SDSU Executes 27-24 Road Win At Wyoming
The Aztecs move to 2-0 in conference play improving overall to 3-3.
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The Aztecs have won six straight games when defense has scored a touchdown.
Laramie, WY – On Saturday, October 12th, the SDSU Aztecs (3-3, 2-0) registered a 27-24 win at War Memorial Stadium over the Wyoming Cowboys (1-5, 1-1) for a second straight conference play victory.
Danny O’Neil threw for a career-high 254 yards, connecting on three passes of 27 yards or more in the second half of Saturday’s game.
Aztec defense shined, both in scoring a touchdown and sacking Wyoming’s quarterback Evan Svoboda six times and registering eight tackles for loss. NCAA leader Trey White produced two sacks and three TFLs. Ryan Henderson managed 1.5 quarterback sacks.
Linebacker Kyle Moretti had an SDSU-best seven tackles with a sack in his second week filling in for Tano Letuli, while Cody Moon recorded six tackles while starting in place of Owen Chambliss.
In the first quarter, Aztec defense positioned SDSU for their first two scores of the game, with Bryce Phillips intercepting a side-out route at midfield and returning it 42 yards before Gabriel Plascencia kicked a 22-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Wyoming’s first score came on their third drive by way of a 70-yard flea-flicker to Jaylen Sargent, making it 7-3.
Later, Aztec defenseman Eric Butler managed a pic-six, running 43 yards back for a touchdown to put SDSU back on top, 10-7 to cap the first quarter.
After SDSU took the lead back, the Cowboys faced fourth-and-six midfield, and then faked a punt for a 17-yard run. Running back Sam Scott took the next run inside the red zone, before Scott made the final-yard touchdown run taking the score to 14-10 with the Cowboys leading.
SDSU took a 17-14 lead just before the break when O’Neil made a scoring drive. He connected with Ja’Shaun Poke on a 19-yard catch and run, then he found Jude Wolfe for 35 yards up the right sideline, just before Marquez Cooper completed a four yard drive for touchdown just before the half.
At two minutes to go in the half, the Cowboys forced the first interception of O’Neil’s career. His bobbled pass from a hit was picked off by Cowboy lineman Connor Shay, giving Wyoming a final chance to tie or lead the game. Wyoming missed their chance to tie at the half with a lengthy 50-yard field goal attempt by kicker John Hoyland.
After the half, Wyoming put up the only points of the third quarter on the opening drive when Hoyland successfully booted a 42 yard field goal after a 50 yard drive, bringing the score to 17-17.
SDSU produced just 21 yards of offense in the third half, concerning fans.
On the first play in the fourth quarter, the Aztecs yielded a 51-yard touchdown run by Svoboda, giving the Cowboys a 24-17 lead.
Immediately following, and several plays into the Aztec’s offensive drive, facing third-and-10 on their own 20-yard line, Jordan Napier made a superb 53-yard completion with a cornerback blanketing him. It was the longest play of the game. On the very next play, Napier again made an incredible 27-yard touchdown reception despite intense coverage, with the extra point tying things up at 24-24.
O’Neil later completed a pass to Nate Bennett for 41 yards to punctuate the Aztecs’ game-winning drive. Cooper then followed it with a 27-yard run setting the Aztecs up for another field goal.
Plascencia made his second field goal of the day after the Aztecs’ final drive stalled, booting a 28-yard field goal to make it 27-24.
The Aztec defense held Wyoming to punts on their final three full possessions of the game, which lasted for just over seven minutes and San Diego State closed the game out with a 27-24 win.
Next Saturday, SDSU has a bye week, and Wyoming travels to SJSU.
The Aztecs will have two weeks to prepare for a challenging matchup against Washington State. Let’s hope the momentum stays strong.