SDSU ABLE TO SLIDE PAST UNLV
Matthews catches three TD passes as Aztecs triumph
If you went to a Las Vegas show and the understudy stepped in for the star, no one would expect to see a superior performance.
The same applies at football games. Or so one would think.
San Diego State, an 11-point favorite in its Mountain West game at UNLV, knocked Rebels starting quarterback Cameron Friel from the game four minutes into the second quarter.
Backup QB Justin Rogers replaced Friel and starred on offense like an acrobat soaring at center stage in O by Cirque du Soleil.
The junior transfer from TCU put a scare into SDSU, passing for 305 yards and two touchdowns.
SDSU overcame that — as well as a fourth-quarter interception in the red zone by quarterback Lucas Johnson — to keep its Mountain West championship hopes alive with a 28-20 victory over the Rebels late Friday night at Allegiant Stadium.
SDSU linebacker Seyddrick Lakalaka’s interception in the final two minutes sealed the victory (on a play in which officials missed an offsides against SDSU).
Matt Araiza punts once again helped SDSU flip the field. Four times Araiza had punts land inside the UNLV 20-yard line, highlighted by a critical fourthquarter effort that was downed at the Rebels’ 1-yard line.
SDSU also converted a fourth-and-1 from the UNLV 13-yard line — running back Greg Bell rushing for two of his 58 yards in the game — with five minutes remaining that kept alive a drive that led to Johnson’s third touchdown pass of the game to wide receiver Jesse Matthews.
No. 19 SDSU (10-1, 6-1 MW) reached double-digit victories for the fifth time in seven seasons.
More importantly, the Aztecs now can clinch the conference’s West Division with a win over Boise State in Friday morning’s regular-season finale.
SDSU also could take the title if Fresno State (8-3, 5-2 MW) loses to San Jose State on Thanksgiving Day. Fresno State must win and the Aztecs must lose next week in order for the Bulldogs to win a tiebreaker for the division title.
Nevada (7-4, 4-3) was eliminated from the title chase following Friday night’s 41-39 triple overtime loss to Air Force.
Rogers started UNLV’s season opener against Eastern Washington but was replaced in the second half of the overtime loss and had barely been seen since.
Friel suffered what CBS Sports Network reported as a turf toe injury when he was sacked by SDSU defensive end Keshawn Banks four minutes into the second quarter. SDSU led 7-3 at the
time.
In came Rogers, who guided a second-quarter touchdown drive that included passes of 36 and 43 yards and a third-quarter TD drive highlighted by an 80yard completion.
SDSU still led 21-17 after the second touchdown, but UNLV made it a one-point game when Daniel Gutierrez kicked a 22-yard field goal with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter.
That created some tension before Johnson (18for-24, 192 yards, 3 TDs/INT) hit Matthews (9 catches, 75 yards, 3 TDs) with a 7-yard TD pass and allowed everyone to exhale with 3:33 remaining.
UNLV started things off by driving right down the field, mixing passes by Friel with carries by Charles Williams (16 carries, 35 yards) to advance inside the SDSU 10yard line.
At that point, yards became more difficult to get and the Rebels were forced to settle for a 21-yard Gutierrez field goal that provided a 3-0 led five minutes into the game. It was the first time this season that the SDSU defense allowed an opponent to score on its first drive of the game.
The defense turned up the pressure from there, and it paid immediate dividends.
When SDSU’s first drive stalled after six plays, UNLV got the ball back at its own 12.
The Aztecs stopped Williams for a 3-yard loss on first down.
On second down, a Friel pass glanced off receiver
Steve Jenkins, then off SDSU cornerback Tayler Hawkins and into the hands of linebacker Andrew Aleki. Aleki weaved his way 17 yards to the end zone for his second interception for a touchdown this season and a 7-3 SDSU lead.
The Aztecs continued to pressure Friel in the opening period, with Hawkins nearly picking off a pass when Lakalaka and Banks introduced themselves to Friel.
Banks was back for more early in the second quarter, sacking Friel for a 10-yard loss that knocked the QB from the game.
Rogers replaced Friel and sparked the Rebels. He hit wide receiver Zyell Griffin for the 43-yard score. Griffin was open by 15 yards after a breakdown in coverage. That gave UNLV a 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
SDSU’s offense had been stagnant to this point, with three drives all ending with Araiza punts. Then something clicked.
Completions of 11 and 37 yards to receiver Elijah Kothe moved the ball to the UNLV 16. Johnson then found Matthews with a pair of passes, the second one for a 4yard
touchdown and a 14-10 lead with 2:31 left in the second quarter.
The Aztecs got the ball back with 45 seconds remaining in the half when the defense stopped UNLV on downs near midfield.
Johnson then guided SDSU on perhaps its most efficient scoring drive of the season, moving the Aztecs 54 yards in seven plays. The capper was a 24-yard touchdown pass to Matthews with five seconds left on the clock for a 21-10 halftime lead.