SAN DIEGO – John Baron kicked three field goals, including a 38-yarder in overtime to lift San Diego State to a 23-20 victory over visiting Eastern Michigan on Saturday night at SDCCU Stadium.
With just 1:16 remaining in the fourth quarter, Baron tied the game at 20-20 on a 50-yarder before nailing the game-winner in the extra session, helping the Aztecs complete an unbeaten three-game homestand and improve to 3-1 on the year.
The Eagles (2-2) won the overtime coin toss, but came up empty on the their only offensive possession, as defensive back Darren Hall intercepted a pass from quarterback Mike Glass at the SDSU 2. The Aztecs subsequently gained four yards on their next three plays to set up Baron's decisive kick.
San Diego State threatened the turn the game into a blowout after taking a 17-3 lead in the second quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Agnew to BJ Busbee with 9:03 remaining in the period. Juwan Washington put the Aztecs in striking range with a 36-yard scamper down the left sideline on a 3rd-and-2 situation before Agnew connected with a wide-open Busbee three plays later.
However, EMU capitalized on an errant Agnew pass late in the quarter on an interception by Kevin McGill, who returned the ball 26 yards to the SDSU 34 with just 1:40 left before halftime. Glass entered the game in relief of starter Tyler Wiegers and quickly provided a spark for the Eagles, hitting Line Latu for 27 yards before plowing into the end zone on a sneak from two yards out on the next play, narrowing the gap to 17-10 by intermission.
With momentum on its side, EMU took the second half kickoff and marched 75 yards in 12 plays for the tying score. After lulling the Aztecs to sleep with nine consecutive runs, Arthur Jackson got behind the SDSU secondary and hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from Glass, knotting the game at 17-17.
SDSU wasted no time venturing into Eagle territory on its next possession thanks to Chase Jasmin, who rumbled 40 yards down the left sideline on the first play of the drive, putting the Scarlet and Black in business at the EMU 21. However, the Aztecs were stymied on their advance, unable to overcome a two-yard loss and a holding penalty, while Baron's 35-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
After an exchange of punts, the Eagles methodically crept toward the SDSU goal early in the fourth quarter, eventually reaching the Aztec 31. However, Anthony Luke came up huge with a fourth-down stop on Glass' quarterback keeper to extinguish the visitors' threat.
Moments later, SDSU seemed poised to take the lead on its next foray down the field after reaching the Eagle 36. The Aztecs benefited from a pair of 15-yard gains, one on a first-down run by Jasmin and another Agnew-to-Busbee completion. But SDSU was ultimately forced to punt, thwarted by a sack and an incomplete pass.
Setting up shop at its own 14, EMU grinded out 14 yards on four straight rushes before Glass found Latu for another electrifying gain, this time for 54 yards down to the Aztec 18. Two additional runs moved the ball to the 8, but the SDSU defense stiffened, forcing an incomplete pass after a two-yard run, a false-start penalty and a short four-yard completion. EMU salvaged three points on the drive when Chad Ryland hit a 24-yard field goal with 3:18 remaining in regulation.
After a short kickoff, the Aztecs took over at their own 42 and quickly advanced into Eagle territory, aided by a 15-yard pass interference penalty following an 11-yard pass completion to Ethan Dedeaux. On 2nd-and-10 from the EMU 32, Agnew scrambled to the right and appeared to hit tight end Kahale Warring for a first down near the 10-yard line, but officials ruled the junior signal-caller stepped out of bounds before the throw, and SDSU could not convert on the subsequent play.
With just 1:16 left on the clock, Baron was then summoned for the game-tying field goal attempt from 50 yards and the Aztec senior calmly delivered his third straight success from that distance or more this season.
SDSU got the ball back once again after forcing an Eagle punt, but time ran out after Maxx Crosby sacked Agnew for an 11-yard loss back to the Aztec 29, which sent the game into overtime.
In his second career start, Agnew completed 12-of-22 passes for a career-high 176 yards and a personal-best two touchdowns, including a 25-yard strike to Parker Houston early in the second quarter, which gave San Diego State a 10-3 lead.
In addition, Jasmin ran for a game-high 94 yards on 16 carries, while Washington had his streak of 100-yard rushing games snapped at three, finishing with 61 yards on 12 attempts
Defensively, the Aztecs were paced by Anthony Luke, whose career-high 10 tackles led all players and marked the highest total by an SDSU defensive lineman since Sergio Phillips had 10 stops vs. Wyoming in the 2016 Mountain West Championship Game.
Despite getting outgained in total offense 355-350, the Aztecs continually made plays in crucial situations, including a pair of fourth-down stops and Hall's huge interception. In addition, SDSU forced a critical turnover on Myles Cheatum's recovery and six-yard return of a Wiegers fumble in the second quarter after the Eagle quarterback completed a 50-yard pass down to the Aztec 18 two plays earlier. That miscue led to Busbee's aforementioned touchdown.
With the victory, San Diego State won its 31st straight game when leading by at least 14 points at some point in the game. In addition, Rocky Long recorded his school-record 19th second-half comeback victory as coach at SDSU.