Stanford Game Offers Opportunity

Without disagreeing with Coach, who stresses the importance of MW Conference games, I’m convinced Saturday’s game here with Stanford offers a special opportunity for our Aztecs to gain national recognition.

Year after year you will find the Cardinal ranked and in a bowl game. So it’s more than just being a Pac12 team. Rocky’s Aztecs have been making progress too. Three MW Championships, seven bowl games in a row. Great players, like DJ Pumphrey, Damontae Kazee, Nico Siragusa, Rashaad Penny.

Rashaad Penny (Ernie Anderson)

The 30-20 win at Arizona State, who was favored to win, on the heels of a predictable 38-17 victory over UC Davis, make the Aztecs 2-0. Still, we are 9-1/2-point underdogs as this is written, so an upset win would be very meaningful. Ranked #25 in both polls at the end of the 2016 season, and one of the teams also getting votes now, the Aztecs already are establishing themselves as a solid program.

Even though we lost seven key players to graduation, Rocky has successfully built depth, so we are not hurting. Best example, gone is DJ Pumphrey, the all-time NCAA leader in rushing yards. So, Penny steps right in. Against the Sun Devils, he rushed for 216 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown; had a 99-yard kick-off return for a touchdown; and added 38 yards receiving, including a crucial touchdown catch.

Noble Hall (Ernie Anderson)

For his efforts Rashaad was named the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week, and the Aztecs swept the MW Player of the Week awards, with Noble Hall – 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss (20 yards), 2 forced fumbles – winning for Defense and Rashaad for Offense and Special Teams. Until then, no player in the history of the conference had ever won two Player of the Week awards the same week.

Stanford has given up 226.5 rushing yards per game; 205.5 passing; defense is not their strength. On offense they’re balanced, with a 228.5/270.5 split. You know they will be ready to make up for their 42-24 loss to USC. A big crowd at Aztec Warrior Stadium would help the Aztecs. So, be there.

As a plus, it’s the Aztec Hall of Fame game, with five new inductees honored at halftime: Steve Fisher and DJ Gay, basketball; Craig Penrose and Whip Walton, football; and NCAA discus Champion and 2016 Olympian Whitney Ashley.

Steve Fisher, DJ Gay, Craig Penrose, Whip Walton, Whitney Ashley (Fisher, Gay, Penrose photos by Ernie Anderson)

GO AZTECS!