San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
AZTECS RUN PAST, OVER AGGIES WITH 407 YARDS
Big second half on ground led by Bell duo, Byrd leads to four TDS
After two years of offensive struggles, San Diego State approached this season eager to present an offense that balances the pass with the run.
Of course, if you can produce plenty of points and wear out the opponent while rushing into the record book, heaving can wait.
San Diego State ran for 407 yards, the fourthhighest rushing total in the school’s Division I history (since 1969), and three touchdowns Saturday night at Utah State’s Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah, in a dominating performance that brought back memories from the Aztecs’ recent past.
Those wondering if SDSU running back Greg Bell is for real had those suspicions confirmed, and his running mates are pretty productive as well.
If one Bell wasn’t enough, the Aztecs offered two, with running back Chance Bell (no relation) combining with Greg to give Utah State more than if bargained for Saturday night in SDSU’S 38-7 victory over the Aggies.
The Aztecs (2-0) turned a 10-7 halftime lead into into a blowout victory with 28-second half points against Utah State (0-2).
SDSU running back Jordan Byrd put an exclamation mark on the performance with a 73-yard touchdown run with 5:14 remaining. That was the biggest chunk of the Aztecs’ 407 rushing yards, which came on 53 carries for a 7.7yard average per attempt.
It was just four years ago in Logan that SDSU rushed for 400 yards, then the second-highest total in the school’s Division I history. Saturday night’s
effort ranks only behind games against San Jose State (554 yards in 2017), Nevada (474 yards in 2016) and Pacific (430 yards in 1991, 386 from Marshall Faulk) in the Division I era.
Lost in the rush was that the Aztecs actually did come out throwing the ball.
Those wondering about the whereabouts of SDSU receiver Kobe Smith will be relieved to know he was hiding in plain sight.
Smith made his presence immediately known, catching a 16-yard pass from quarterback Carson Baker on SDSU’S first play from scrimmage and a 15-yard, firstquarter pass for SDSU’S first score.
Smith led SDSU receivers in receptions (58), yards (691) and touchdowns (4) last season, but he didn’t make a catch in last week’s seasonopening win over UNLV. He had six catches for 64 yards in this game.
Greg Bell, who rushed for 111 yards last week against UNLV, made it back-to-back 100-yard games. He capped a third-period drive with a 6yard touchdown run — diving across the goal line for the final yard — that gave the Aztecs a 17-7 lead. He had 22 carries for 157 yards.
When the Aztecs gave Greg a breather during the march, Chance Bell stepped in and got a key first down on third-and-1 before Greg returned to finish what he started.
When SDSU got the ball back, it was Chance’s chance to shine. He capped a six-play, 68-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown run for a 24-7 advantage with less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter. He carried 10 times for 98 yards.
In the fourth quarter, Greg Bell showed he can catch as well, turning a short pass from Baker into a 29-yard touchdown. Greg saved his legs the final five yards, leaping into the end zone for a 31-7 lead two minutes into the period.
The second-half scoring burst achieved a couple of things for the Aztecs.
For one thing, it put behind them last week’s slow second-half start against UNLV. For another thing, it let them forget Utah State’s stunning score on the last play of the first half.
SDSU was six seconds from its second straight firsthalf shutout when Utah State quarterback Justin Shelleyscrambled around to buy some time. He hurled a pass toward the right corner of the end zone as time expired and the ball came down into the arms of wide receiver Deven Thompkins for a 37-yard touchdown. Thompkins barely got a foot down in bounds on the catch, which was confirmed by replay, and the Aggies trailed just 10-7 at the half.
While SDSU dominated the first half, the Aztecs led by only three points because of two missed field goals by sophomore place-kicker Matt Araiza.
In the first quarter, Araiza missed a 34-yard attempt when the ball was tipped by an Aggies defender at the line of scrimmage. In the second quarter, Araiza missed a 45yard field goal attempt wide left.
It was uncharacteristic for Araiza, who made a schoolrecord 22 field goals in 26 attempts last year. Araiza kicked 27- and 22-yard field goals in last week’s win over UNLV. He had one more opportunity in the first half, making good on a 28-yarder that gave the Aztecs a 10-0 lead with 70 seconds remaining before halftime.
SDSU, which struggled in the third quarter last week against UNLV after building a 27-point lead, responded to Utah State’s late first-half score.
The Aztecs received the opening kickoff of the second half and faced immediate adversity. A holding penalty and a sack on the first two plays had SDSU faced with a second-and-26 from its own 4, then went the length of the field with Bell’s 6-yarder capping it.
SDSU’S defense allowed just one touchdown for the second straight game. Among the highlights were interceptions by linebacker Seyddrick Lakalaka and safety Rashad Scott and a fumble recovery by Michael Shawcroft.
Baker was 18-for-27 passing for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Injury report
SDSU senior safety Trenton Thompson suffered an ankle injury in Thursday’s practice and did not play. Thompson was replaced by senior Tayler Hawkins, who was a part-time starter last season who moved over from cornerback. Sophomore Cedarius Barfield filled in for Hawkins at cornerback.