Football Downs UNLV, 52-14, for Seventh Straight Win

Nov. 22, 2015

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1234F
San Diego State (8-3, 7-0 MW)141714752
UNLV (3-8, 2-5 MW)0014014
NAU Logo14
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STATISTICAL LEADERS
PassingC-AttYdsTDInt
Smith, SDSU11-1710710
Palandech, UNLV18-3519022
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Pumphrey, SDSU14139260
Thomas, UNLV342032
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Price, SDSU230117
Keys, UNLV876116
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LAS VEGAS - Hours after clinching the West Division of the Mountain West with a Nevada loss at Utah State, San Diego State defeated UNLV, 52-14, Saturday night in Las Vegas.

The Aztecs (8-3, 7-0 MW) forced four turnovers, turning those into 21 points, and outrushed the Rebels (3-8, 2-5 MW) by more than 200 yards (286-80) en route to a seventh straight victory. The seven consecutive wins are fifth-longest active streak in FBS play.

Donnel Pumphrey rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns, despite not playing the team's final four drives and 23 plays over 25 minutes, 39 seconds (25:39). It was his seventh straight 100-yard rushing game, which ranks in a tie for second among active FBS players and third in program history.

Rashaad Penny added 81 yards and a rushing touchdown on 18 attempts, while Chase Price had 54 yards on the ground and caught a 17-yard touchdown pass. Quarterback Maxwell Smith (3 yards) and fullback Dakota Gordon (1 yard) also rushed for touchdowns in SDSU's fifth straight win by at least 23 points, the longest active streak in FBS play.

San Diego State jumped out to a 31-0 lead at the half, scoring on five of its six drives (four touchdowns and a field goal) in the first 30.

Smith got the Aztecs on the scoreboard with a 3-yard run on their first possession of the game.

UNLV got into field goal range on its ensuing possession, but Randy Ricks sacked quarterback Kurt Palandech and the ball popped out to a waiting Jon Sanchez. SDSU capitalized with a 10-play, 49-yard drive, culminating with a 2-yard rushing score by Pumphrey.

After losing another fumble, the Rebels made it three straight drives with a turnover when Kameron Kelly picked off Palandech and returned it 15 yards to the San Diego State 40-yard line. Gordon capped an 8-play, 45-yard drive with a 1-yard rushing score, the first of his career, putting the Aztecs up, 21-0.

After UNLV failed on a fourth-and-2, SDSU got the ball back on its own 36-yard line. Pumphrey took San Diego State's first snap 60 yards to the Rebel 4 and then bounced outside for his second rushing touchdown of the game.

The Aztecs ended the scoring in the first half with a 29-yard field goal by Donny Hageman as time expired and a 31-0 advantage.

UNLV finally got on the scoreboard on its first possession of the second half when Palandech found Kendal Keys from 14 yards out.

After forcing a 3 and out for the second straight drive in the second half, the Rebels got the ball back with 10:39 in the third quarter. Palandech, however, was picked off by Parker Baldwin and returned 28 yards to the UNLV 21. Three plays later, Smith found Price on a screen for a 17-yard touchdown strike.

Damontae Kazee made it 45-7 SDSU when he returned a punt 66 yards back for his second touchdown in three weeks (also an interception return for a score a Colorado State).

The Rebels doubled their score with a 6-play, 58-yard drive over 2:45, ending with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Palandech to Xavier Campbell.

In the fourth quarter, Penny went to work with 13 rushes for 58 yards and a 2-yard catch, accounting for all of San Diego State's 60 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown and the final points of the game.

Smith passed for 107 yards and a touchdown, completing 11 of 17 attempts.

Calvin Munson paced a defense that had 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks with a team-high eight tackles.

The Aztecs' 52 points were their most in a road game since scoring at San Jose State on Oct. 4, 1969. It was also SDSU's seventh straight win by at least 14 points, the program's longest streak since an eight-game stretch in 1969-70 (final game of 1969 and first seven of the 1970 campaign).

QUICK STATS
STATS COMPARISON

SDSU

UNLV

First Downs2018
Total Yards393270
Passing Yards107190
Rushing Yards28680
Number of Plays6667
Penalties-Yards6-703-14
3rd Down Conversions5 of 105 of 12
4th Down Conversions1 of 11 of 4
Kick Return Yards18210
Punt Return Yards6619
Punts-Yards4-36.54-37.0
Turnovers04
Time of Possession32:5627:04