Sports News Southwest

San Diego State (2-4 overall; 1-1 Mountain West Conference) is the final conference team to a have a league home game as the Aztecs open up a three-game homestand against New Mexico (4-2; 1-1 MWC) on Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium.

The game is the annual homecoming contest for the Aztecs with the contest scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. PT start.

 

San Diego State, which has a three game home-stand contained in a single-season for the first time since 1992, finished a split of its two consecutive conference road games to open the season with a 23-7 loss at Utah on Saturday.

 

The Aztecs enjoyed a 7-6 lead late in the second quarter, but the Utes cashed in on an interception to convert a 27-yard field goal and build a 9-7 halftime advantage. Utah struck for a pair of third-quarter touchdowns to go up 23-7. The Aztecs drove into Utah territory five times on the afternoon, but were only able to come away with seven points.

 

Defensively the Aztecs allowed 514 yards of total offense but were able to keep the game close despite being on the field for 78 plays and 33:14. SDSU allowed 23 points after the Utes tallied 78 points the two previous weeks in wins over Utah State and Louisville. Junior linebacker Russell Allen earned MWC co-defensive player of the week honors after recording a school-record 22 tackles in the contest. Allen’s mark was one off the MWC record and is the second highest total by a Bowl Subdivision team this season. Ray Bass added 14 tackles, while Corey Boudreaux had 13 stops, an interception and a forced fumble in the contest. Five SDSU players ended the game with double-figure tackle totals.