Dec. 03, 2016
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San Diego State 27, Wyoming 24
LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Rashaad Penny rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and Donnel Pumphrey added 110 yards and another score to lead San Diego State a 27-24 victory over Wyoming and its second consecutive Mountain West title Saturday in Laramie, Wyo.
Penny also had 113 yards on two kick returns and added two catches for 13 yards to finish with 243 all-purpose yards for the Aztecs (10-3), who avenged a 34-33 loss two weeks prior (Nov. 19) in Laramie.
It was SDSU's second straight outright MW title, third overall and 21st league championship in program history. San Diego State became the first road team to win the MW Championship since the league moved to division play in 2013.
Down, 10-0, early in the first quarter on a 46-yard field goal by Cooper Rothe and a 12-yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen to Jacob Hollister, the Aztecs came roaring back with the next 24 points of the game.
SDSU got on the scoreboard first with 1:46 left in the first quarter when Pumphrey scooted in from nine yards out to cap a 7-play, 62-yard drive.
Damontae Kazee picked off Allen on the first play of the ensuing drive, but fumbled the ball in the end zone while trying to score. It was ruled a touchback and the Cowboys (8-5) got the ball back.
San Diego State forced a 3 and out and got into field goal range, where John Baron II nailed a 37-yarder to tie the game at 10-10. The key play on the drive was a 30-yard pass from Christian Chapman to Rashaad Penny on 3rd and 2.
Neither team challenged the rest of the half, making it 10-10 after 30 minutes.
Kazee picked off Allen once again on UW's first drive of the third quarter, setting up the Aztecs at the Wyoming 31. Pumphrey rushed twice for 19 yards, before Penny finished the job with back-to-back 6-yard rushes, including a touchdown putting SDSU on top for the first time at 17-10.
UW later got into field goal range, but Rothe's 42-yard attempt missed left with 5:37 left in the third quarter.
San Diego State took advantage with a methodical 8-play, 75-yard drive over 4:12, finishing with a 6-yard touchdown run by Penny to take a 24-10 lead.
Wyoming stopped the bleeding somewhat with its first drive of the fourth quarter when Allen found Tanner Gentry on a 33-yard strike on 3rd and 9.
After the Aztecs were forced to punt, Jay Henderson knocked the ball out of a scampering Allen and Kyle Kelley pounced on the loose ball, giving SDSU great field position at the Cowboy 22-yard line. San Diego State was unable to score the touchdown, but Baron's 20-yard field goal gave the visitors a 27-17 lead with just 6:54 remaining.
UW responded in just 42 seconds as Allen found Gentry for 32 yards and then C.J. Johnson for a 43-yard touchdown to make it a 27-24 game.
Penny got the Aztecs into scoring position again with a 75-yard kick return, but Juwan Washington fumbled at the 15, giving Wyoming a chance to take back the lead.
The SDSU defense, however, stood tall, stopping Allen on a designed run on 4th and 2 at the Cowboy 21.
San Diego State got to the UW 15 and went for it on 4th and 4 to try to seal the game. Chapman, however, was sacked and UW was given one last chance.
Wyoming was not able to gain any traction against the staunch Aztec defense and Kelly sacked Allen on 4th and 20, allowing SDSU to end the game in victory formation.
San Diego State's defense forced three Cowboy turnovers, leading to 10 points, and limited UW to 2-of-14 on third down and 0-for-3 on fourth down.
Pumphrey passed Ricky Williams into second place on the all-time NCAA FBS rushing list (now has 6,290 yards) and recorded his 10th 100-yard rushing game of the season (tying his own school record) and 32nd of his career.
Penny was named the game's most valuable offensive player, while Kazee was the defensive winner.
The Aztecs won their 10th game of the season and now have back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time while being a member of a conference in their Division 1 history (since 1969).