It’s Obvious Now: Aztecs Play to Level of Opposition - Redux

Why bother to write a new blog when last week’s basic premise was simply reiterated with last night’s 35-30 win over New Mexico? It’s a fact: This year’s Aztec team does play to the level of their opponents. Upper echelon, ranked teams, sure, we’ll play you tough. Bottom feeders, heck, we can play that way, too.

Last week, Aztecs played great in a woulda-coulda-shoulda OT loss to Fresno State, 16th ranked in the last BCS rankings, proof they are one of the best football teams in America. New Mexico, by contrast, was ranked #146 by Sagarin. But the Lobos made the Aztecs work for it, right to the end. Case closed!

Nevertheless, there were some very, very bright spots on offensive side of the ball, starting with Ezell Ruffin because that’s the way the game started. On the first play of the game, Quinn Kaehler hit a wide-open Ruffin, who ran the rest of the way for a 75-yard TD, with something like 16 seconds gone. And Ruffin piled it on from there, with 7 catches, 165 total yards and 2 TDs.

Quinn Kaehler hit Ezell Ruffin for a 75-yard TD on the first play (photos by Ken Ables)

Right with Ezell was Adam Muema, who seems to have regained full health and the self-confidence that goes with it. He rolled up 236 yards on 27 carries, for an 8.6-yard average, scoring 3 TDs. You get near the goal line, there’s no stopping Adam!

Adam Muema scores his first of 3 TDs vs. New Mexico (photo by Ken Ables)

Add to that the impressive accuracy of Quinn Kaehler and you have a wonderful game. Quinn completed 16 of 21, and had one TD pass nullified after a review! That’s a 75% completion rate.

Total offense was just shy of 500 yards and we were only 4 yards short of matching yards by one of the Top-10 teams in the country. All in all, well done!

Now on to San Jose State for a must-win MWC game!

GO AZTECS!