San Diego State Aztecs @ Colorado State Rams Football Recap

San Diego State 18, Colorado State 15

In a rough year for field goal kickers, the San Diego State Aztecs have suffered. Saturday night in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Los Aztecs endured more sweaty-palm moments due to the craft that is performed by foot. Fortunately, they received a kick-me-up pick-me-up at the right time.

On yet another rough night for an oft-criticized player, San Diego State kicker Abel Perez - who had already lost one game this past season for his football team - came through for the Aztecs when his teammates needed him to deliver. The beleaguered kicker sent through a 37-yard field goal with just under six minutes left in the game to give the Aztecs a three-point win over Colorado State on a cold night in Fort Collins.

The 2011 college football season will not be fondly remembered by kickers. If this has been the year of the kicker, it's been the year of the wayward kicker. The people who perform placekicking have simply not put their best feet forward over the past two and a half months. Alabama, Boise State, Navy, and several other programs have suffered wrenching losses this season because their kickers haven't been steady, and San Diego State is part of that crowd. As the Aztecs left their Southern California home to endure the chill of Colorado, they were reminded why they've experienced tough sledding this season, but when this game ended, they were able to sing a happy song.

Perez had missed two field goals earlier in the night, and had missed his only two kicks in SDSU's three-point loss to Wyoming two weeks ago. However, at the end of the cold struggle, Perez came through. This was a strong defensive effort for Colorado State, which held decorated San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman to just 80 yards on 24 carries. The Rams also held San Diego State to just 327 total yards despite the fact that the Aztecs possessed the ball for 40 minutes. In the end, Colorado State’s passing game couldn’t do enough. Pete Thomas was 3 of 7 for 26 yards before leaving the game with an injured knee. Garrett Grayson filled in and threw for only 26 yards and an interception on 6-15 passing.

The Rams failed to capitalize on a monster outing from running back Chris Nwoke, who started the scoring with a 63-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Nwoke posted 232 rushing yards on 22 carries on the night. San Diego State answered with a dose of Hillman, who ran five times for 26 yards on a drive capped when Ryan Lindley hit Alston Umuolo for a four-yard touchdown pass. The Aztecs dialed up a fake on the point-after try, and holder/punter Brian Stahovich completed the pass to Chad Young for an 8-7 lead. Down 15-7, Grayson tied it up for Colorado State on a one-yard run followed by a run for a two-point conversion early in the fourth quarter before Perez’s kick gave SDSU the win.

San Diego State moved to 6-3 on the year and 3-2 in Mountain West play, and will host tenth-ranked Boise State (8-1) next week. Colorado State has just about exhausted its bowl hopes at 3-6 and will travel to 19th-ranked TCU (8-2).

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer