COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- San Diego State football's Kyahva Tezino and John Baron II have been named the Mountain West players of the week, the league announced Monday. Tezino was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week for the second time of the season and career, while Baron picked up his fifth special teams player accolade in nine chances this year and sixth of his career.
The duo helped the Aztecs (7-2, 4-1 MW) overcome a 9-point fourth quarter deficit to beat New Mexico, 31-23, Saturday night in Albuquerque, N.M.
Out of the 27 possible awards (offensive, defensive and special teams) for the nine games that SDSU has played this season, a San Diego State player has won 10 times (John Baron II special teams five times, Darren Hall and Kyahva Tezino defensive twice apiece, and Kaelin Himphill (special teams on Oct. 15).
Tezino posted game highs of 12 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss, posting career best in both sacks and TFL. The Los Angeles native helped SDSU limit the Lobos to just 142 yards of total offense, including just 41 passing yards. The 142 total yards were New Mexico's fewest since gaining 127 at Texas Tech on Sept. 15, 2012, and fewest in a home game (and in a conference game) since totaling 130 vs. No. 4 TCU on Nov. 27, 2010. Seven of the 23 UNM points came on a fumble return and another nine came on a touchdown (missed PAT) and a field goal on Aztec fumbles which allowed UNM to start on the SDSU 35 and SDSU 13.
On the season, Tezino has 84 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hurries, all which lead the team. Among the FBS leaders, Tezino ranks in a tie for 40th in FBS (7th in MW) in total tackles per game (9.33), a tie for 42nd (2nd in MW) in solo tackles per game (5.11) and a tie for 55th (6th in MW) in sacks per game (0.61).
Baron, meanwhile, became the first player to win the MW Special Teams Player of the Week five times in a season since Utah's Louie Sakoda in 2008. The Temecula, Calif., native made his lone field goal attempt from 32 yards and nailed all four of his PATs, finishing with seven points in the game. His field goal with 2:56 left in the fourth quarter put SDSU on top at 24-23 and proved to be the game-winner. Five of his six kickoffs went for a touchback and the other was a squib kick late in the fourth quarter. If you take away that kickoff (for 29 yards), would have had a perfect 65.0 average for the game.
On the season, Baron is 15-for-17 on field goal attempts (.882) and 19-for-19 on PATs, while kicking off 48 times for 2,994 yards (62.4 avg.) with 34 going for touchbacks. If you take away his four squib kicks for 129 yards, is averaging 65.1 yards per kickoff (44 KO for 2,865 yards) with a 77.3 touchback percentage (34 TB in 44 KO). Among the FBS leaders, Baron ranks in a tie for first in PAT percentage (1.000, T-1st in MW), T-10th in field goals per game (1.67, T-1st in MW), a tie for 10th in field goal percentage (.882, 2nd in MW), 17th in touchback percentage (70.8, 1st in MW), T-23rd in touchbacks (34, 2nd in MW) and 53rd in kickoff average (62.4, 5th in MW). One of just three FBS kickers this season with four field goals from 50-plus yards and one of only two who has made all four attempts from 50-plus yards, Baron is 4-for-4 in field goal attempts when the score is within three points in the fourth quarter (2-for-2 from 50-plus).
Among the all-time kickers in NCAA FBS history, Baron ranks in a tie for fifth in field goal percentage (.873). Among active FBS kickers, ranks first in field goal percentage (.873, min. 25 FG) and road field goal percentage (.920, min. 25 FGM), tied for 11th in field goals (48), 12th in field goals per game (1.33), and 13th in points (271) (15th in points regardless of position). Among FBS all-time SDSU kickers, ranks second in field goal percentage (.873), tied for second in field goals (48), third in PATs (127) and points (271), and fourth in PAT percentage (.984).
Receiving votes in the latest AP poll and the Amway Coaches Poll, San Diego State (7-2, 4-1 MW) plays host to UNLV (2-7, 0-5 MW) at 7:30 p.m. PT Saturday.
Tickets are still available for Saturday's game. The Aztec Ticket Office, located at SDCCU Stadium Window E, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to avoid long lines on game day.
Student tickets for Aztec football games are now mobile and can be accessed at SDSUStudentTix.com, starting the Monday before each home game at 9 a.m. Current enrolled students receive free admission to each regular-season home game. To access the mobile tickets, students should simply visit SDSUStudentTix.com on their iPhone or Android device, and log in with their preferred email address on file with the Registrar's Office for their tickets to be automatically delivered to their phone prior to each home game. Students are also able to purchase up to two (2) student guest tickets directly from SDSUStudentTix.com.
Kyahva Tezino and John Baron II Take Home MW Awards
