Tonight, Aztecs’ Oldest Rival Here for 53rd Game

How old is the San Diego State-Fresno State rivalry? In 1923, the first time the two schools met on the gridiron, we weren’t yet the Aztecs, the school colors were not Scarlet and Black, and the campus was in University Heights, not Montezuma Mesa. But we did win, 12-2.

The 1923 San Diego State football team beat Fresno State 12-2.

No team has played the Aztecs more than the Bulldogs – 52 times, with the Aztecs leading the series 27-21-4. Most amazing, the point totals: Aztecs, 1,092; Bulldogs, 1,091.

There have been too many gaps for two schools that have so much in common. The Bulldogs pride themselves on what they claim to be their “anybody, anywhere” scheduling policy. Apparently, “anywhere” did not include San Diego (at least until 2011).

Although the rivalry spans 10 decades, it had never been a trophy game until 2011, when the teams played the inaugural “Battle for the Oil Can,” which the Aztecs won 35-28.

Aztecs victorious in the inaugural Battle for the Oil Can in 2011 (Photo by Ernie Anderson)

Many great games, many great plays. Like Brian Sipe’s 92-yard TD pass to Robert West at Fresno’s old Ratcliffe Stadium in 1971. The Tim Gutierrez to Marshall Faulk 87-yard TD pass (once he caught it, good luck catching him!) in 1993. The Jesse Thompson to Art Preston 50-yard TD on the final play of the game in 1950. Rushing? Kern Carson scored on an 88-yard TD in 1963. George Jones scored five TDs and rushed for 270 yards in 1995. Great defensive plays? How about Leon McFadden’s 96-yard interception/TD in 2012. We’ve held the Bulldogs scoreless six times, most recently 10-0 in 1998.

Jesse Thompson (right) outruns the Bulldog D

For many fans, the two “Fog Bowl” games at Aztec Bowl – in 1962 (Aztecs won, 29-26) and 1966 (another Aztec win, 34-13) – are two of the most memorable. The fog was literally so thick you couldn’t see the field.

Another interesting note: The final games for Bulldog head coaches Jim Sweeney and Pat Hill were losses to the Aztecs: Sweeney in 1996 (31-21) and Hill in 2011 (35-28).

Tonight, a lot is at stake for both teams. You’d better be there!

Go Aztecs!