San Diego State Aztecs fall to the Air Force Falcons 13-3
San Diego State Aztecs #18 Jalen Myden (QB) is scambling trying to pick up a first down. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
SAN DIEGO, CA - On a chilly nite, and with a good crowd in attendance, the Air Force Falcons (9-3, 5-3), in a Mountain West Conference showdown, beat the San Diego State Aztecs (7-5, 5-3) at the Snapdragon Stadium 13-2.
The Aztecs had plenty of chances to put points on the board, but their quarterback Jalen Mayden threw two interceptions while completing 16 of his 31 passes for 188 yards.
We'd like to score more points and have more rushing yards," said San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke. We'd like to take the first drive that they had. When you play triple option teams, that first drive is always a little bit of a problem because of the speed that you've tried to mimic in practice, it never is there. I thought our guys handled it. We talked about it when they came off the field. They played their butts off. We're disappointed obviously. We'd love for every senior to win their last game, but that doesn't always happen."
The Falcons got the football first in the first quarter, and on the second play on offense, Brad Roberts broke free for a 63-yard run down to the 6-yard line of San Diego State. Moments later, the Falcons led 7-0 after a 3-yard touchdown run by Roberts.
The Aztecs, on their first possession on offense, stalled at the 28-yard line of the Falcons, and Jack Browning missed a 45-yard field goal.
Air Force Falcons #20 Brad Roberts 64-yard run against the San Diego State Aztecs in the first quarter. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
Air Force had threatened to score again on fourth and two at the 2-yard line of San Diego State but fell short of picking up the first down. The Falcons led at halftime 7-0. Roberts carried the football 21 times for Air Force for 127 yards and one touchdown.
Air Force led 10-0 in the third quarter when Matthew Dapore kicked a 30-yard field goal. The Aztecs got a big lift from special teams after Jordyn Byrd returned the kick-off for 37 yards.
The Falcons had to settle for a 26-yard field goal by Browning, making the score 10-3 with 9:12 left in the quarter. The defense by the Aztecs kept them in the game with another stop against the Falcons on offense on third down, forcing them to punt the football.
The Falcons had a chance to go up 13-3 to end the third quarter, but Dapore missed a 44-yard field goal.
Air Force increased their lead to 13-3 in the fourth quarter after Dapore kicked a 30-yard field goal with 9:03 left in the game.
San Diego State had a chance to put points on the board at the 11-yard line of Air Force, but two false starts pushed their offense backward, and on fourth down, Jalen Mayden threw a pass that was intercepted endzone by Jayden Goodwin in the endzone to kill the drive.
The Aztecs would get the ball back one more time on offense, and the Falcons deny them again on defense after Trey Taylor intercepted another pass in the endzone by Mayden for a touch-back, which would end the game.
Now the coaching staff and the players will have to wait and see what bowl game San Diego State will play after being bowl eligible.