Sept. 17, 2016
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DEKALB, Ill. - Donnel Pumphrey rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns and Christian Chapman threw for a career-high three touchdowns of his own as San Diego State overcame a late rally in a 42-28 win over Northern Illinois Saturday in DeKalb, Ill.
The Aztecs improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2011 and just the second time in the last 35 seasons. SDSU also finished September with an unbeaten record for the first time since the 1981 squad went 2-0 through the first month of the year.
San Diego State jumped out to a 28-0 lead when Chapman found Mikah Holder for a 33-yard catch and run with 6:19 left in the second quarter. The host Huskies (0-3), however, who came into the game as winners in 35 of its previous 37 home games, came roaring back with three straight touchdowns to close the score to 28-21 with 7:46 left in the third quarter.
Pumphrey then took over, scoring from 33 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter and, after NIU answered with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Graham to Shane Wimann, took his next attempt 79 yards to put the Aztecs up, 42-28. Trey Lomax then picked off Graham and SDSU held on for its 13th consecutive victory.
Pumphrey, who ran for a career-high 281 yards with three touchdowns last week in a 45-40 San Diego State win over California, finished with 220 today on 23 carries (9.6 avg.). Highlighting his game was the 112 yards and two scores on just two attempts in the fourth quarter. Pumphrey's other touchdown came on a 46-yard run to put the Aztecs on the scoreboard.
It was the fourth career 200-yard game for Pumphrey and 24th 100-yard game, breaking Marshall Faulk's SDSU career record. Pumphrey also moved into first on the school's all-time list in all-purpose yards and rushing attempts in the game.
Chapman got San Diego State off to a quick start with touchdown passes to Rashaad Penny (27 yards), Kahale Warring (5 yards) and Holder (33 yards) before Northern Illinois mounted its comeback.
Chapman finished the game 11 for 19 for 126 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Holder had four receptions for 67 yards and his third touchdown of the season for the Aztecs.
Malik Smith had a team-high 10 tackles (six solo) and a pass breakup to pace the defense, while Calvin Munson recorded nine tackles and Parker Baldwin added a career-high eight stops (seven solo).
Damontae Kazee had five solo tackles and a 28-yard interception return, the 12th pick of his career. The 12 interceptions are the most among active FBS players and the second most in SDSU's Division I history (since 1969).
Alex Barrett added four tackles, including two for a loss and a 10-yard sack.
Punter Tanner Blain had arguably the best game of his career, putting four of his five punts inside the 7-yard line, including three inside the 5. Blain, a Lindenhurst, Ill., native, also had a season-long 52-yard punt. The Huskies failed to score on any of Blain's punts inside the 7 and finished the game with an average field position of its own 23-yard line.
San Diego State won its fifth consecutive road game, its longest streak since winning 19 straight from Oct. 30, 1965 through Nov. 7, 1970.
It was the Aztecs' 11th win by at least 14 points over the 13-game winning streak.