SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Football

SDSU Aztecs climb back in MWC race

Aztecs topple two-time defending champion Utah, 28-19

By Phillip Brents

Posted Oct. 17, 2005

Photo: Kevin O'Connell (La Costa Canyon) threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another score in SDSU's 28-19 victory at Utah on Oct. 15.

San Diego State University opens a key two-game home stand Oct. 22 and Oct. 29 against New Mexico State and Texas Christian University, respectively, with a chance to get back into the thick of the Mountain Pacific Conference championship race. The Aztecs (3-4 overall) evened their conference record at 2-2 after recording their first win in Salt Lake City since 1995 by defeating two-time defending conference champion Utah, 28-19, on Oct. 15.

Kick-off for the Oct. 22 game against New Mexico (2-2, 4-2) is 7 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium. The Lobos are coming off an equally impressive 27-24 win at Wyoming on Oct. 15.

The victory against the Utes (1-3, 3-4) made up for the previous week’s disappointing 13-10 loss at UNLV that saw the Rebels kick a winning field goal in the waning seconds to score the upset win in a game that featured 30 mph winds.

Sophomore quarterback Kevin O’Connell (La Costa Canyon) passed for three touchdowns and rushed for another to total 219 passing yards and a team-leading 88 rushing yards. Senior receiver Jeff Webb (La Quinta) caught nine passes for 142 yards and scored twice. Reggie Grigsby (El Camino) earned MWC Defensive Player of the Week honors with eight solo tackles, one interception and a forced fumble to stymie Utah, which was poised to score as the ball was fumbled and then recovered in the SDSU end zone by the Aztecs Marcus Demps (Palmdale).

The Aztecs, who benefited from a team-high 12 tackles by Joe Martin (Palmdale) and a season-best 78 rushing yards from sophomore Brandon Bornes (RBV), led 14-0 in the game. Utah pulled to within 21-19 but could get no closer in falling to its third consecutive loss. Robert Ortiz (Horizon) caught a five-yard scoring pass from O’Connell to put SDSU up 21-3. O’Connell set up the score with a 61-yard run.

The Aztecs racked up 144 yards in total offense in the first quarter – more than the 140 total yards gained in the entire game in the previous week’s loss to UNLV. The Utes out-gained SDSU 592-385 in total yards, with freshman quarterback Brian Johnson passing for 417 yards. Former Monte Vista standout Darrell Mack rushed twice for five yards for Utah.

TCU (6-1 overall) currently leads the MWC standings at 5-0. In order to become bowl eligible, the Aztecs must likely win four of their five remaining games.