CARSON, Calif. -- Jordan Byrd ran for two touchdowns and San Diego State scored 24 points in the third quarter to pull away from Towson, 48-21, Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Chance Bell and Kaegun Williams also added rushing touchdowns for the Aztecs (4-0), who outrushed the Tigers (1-3), 281-15, on the ground.
SDSU is 4-0 for just the second time in 40 seasons (also 2017).
Chris Ferguson threw a 19-yard scoring pass to Jerry Howard Jr. to give TU a 7-0 lead with 5:36 left in the first.
San Diego State, which entered with wins over Pac-12 Conference squads Arizona and Utah, responded with scores in the form of 8- and 12-yard runs from Williams and Byrd, respectively.
Lucas Johnson then threw a 16-yard scoring toss to Elijah Kothe with 4:03 before halftime. But Ferguson led Towson 80 yards on 11 pays, ultimately hitting Caleb Smith with a 4-yard touchdown pass to make it a one score game at the half.
The Aztecs regrouped to shut the door on Towson by scoring two touchdowns within the first five minutes after the break. Trenton Thompson returned a blocked punt by Tyrell Shavers 11 yards just 58 seconds in and a 55-yard jaunt by Byrd. SDSU added a Matt Araiza 48-yard field goal and a 1-yard Chance Bell touchdown run to open up a 45-14 lead after three quarters.
San Diego State's 24 third-quarter points are its most in any quarter since also scoring 24 vs. Idaho on Sept. 24, 2004, and has now outscored the opposition, 62-0, in the third quarter this year.
Araiza made it 48-14 with a 36-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter before the Tigers scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Ferguson to Daniel Thompson IV with 5:59 remaining to close the scoring.
Chance Bell (79 yards), Williams (76) and Byrd (75) combined for 230 yards on the ground for the Aztecs, who improved to 51-2 the last 53 times they have rushed for at least 200 yards. SDSU's four rushing touchdowns was its most since scoring four times vs. Army West Point in the 2017 Armed Forces Bowl.
Johnson was 16-for-25 for 149 yards with a touchdown and an interception for San Diego State, which scored its most points (48) since beating Central Michigan, 48-11, in the 2019 New Mexico Bowl.
Patrick McMorris led the Aztec defense with eight tackles and a pass breakup.
SDSU improved to 17-1 in its last 18 September games since 2016.
Aztecs Cruise Past Towson, 48-21
