As expected, the defense was very good. Five interceptions – two of them for a TD. Calvin Munson set an Aztec one-game record with his two INTs for a TD, starting with the first pass USD threw right at the beginning of the game. Later he returned his second pick 67 yards for another TD, with some good moves along the way. Two INT for TD records were tied: 2 in one season and 3 career, with a lot of football left to be played. Appropriately, Calvin was named the Walter Camp National FBS Defensive Player of the Week.
Two INTs in one game ain’t bad, but Damontae Kazee did even better by picking off three, including one at the two-yard line, preventing a USD score, and setting the stage for an impressive 98-yard TD drive of our own, the best of the night.
Overall, the fast, aggressive defense was very effective, giving up a big chunk of USD’s total yardage in one drive when we seemed to relax a little. So let’s give the defense an A- grade.
On the other side of the ball, the Aztecs did not look so good. Start with the amazing fact that DJ Pumphrey ran for only 65 yards on 20 carries. Was that DJ’s fault? Or our offensive line? Or do you give the USD defensive line a lot of credit?
Another factor, of course, was our lack of a passing game. Until the tag end, when Christian Chapman came in and completed both of his passes for 39 yards, the Aztecs had only 100 yards total with Maxwell Smith throwing. We are sure to improve from this “learning experience.”
We’d better. Saturday, the Aztec go to Cal to face a greatly improved Bear team that just pulverized Grambling, 73-14.
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Calvin Munson and Damontae Kazee combined for 5 interceptions
vs. USD [Munson photo by Ernie Anderson, Kazee photo by Ken Ables]
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GO AZTECS!
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