Aztecs’ home away from home to host MW finale
Soccer venue set for San Diego State vs. Utah State
SAN DIEGO — The No. 19 San Diego State Aztecs have to make one more trip to the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, this time to host the Mountain West championship game Saturday against Utah State in their temporary home on a soccer pitch.
Win and the Aztecs
(11-1, 7-1 MW) gladly will make a final drive up interstates 5/405 this year, because the league title includes a berth in the inaugural Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl at $5 billion Sofi Stadium in Inglewood on Dec. 18.
The Aztecs haven’t played in San Diego since 2019. Because of the pandemic affecting the 2020 schedule, the school decided to move up demolition of 70,000-seat SDCCU Stadium earlier than originally planned to help expedite construction of 35,000-seat Aztec Stadium. It will open in time for the 2022 season.
So the Aztecs have made the 232-mile round trip to Dignity Health Sports Park, the 27,000-seat home of the MLS’ Los Angeles Galaxy, for home games since last season. Crowds were sparse early this season, due to the drive and late kickoff times, but attendance picked up for last Friday’s 27-16 win against Boise State, which kicked off at 9 a.m.
“When you looked up in those stands, it was a much more, I want to say packed crowd, but fan-friendly crowd,” coach Brady Hoke said. “From that point that was fun. Our guys have done a great job preparing, knowing that this is how it is. They can’t do anything about it but just go out and play the best football we can.”
Road warriors
The Aggies (9-3, 6-2) are a school-record 6-0 on the road this season and relish their underdog status, particularly after feeling they were snubbed when the all-conference teams were named.
“There are a lot of well-deserving guys that aren’t on the list. It’s kind of been the environment we’ve felt like we’ve been in all season,” first-year coach Blake Anderson said. “Nobody expected anything from us when the season started. … This is a very chip-on-yourshoulder, blue-collar group of dudes and this is something I think they’ll welcome. There’ll be a chip on their shoulder going into Saturday, which is exactly where I want it to be.”
QB matchup
Utah State junior quarterback Logan Bonner is coming off a big performance in a 35-10 win against New Mexico when he tied the school record with five TD passes and threw for 306 yards. He has 3,236 yards and 32 TDS this season, against 10 interceptions. The Aztecs are expected to start Jordon Brookshire, who came off the bench late in the first half to help rally the Aztecs to 24 straight points against BSU.