Sept. 4, 2017
SAN DIEGO -
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AZTEC NEWS AND NOTES (through games of Sat., Sept. 2)
* San Diego State, the two-time defending Mountain West champion, looks to open a campaign with consecutive victories for the second straight season (last accomplished in 2010 and 2011) when the Aztecs hit the road to face Arizona State on Saturday.
* SDSU opened the 2017 campaign with a comfortable 38-17 victory over UC Davis. San Diego State raced to a 38-3 lead through three quarters, owning a 465-165 total offense advantage at that time.
* Senior running back Rashaad Penny carried 21 times for 197 yards and two touchdowns. It was his sixth career 100-yard rushing game. Penny's 9.4 yard per rush against the Aggies is the highest by any FBS player in the nation this season (min. 19 attempts).
* Last Saturday, the Aztec defense forced three turnovers (including two interceptions) and recorded eight tackles for loss.
* In that game, SDSU had a +1 turnover advantage, causing three and allowing two (although one was a Hail Mary pass on the final play of the first half). The Aztecs have now won 18 consecutive games when owning an edge in the TO margin category (last loss: vs. Navy, 17-16, in the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 23, 2014.
* Since the beginning of the 2015 campaign, San Diego State leads the nation in interceptions with 51 (Utah is second with 41). The Aztecs are tied with Utah for the most turnovers forced in the time span (66).
* SDSU controlled the ball for 39:06 in the victory on Saturday. That was the most time of possession for an Aztec squad since Nov. 12, 2011 when the Aztecs had the ball for 40:36 in an 18-15 win at Colorado State. San Diego State has won 19 straight when owning a time of possession advantage.
* The Aztecs have won 10 consecutive games against teams from the Pacific Time Zone. That is the fourth-longest active streak nationally, trailing only TCU (21), LSU (13) and Boise State (11). That is not on the line Saturday at MTZ opponent.
* San Diego State had 10 first-time starters on Saturday (six on offense and four on defense).
* The Aztecs rushed for 276 yards, 5.3 yards per rush and three touchdowns on Saturday. San Diego State improved to 41-2 in the Rocky Long era and has won 33 straight games when reaching 200 yards rushing.
* San Diego State is 9-2 in its last 11 true road games (does not count neutral site bowl win over Houston). Since Oct. 10, 2015, the Aztecs nine road victories are tied with Clemson and Western Michigan for the most in the nation.
* Saturday's game is the first of two consecutive games against members of the Pac-12 Conference. The Aztecs will play host to Stanford the following week at San Diego Stadium.