Sept. 23, 2017
Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -
The Big Notes
• San Diego State improved to 4-0 for the first time since 1981 and for just the second time in the last 42 years.
• The Aztecs won a game as a nationally-ranked team for the first time since Nov. 21, 1977. The previous nine weeks it was in the AP Top 25 Poll, SDSU was 0-4 with three byes and two end of season polls.
• SDSU overcame back-to-back second-half deficits to win for the first time since 2013 (Nov. 16 at Hawai'i and Nov. 23 vs. Boise State).
• San Diego State won its sixth straight game dating back to last year, and is 12-2 in its last 14 games and 25-3 in its last 28 games.
• The Aztecs' 25-3 record over their last 28 games (since Oct. 3, 2015) is the third best in the country over that span, only trailing Alabama (29-1) and Clemson (29-2).
• SDSU won its school-record seventh consecutive game against Air Force. That is the longest active streak against the Falcons in the nation.
• San Diego State became just the second team since the start of the 2014 campaign to defeat Air Force at Falcon Stadium. The Falcons entered the game 18-1 in their last 19 home games, including two victories over AP Top 25 teams. Air Force owned a +337 scoring margin in that 19-game stretch (+17.7).
• Air Force had won its previous two home games against AP Top 25 teams.
• The Aztecs improved to 19-2 in their last 21 games against Mountain West opponents.
• SDSU won its fifth straight Mountain West opener.
• San Diego State did not record a penalty for the first time since Oct. 13, 2012 vs. Colorado State and for just the second time since at least 1996.
Comeback Notes
• This was Rocky Long's 16th second-half comeback win at San Diego State, the most in the Aztecs' Division I era (since 1969) and three more than Claude Gilbert's 13 for second place.
• Christian Chapman recorded his fourth second-half comeback victory, tied with David Lowery and Mark Halda for fourth in SDSU's Division I era (since 1969).
Rashaad Penny
• Passed 2,000 rushing yards for his career. He becomes the 14th player in San Diego State history to reach this plateau.
• Recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season and the ninth of his career.
• His nine 100-yard rushing games ranks in a tie for 10th place in school history (tied with Chris Hardy).
• All nine of his 100-yard rushing games have come in his last 14 games. During that span, he has rushed for 1,546 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.
• This marks just the 11th time in school history that SDSU player has produced four consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
• Penny becomes the ninth player in school history to record at least four consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Other Aztec players that have accomplished this are: Jim Allison, Marshall Faulk, Ronnie Hillman, George Jones, Adam Muema, Larry Ned, Donnel Pumphrey (three times), David Turner.
• Tied a career high with three rushing touchdowns.
The Series
• Air Force leads the overall series 19-16, although the Aztecs have won the last seven encounters.
• SDSU has won a school-record seven consecutive games against Air Force. That is the longest active streak in the nation.
• San Diego State has won its last three games played at Falcon Stadium. Prior to this stretch, the Aztecs were 4-11 lifetime in games at Air Force.
• Rocky Long has won 11 games against Air Force. That is the most among any coach during the last 32 seasons.
• With Penny surpassing 100 yards rushing today, San Diego State now has 17 100-yard rushing performance in 35 all-time games against the Academy.
Up Next
• San Diego State plays host to Northern Illinois next Saturday at SDCCU Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT.
• Northern Illinois is idle this week and will enter the SDSU game with a 2-1 record, including a 21-17 victory at Nebraska.
• The Huskies have won four of their last five games (4-1) and six of its last eight games (6-2) overall.
Team Notes
• San Diego State won its seventh straight game played during the month of September.
• The Aztecs improved 56-14 in the Rocky Long era (4-0 this year) when scoring just 20 or more points.
• SDSU has now gone 30 straight games with one interception or fewer (dates back to Sept. 12, 2015 at California).
• San Diego State has a 100-yard rusher in all four games this season, 15 of 18 games since 2016 (21, 100-yard rushers total) and 24 of the 32 games since Jeff Horton took over as the offensive coordinator in 2015 (33, 100-yard rushers total).
• The Aztecs have outscored the opposition, 61-33, in the first half this year, including a 44-17 advantage in the second quarter.
• SDSU trailed, 9-7, at the half, marking just the third time over the last 28 games that San Diego State has trailed at the half.
• San Diego State has 45 tackles in the first half against Air Force tonight after recording 42 for the game the previous week vs. No. 19/19 Stanford.
• The Aztecs allowed a two-point conversion for the first time since Nov. 12, 2011 at Colorado State.
• SDSU held Air Force to 154 total yards on 48 plays (3.21 YPP) over the final three quarters after allowing 99 yards on 18 plays (5.50 YPP) in the first quarter.
Trends
• SDSU started with the ball for the 64th time over the last 74 games.
• San Diego State won the coin toss for 24th time over the last 42 games.
• The Aztecs have now gone 135 games without suffering a shutout (Nov. 18, 2006 at TCU), which is the third-longest streak among current Mountain West schools (Air Force at 302 and Boise State at 255).
• SDSU held an opponent scoreless on its opening drive for the 23rd time over the last 29 games and 24th time since 2015 (32 games).
• San Diego State has scored in 27 straight second quarters.
• SDSU improved to 4-0 this year and 49-10 in the Rocky Long era when leading after three quarters.
Player Notes
* Rashaad Penny, Sr., RB/KR (20 att., 128 yds., 3 TD | 3 rec., 18 yds.)
• Rushed 20 times for 128 yards (6.4 avg.) with three touchdowns, while catching three passes for 18 yards.
• Recorded his fourth consecutive 100-yard game (tied for seventh-longest streak in school history) and ninth of his career (all over the last 14 games). The nine career 100-yard rushing games are tied for the 10th most in school history.
• Tied a career high with three rushing touchdowns and three overall touchdowns.
• Now has seven rushing touchdowns this season (22 for career) and nine overall (33 for career) (also six kick return and five receiving).
• Now has 29 touchdowns (21 rushing, four receiving and four kick return) over his last 23 games.
• SDSU improved to 14-1 over his career when he rushes for at least one touchdown and 5-0 when he rushes for multiple scores.
• San Diego State improved to 20-2 when he scores at least one touchdown overall (rushing, receiving or kick return) and 8-0 when he scores multiple touchdowns.
• Became the 14th player to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards for his career. Is now ranked 12th all-time at SDSU with 2,124 yards.
* Christian Chapman, Jr., QB (10-for-16, 180 yds., 1 TD, 0 INT)
• Was 10-for-16 for 180 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception.
• Improved to 17-3 as the starting quarterback over his career.
• Recorded his fourth second-half comeback victory, tied with David Lowery and Mark Halda for fourth in SDSU's Division I era (since 1969).
• Recorded his third straight game without interception and now has thrown 68 passes without throwing an interception (four touchdowns over that span).
• Now has five touchdown passes this season (against one interception) and 27 for his career (against eight interceptions).
* Juwan Washington, So., RB (14 att., 68 yds.)
• Finished with 68 rushing yards on 14 carries (4.9 avg.)
• The 68 yards were a season high.
* David Wells, Sr., TE (1 rec., 28 yds., 1 TD)
• Had a 28-yard touchdown catch.
• It was his second straight game with a touchdown, second of the season and sixth of his career.
* Parker Baldwin, Jr., AZT (13 tackles (5 solo))
• Finished with a career-high 13 tackles.
* Trey Lomax, Sr., WAR (9 tackles (7 solo), 1.0 TFL, 1 INT)
• Had nine tackles (seven solo), a tackle for loss and an interception.
• The interception was his first of the season and second of his career.
Other Notes
• QB Christian Chapman started for the 20th consecutive game, the longest streak on the team (offense/defense).
• RB/KR Rashaad Penny played in his 45th straight game, the longest streak on the team.
• Punter Brandon Heicklen logged a career-long 51-yard punt.
• Kicker John Baron II had his streak of field goal makes from less than 50 yards snapped at 24.
• Jerry Chaney (punt return) and Tayler Hawkins logged (kickoff and punt) their first career appearances.
• Tonight's game was delayed 1 hour, 28 minutes because of lightning. It's just the second time in Falcon Stadium history that a game has been delayed due to lightning and the first time since Sept. 18, 1993, also against San Diego State.
• Tonight's game temperature was 50 degrees.
• Tonight's attendance was 27,575.