San Diego State Aztecs vs Colorado State Rams Football Recap

San Diego State 24, Colorado State 19

A few weeks ago, the San Diego State Aztecs profited when an opponent looked past them before another really big Mountain West Conference collision. This past weekend in their home ballyard, “Los Aztecs” overcame their own considerable temptation to peek forward on their schedule, and now they can tackle the biggest and boldest foe in their league.

As everyone knows by now, TCU is really good. The Horned Frogs thumped Utah on Saturday afternoon to claim near-total control of the Mountain West Conference. Therefore, when San Diego State then took the field late Saturday night at Qualcomm Stadium against the visiting Colorado State Rams, the Aztecs realized that their next opponent – TCU – owned first place in the MWC. As San Diego State went through its pregame warm-ups and prepared for an encounter with a 3-6 CSU team, the thought was undeniable: “Man, it’s going to be so great to play TCU next week for the Mountain West championship. Can’t wait!”

That, folks, is exactly how upset losses happen. That’s how look-ahead games ambush teams that should easily win on their home field. On paper, San Diego State should have had absolutely no problem with coach Steve Fairchild’s Rams, but SDSU coach Brady Hoke knew better.

This game was always going to be a problem for the Aztecs because the next opponent on the schedule – lurking on Nov. 13 – was none other than TCU. Precisely because Colorado State isn’t very distinguished or imposing, the inexperienced Aztecs – who have not made a bowl game in several years – were vulnerable to the temptation to think about the Horned Frogs, not the business at hand against CSU. San Diego State isn’t used to playing highly meaningful games this late in a Mountain West season, so with TCU on the horizon (and 8-1 Utah on the slate one week after that), the Aztec coaching staff was all too aware that this game against the Rams had trouble written all over it.

SDSU brought only one conference loss into this tilt, so the Aztecs knew that with a perfect November, they would actually be able to – yes, it’s true – win the Mountain West outright. Colorado State was just the easy get-out-of-the-way steppingstone, but ironically, that’s why this game was such a mental test and a potential landmine.

Fortunately and to their credit, the boys in black survived. San Diego State did indeed slog through the motions for the better part of three quarters, but the home team awakened from its slumber in time to dispose of the Rams and move to 4-1 in the Mountain West.

San Diego State won simply because it responded to a crisis with composure. Late in the third quarter, San Diego State was leading 10-6 and was driving in the Colorado State red zone. Then, Aztec quarterback Ryan Lindley – who had a terrible game – fumbled the ball. CSU’s Mychal Sisson picked up the pigskin and took it 88 yards for a touchdown in the other direction. Suddenly, what should have been a seven-point SDSU lead (at minimum) turned into a 13-10 advantage for the Rams. The Aztecs could have allowed the moment to deflate them, but they instead showed why they’re in second place in the Mountain West, alongside Utah.

San Diego State marched to two touchdowns in the next 11 minutes to forge a 24-13 advantage. Colorado State responded with a touchdown at the 2:43 mark of the fourth quarter, but the Aztecs recovered the Rams’ ensuing onside kick and then – after draining CSU’s remaining timeouts – stopped Fairchild’s offense on four plays to salt away the win.

It was ugly, it was tense, and it was more uncomfortable than a lot of casual fans expected. However, the San Diego State coaching staff knows how good a win this is for the Aztecs. A trap game posed problems, but it ultimately did not stop an increasingly mature team from staying alive in the Mountain West title chase.

Now, TCU can be given full and undivided attention by the young men who play football for San Diego State University.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer