DEFENSE! DEFENSE! ... and Plenty of Offense, Too!

In the 21-7 win over Fresno State, we began to see some of the positives we had expected from this year’s Aztecs. Start with a stifling defense.

The Bulldogs totaled only 89 yards for the whole game; 12 yards rushing, 77 passing. And they did not convert a single third down. In the third quarter, they were minus-12 yards rushing; and in the fourth, they were 0-6 passing. You can’t ask for much better than that. And this was a Bulldog team averaging 25.4 points a game, even though they had played two Top-10 teams, Utah and Ole Miss.

While 21 points may not sound overwhelming, the offensive numbers were impressive. We ran for 305 yards, with DJ Pumphrey going for 124, even though he missed the last of the game with an ankle injury and had a lot of yards taken away by penalties; and Chase Price topped him with 151. The passing total of 104 yards not eye-popping, but Maxwell Smith hit two dead-on passes for TDs and had no interceptions. A total offense of 409 yards should get a lot of wins.

This week, it’s Hawaii. Unfortunately we’re facing the tougher Hawaii. There are “two” Hawaii teams – Hawaii at home and Hawaii on the road. In two home games they are 2-0, including a win over Pac12 Colorado; and 0-3 on the road, with a cumulative score of 0-121. Since the Aztecs will be playing them in the IsIands, better be ready!

DJ Pumphrey scored the Aztecs’ 1^st TD and gained 124 yards on 23 carries; Jake Fely and the Aztec D held Fresno State to 12 rushing yards and 89 total yards for the game (photos by Ken Ables)

GO AZTECS!