San Diego State Pushes Again Towards Utah State in 2OT Thriller Solely to Fall Quick, 32-24

The Aztecs scored this time. They usually even made historical past. Nevertheless it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient in the long run as San Diego State suffered a heartbreaking 32-24 loss in double time beyond regulation.

Coming off their first shutout loss since 2018 – and going through a workforce that has led the Mountain West in scoring at 32.5 factors per recreation – the Aztecs nonetheless managed to remain shut for a lot of the recreation. However they fell agonizingly quick within the first time beyond regulation recreation in Snapdragon Stadium historical past.

The loss left SDSU at 3-6, and 1-4 within the Mountain West. They need to win their final three video games to develop into eligible for a bowl recreation.

“It’s powerful,” mentioned head coach Brady Hoke. “It’s powerful on them (the gamers). It’s powerful on all of us.”

The groups exchanged defensive stops by a lot of the first quarter. The Aztecs had a
probability to attain midway by the quarter, however kicker Jack Browning missed a 42-yard subject
objective proper, his seventh miss of the season.

By the tip of the quarter, the Aztecs had been piling up some ugly numbers. The normally robust working recreation was diminished to negatives. That will be -1 yard for Fortunate Sutton, -5 yards for Kenan Christon and -5 yards for quarterback Jalen Mayden.

However similar to that, San Diego State’s fortunes turned. Sutton bought a handoff deep in Aztecs territory and burst by an enormous gap within the center to go on a 62-yard run with 22 seconds left within the quarter.

It was the longest run from scrimmage this 12 months for the Aztecs and gave them new momentum as they headed to the second quarter.

Two performs later, Mayden faked a handoff and patiently waited for tight finish Mark Redman to cross the center of the tip zone earlier than snapping a go to him for a landing that put the Aztecs in entrance 7-0.

The Aggies would reply with an extended, 68-yard drive, however needed to accept a 24-yard subject objective to chop the result in 7-3.

The rating would keep that method by the tip of the primary half as neither workforce’s offense may
mount a severe assault.

The Aztecs did have an opportunity to attain once they arrange for a subject objective on the 13-yard line, however a play that was dominated a go from holder Zechariah Ramirez to kicker Browning wound
up costing them two yards.

Utah, in the meantime, was so annoyed that they switched quarterbacks, benching freshman
McCae Hillstead, who had ended the half with solely 62 yards passing, in favor of senior
Cooper Legas.

Firstly of the third quarter, the Aztecs would get the ball and punt. The Aggies appeared
able to go down and out on their possession, however they bought a primary down close to midfield with the assistance of a faux punt and run.

Then Legas lofted a 50-yard go to the left aspect that was caught by Jaylen Royals for a landing, making it 10-7 Utah State.

The groups exchanged punts from there, however initially of the fourth quarter, Legas heaved a
38-yard go to Royals, taking the Aggies all the way down to the 26-yard line. One other go and a run had been capped by a 19-yard landing run by working again Davon Sales space.

With lower than 14 minutes to go, the Aztecs confronted a 17-7 deficit.

SDSU would once more attempt to get artful with their particular groups, this time having Browning run
throughout a faux punt. However he was stopped, and the ball went again to Utah State. Nevertheless, the
Aggies missed a subject objective, protecting the sport shut.

That gave the Aztecs a bit of life and so they launched into a 9-play, 79-yard drive capped by a
10-yard landing go from Mayden to Christon. With about seven minutes left, the sport
tightened up at 17-14 Aggies.

The clock would proceed winding down because the groups traded punts till a blunder on
particular groups opened the door for the Aztecs. Aggies kicker Ryan Marks dropped the snap and had his punt blocked, giving San Diego State the ball with a bit of over two minutes to go.

Mayden then directed a drive that led to a 23-yard subject objective by Browning to tie it up 17-
17 with simply 33 seconds on the clock, sending the sport to time beyond regulation.

Getting the ball first, the Aztecs survived a few holding penalties earlier than Mayden lofted
a go to Penny on the left aspect of the tip zone for a landing, to provide SDSU a 24-17 lead.

However the Aggies bought their very own landing go to the left aspect of the tip zone and tied the sport once more at 24-24.

The Aggies then bought the ball, scoring rapidly with a landing run up the center and the
two-point conversion required by time beyond regulation guidelines.

Down by eight, the Aztecs ran three meager performs that left them at fourth and 4. However Mayden threw a go that was intercepted by security Ike Larsen, and the Aggie survived 32-24.

Hoke mentioned the workforce performed laborious, however lamented their penalties. Defensive lineman Garret Fountain mentioned his teammates received’t surrender.

“We have now to complete robust and are available to work,” he mentioned.