Aztec Defense Better Be Ready for Cougars

After a couple of rough games, our Aztecs defense regained its stalwart look in winning the MWC Championship game over Wyoming. Now they’d better strap their helmets on tight and be ready for a high-scoring, wide-open Houston Cougars team in the Las Vegas Bowl, Saturday afternoon.

The 9-3 Cougars racked up impressive victories over Oklahoma and Louisville. They beat the Sooners, who are #7 in the AP Poll, 33-23, and handled the #15 Cardinals, 38-10. Houston just missed being in the AP’s Top 25, heading the ranks of “others receiving votes” for a 26 slot.

They do pile up points – 64 their tops this season. Even when they got beat by Memphis, they scored 44 points. Defense is not really their strength, but they do have some standouts on offense. It pivots around their QB, Greg Ward Jr. He’s not very big (5-11, 185), but he’s their leader in both passing and rushing. He has completed 67.6% of his passes for 3,328 yards, with 22 TDs and 9 INTs. Ward also tops their three leading running backs, with 518 yards, a 3.0 average and 9 TDs. He’s backed by Duke Catalon, who has 510 yards for a 3.9 average and 4 TDs. Their third back is Dillon Birden, 289 yards, 4.7 average and 6 TDs.

The three leading Cougars receivers all have good size. Linell Bonner (6-0, 202) has caught 93 passes for 1,076 yards and 3 TDs. Chance Allen (6-3, 215) has 815 yards on 56 receptions, with 6 TDs. Rounding out this dangerous trio is Steven Dunbar (6-3, 210) with 669 yards on 51 passes and 5 TDs.

Meanwhile, our Aztecs have been piling up national honors, led by DJ Pumphrey and Nico Siragusa. In addition to being a Doak Walker finalist, DJ is a Walter Camp 1st Team All American, Sports Illustrated 1st Team All American, AP 2nd Team All American, USA Today 2nd Team All American, American Football Coaches Assoc. 2nd Team All American, Football Writers Assoc. of America 2nd Team All-American, Sporting News 2nd Team All American and back-to-back MW Offensive Player of the Year. Nico is a USA Today 1st Team All American, AP 3rd Team All American.

It should be a fun game to watch. Houston is favored by about 4, but I believe our rejuvenated D will put the clamps on them, and come out a winner, maybe vaulting us up to a Top 25 slot.

Best of all for our fans, it is an easy trip, so let’s put thousands into Sam Boyd Stadium to support Rocky’s troops! Kick-off is at 12:30.

Aztec All Americans: DJ Pumphrey; Nico Siragusa (photos by Ernie Anderson)

GO AZTECS!