Another Impressive Win; Another Big Challenge

The Aztecs were at their best shutting down Wyoming and rolling offensively in Saturday’s big 38-3 conference victory. It left us the only undefeated team in the MW and with a good hold 6-0 on the West Division title — but not a lock.

Standing between us and that lock is an improved UNLV team. And you don’t have to look back far to find games where we went in as big favorites only to be upset.

In their most recent game the Rebels lost to Colorado State, 48-35, which shows they do score a lot of points. Their biggest win was 80-8 over Idaho State. And they scored 30 points against a very good Northern Illinois. Their best win was 23-17over intrastate rival Nevada. So be ready, Aztecs, just as you were last week after a bye that worried some folks. Among the impressive facts and figures in that Wyoming win…

We were 6 for 6 in the Red Zone.

Maxwell Smith was 11-19, with three TDs and no INTs for the eighth straight game.

Chase Price ran for 152 yards, averaging 8.9 yards a carry; DJ Pumphrey, 140 yards and a 4.3 average.

By contrast, our defense held Brian Hill, one of the top ranking RBs in the country, to only 72 yards.

In addition to tackles for a loss, the defense racked up five sacks.

An interesting stat – in a balanced offense in the two halves, the Aztecs rolled up 220 yards in the first half, 211 in the second.

Keep it up, and we will have the MW Championship playoff game here, Dec. 5.

Mikah Holder caught 2 TD passes; the Cowboy rushing attack could never find its footing against the Aztec D (photos by Ken Ables)

GO AZTECS!