CARSON, Calif. – Behind a strong running game and a stellar defensive effort, No. 25 San Diego State defeated New Mexico, 31-7, in its Mountain West opener on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The Aztecs gained 203 rushing yards and held the Lobos scoreless on offense to move to 5-0 for just the second time in the last 46 years, joining the 2017 squad.
Greg Bell rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown, while Jordon Brookshire ran for 45 yards and two additional scores, helping SDSU capture its eighth straight victory against New Mexico.
The Aztecs advanced into Lobo territory on its first five possessions of the game, building a 17-0 lead it would not relinquish.
Following a UNM punt on its initial march, SDSU quickly vaulted in front 7-0 after Bell accounted for all 63 yards on the Aztecs' six-play drive, capped by his one-yard touchdown burst. The senior running back set the tone on the Scarlet and Black's first play from scrimmage, breaking tackles on a 40-yard gain down to the Lobo 23.
San Diego State extended its lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter on Matt Araiza's 40-yard field goal. The Aztecs benefited from two 15-yard UNM penalties on its foray, including a pivotal pass interference call on 3rd and 13 from the Lobo 41.
On the Lobos' third play following the kickoff, Michael Shawcroft forced a fumble on Luke Wysong's reception and Dallas Branch returned the ball 14 yards to the UNM 34. Facing a 4th-and-2 situation moments later, SDSU went for the home-run ball, but Brookshire's deep pass down the left sideline to Tyrell Shavers fell incomplete.
After limiting the Lobos to a three-and-out, the Aztecs increased their advantage to 17-0 on Brookshire's 1-yard scramble around left end, which punctuated a 10-play, 66-yard march. Earlier, the SDSU signal-caller connected with Daniel Bellinger on a 17-yard pass, while Shavers kept the drive alive with a 23-yard reception to the UNM 14 on another 4th-and-2 play.
The Lobos, who gained 38 yards on their first five possessioins, finally crossed midfield late in the second quarter, advancing 78 yards in seven plays to the Aztec 9. However, New Mexico was kept off the scoreboard when Trenton Thompson intercepted Terry Wilson Jr.'s third-down pass near the goal line with 1:18 before intermission.
The score remained unchanged until the 4:41 mark of the third quarter when the Lobos' Ray Leutele popped the ball loose from Bell and raced 15 yards for the visitors' only score.
Undaunted, SDSU extinguished UNM's faint comeback hopes on its next series, as Brookshire scored his second touchdown of the night on an 11-yard scramble with 2:35 remaining in the period to culminate a five-play, 60-yard drive. The Aztecs were set up by Jordan Byrd's 33-yard kickoff return before capitalizing on a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct foul and a defensive holding penalty.
San Diego State closed out the scoring with nearly two minutes elapsed in the fourth quarter on Chance Bell's eight-yard touchdown run. BJ Busbee hauled in a 36-yard pass from Brookshire on the first snap of the six-play drive, while the Lobos were flagged for roughing the passer shortly thereafter, setting up the Scarlet and Black with a first-and-goal opportunity inside the UNM 10.
Defensively, the Aztecs held their fifth straight opponent to 70 rushing yards or less this season, as the Lobos gained just 66 yards on the ground, including 28 through the first three quarters.
Segun Olubi and Keshawn Banks led the charge with six tackles each, while Branch had five stops off his own, followed by Shawcroft, Patrick McMorris and Cameron Thomas, who finished with four apiece. In all, SDSU totaled 10 tackles for 50 yards in losses, including 1.5 sacks by Jalil Lecky, who combined with Caden McDonald to drop Wilson Jr. on a big 13-yard loss inside the Lobo 5 early in the third quarter.
Wilson Jr. completed 13-of-25 passes for 127 yards and one interception in the loss. The UNM quarterback was picked off by Thompson once again in the third quarter at the Lobo 35, but the interception was negated by a penalty. Meanwhile, Wyson led all players with four catches for 51 yards.
San Diego State returns to action on Friday, Oct. 15, when it travels to the Bay Area for a clash with San José State, starting at 7:30 p.m. PT. The Aztecs-Spartans clash will be aired on CBS Sports Network.