429-239, including 336-144 on the ground. San Diego State also dominated the time of possession (37:15-22:45) and scored 17 of its 48 points off turnovers.
Na'im McGee had 10 tackles to lead the Aztec defense, while Fely and Munson added five tackles apiece. SDSU finished with three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception.
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| First Downs | 16 | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Yards | 239 | 429 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Passing Yards | 95 | 93 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Rushing Yards | 144 | 336 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Plays | 56 | 71 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Penalties-Yards | 5-55 | 6-60 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd Down Conversions | 3 of 11 | 8 of 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th Down Conversions | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Kick Return Yards | 88 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Punt Return Yards | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Punts-Yards | 6 - 260 | 5 - 179 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Time of Possession | 22:45 | 37:15 | |||||||||||||||||||||