Aztecs Make It Interesting – Right to the End!

The End including 3 OTs in 10 games this season. That’s where the Aztecs stand after last night’s 28-21 win at Hawaii.

We seem to prefer to come from behind late in the game, regardless of who we are playing. Winless Hawaii was a trap waiting to be sprung. Consider this: they lost to undefeated Fresno State by only 5 points. They have been especially effective at home, and now they have their best RB back after his being out with injuries. The betting line was only 6½.

Still, going into this game, you had to figure the Aztecs would be primed and ready to get their 6th win to make them bowl eligible.

But I guess they have to be trailing in the 4th quarter to really get going. This time it was only 7 points with a couple of minutes left. The Aztecs tied it with a 14-yard burst by Chad Young.

Chad Young scores the game-tying TD with 2:34 left in the 4th Quarter (photo by Ernie Anderson)

On to the impressive OT. Coaches prefer to play defense on the first possession if they win the toss. But the Aztecs did not win the toss, so they got the ball first and made an emphatic statement. Adama Muema for 11; first down. Adam Muema for 13; first down. Adam Muema for 1; Touchdown. Seamus McMorrow kicked his 4th PAT of the night. Aztecs, 28-21.

Adam Muema scores the game-winning TD in overtime (photo by Ernie Anderson)

When the Rainbow Warriors took over they seemed shell-shocked. A run for -1. A QB sack for -9. Two incompletions. Game over.

Adam Muema’s OT performance was the capper on another big night’s work: 163 yards on 24 carries for a 6.8 yard average. Donnel Pumphrey had a good game, too, including his blazing 30-yard TD run. 

Quinn Kaehler got off to a rough start but wound up completing 17 of 34 passes for 265 yards, including a 56-yard TD to Colin Lockett.

Aztec total offense, 499 yards; Hawaii, 355.

A look at the Mountain West standings is impressive. SDSU is 5-1, just a notch behind Fresno State at 6-0. And to now be at 6-4 overall, after an 0-3 start, tells you about the character of this team. 

Some random thoughts from the trip…
- The flight to Hawaii was delayed for more than an hour because of a mechanical failure.
- The flight home was also delayed more than an hour when they had to replace our inoperable plane (if this all seems choppy, I am trying to write it as we are still in flight at 5:00 a.m.)
- A football truism says you can't win with too many turnovers. The Aztecs made 4 at crucial points, but won!
- Bring on Boise State!

GO AZTECS!