By Mick McGrane, GoAztecs.com Senior Writer
(@MickOnTheMesa)
San Diego State's football team has perfected the art of living dangerously, of crossing a high wire in a high wind while clenching a stick of dynamite in its teeth and juggling anvils.
And while it may keep fans on the edge of their seats, coach Rocky Long would favor a bit less fuss.
"It drives me crazy," Long said of SDSU's 21-17 squabble with Air Force on Friday, an affair finally settled when senior safety Parker Baldwin intercepted with just over three minutes left. "It's nice to know you have players in the program that will keep fighting and keep working to try and win a game. We were lucky to win, because we made some crucial plays at crucial times. (Air Force) went ahead late in the game and they made some crucial plays at crucial times to get the lead. It's just that we made our plays later in the game than they made their plays, and that's what decided who the winner was."
The winner collected its fifth straight win overall and sixth straight against Mountain West opponents, all the while continuing to rely on reserves to patch holes and pave the way.
There was junior quarterback Ryan Agnew throwing for a career-high 213 yards, and further muddling his "reserve" role by yanking the Aztecs out of the fire with a 32-yard scramble on a third-and-9 before delivering a 29-yard touchdown pass to Parker Houston with 6:10 to go.
Houston, a junior tight end largely regaled for his ability to tangle in the trenches, now has three career touchdown catches, two of them coming in the last three games.
There was sophomore backup tailback Chase Jasmin, grinding away for 70 yards (43 in the second half) against a rush defense that entered the game ranked No. 13 in the nation.
There was reserve linebacker Kaelin Himphill delivering SDSU's first blocked punt in four years, an effort that sophomore safety Trenton Thompson retuned 19 yards for a touchdown with eight seconds remaining the half.
If it all seems rather improbable, it is no less remarkable, players penciled in as potential keys to the future grabbing opportunity by the necktie and turning it into a noose.
"What you see is exactly what we are," Long said. "We are going to go out there and make a whole bunch of mistakes and we are going to try and stay in the game and win it at the end. That's what happens when you have 23 freshmen or redshirt freshmen on your travel squad. That's what happened this week — 23 freshmen or redshirt freshmen were on our travel squad. We take 64 guys. That means that more than a third of our team is freshmen or redshirt freshmen.
"So, what you see is exactly who we are. Any thought that we are going to beat anybody badly is ridiculous. We are going to try and hang in the game and we are going to try and win it at the end."
To date, mission accomplished.
While Air Force succumbed to SDSU for the eighth straight time, the Aztecs' last three wins over the Falcons have come by a combined 11 points. Prior to Friday night's high drama, SDSU, in succession, overcame a one-point deficit to beat Sacramento State after trailing 14-13 with less than 10 minutes left; rallied from a touchdown deficit to hold off Arizona State when Baldwin batted down a pass at the goal line on the final play of the game; used an interception by redshirt freshman Darren Hall that SDSU turned into a 20-yard field goal by John Baron II to beat Eastern Michigan in overtime; and erased a 7-3 deficit before locking down Boise State with an outstanding defensive effort that culminated in the Broncos managing 229 yards, their fewest in a home game in 20 years.
At some point, however, it must be recognized that desire supersedes any suggestion of luck. Simply put, the Aztecs have wanted it more, wanted to sweep aside the notion that the absence of their original starting backfield — quarterback Christian Chapman, tailback Juwan Washington and starting fullback Isaac Lessard — has been less catastrophe than rallying cry.
"I think our program is built around the fact that we don't accept not trying hard," Long said. "That doesn't mean we're always going to win, but you have a chance to always win if you try hard. Our guys try hard. Whether they're good or bad, they try hard. That gives you a better chance to win."
And for players who may never have been given a chance to showcase their wares. Agnew, who had thrown all of nine passes coming into the season, is merely 4-0 as a starter. Jasmin, running behind an offensive line with three sophomores, a junior and one senior, has rushed for 381 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Sophomore wide receiver Tim Wilson Jr., who had six catches while making one start last season, is averaging 17.3 yards per reception.
"I think it's just the way we're prepared, with our strength coach (Adam Hall) and our coaches on the field," Houston said. "They prepare us to be in a dog fight the whole game. We're always tested in the weight room and in practice to be better and to persevere through any obstacles thrown at us."
There were obstacles aplenty on Friday in a game in which SDSU won with fewer than 100 yards rushing for the first time since beating Boise State, 34-31, in overtime in November of 2013.
Still, the Aztecs won for the 36th time in their last 43 games, improving to 26-4 in their last 30 against Mountain West opponents (includes championship games).
"This game wasn't won in this week of practice," Agnew said. "This game was won back in January. We preach toughness. We preach that every rep matters, every day matters, every practice matters. It's games like this where it shows up. Not many people see it, but this has been in the making since January when we started this team."
A team that on Friday listed three starting seniors on offense and four starting seniors on defense on the final participation chart. A team that in Chapman, Washington and Lessard is absent more than 800 yards of total offense.
A team whose defense has now forced three-and-outs (or better) 48.0 percent of the time on its opponents' 73 drives.
And one where difference between regulars and reserves is simply defined by associate head coach/offensive coordinator/running backs coach Jeff Horton as "1" and "1A."
"They're a quality group," said Air Force coach Troy Calhoun. "No doubt a group that may very well deserve to be a Top 25 team."
At No. 27 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, the Aztecs are edging ever closer. Now if only their head coach can close his eyes and enjoy the ride.