San Diego State Outpaces UNLV, 45-34

[Pumph]

In a game where the two teams combined for 58 second half points, the San Diego State Aztecs came out on top, 45-34. For the second straight week, it was Aztec tight end Kahlil Gohara scoring three touchdowns to lead the team. Gohara, who appears to be the frontrunner for the Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end, had 9 receptions for 112 yards. Quarterback Hung-Chih Anderson amassed 522 yards passing and six touchdowns.

 

Seeing that the team was having trouble running the ball, with just 47 rushing yards on the day, Anderson utilized a weapon that he had not really focused on before. He was able to get Running Back, Bryan Brown, involved in the passing game, something the Runnin' Rebels had no answer for. Brown ended the day with 11 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown. Another back, Derek Crockett, added four receptions and a touchdown.

 

Defensively, the Aztecs struggled late, but it seemed to be more of a matter of fatigue than execution. In the first half, they held UNLV to seven points and just two first downs. The Runnin' Rebels were able to catch the Aztecs off guard for a 71-yard scoring strike, but otherwise could not move the ball at all, with five three-and-outs, and a lost fumble. In the second half, when the Aztec offense was scoring at will, and after the team took a 45-20 lead, the defense gave up two late scores, including one on the final play of the game to make the final score appear much closer than the game actually was.

 

The Aztecs improve to 3-2 on the season, and 2-0 in conference, with all five games against teams that have been ranked at some point this season. This week, the team takes on yet another ranked foe, in #23-ranked San Jose State.