Despite the fantastic turn-around season by the Aztecs football program from a 3-9 to 9-3 season is feeling a lot more empty after a bitter overtime loss to New Mexico on Friday, 23-17. Mostly because what was on the line.
The stage was set, a win and Sean Lewis’ team was in the Championship game with the chance to host in San Diego for the first time since 2015. On what was supposed to be a Black Friday Aztecs romp, today is all blue after the loss. Turquoise blue to be exact.
It was another bit of an ugly game for the Aztecs, who have become accustomed to that style of play. Bad thing for them, New Mexico is equally fine playing that style of ball too.
We knew this would be SDSU’s greatest challenge yet. The Aztecs offense which had already not been close to top of the Mountain, were down their top two WR’s the final stretch of the season. But yet, the Aztecs had found success in controlling the pace and play against both Boise State and San Jose State the last two weeks prior.
So what changed in this heartbreaking loss on the road for the Aztecs?
Big Plays
This game was full of big plays despite the score being so low. After the Lobos first opening drive to score a field goal, it was QB James Laubstein’s 40 Yd Run down the field that put UNM up 10-0.
It was a bad omen for Sean Lewi’s team, who’s greatest deficit to come back and win was previously 7-0 at the hands of Wyoming. It set up a daunting task against a Lobos team undefeated at University Stadium there in ABQ.
The Aztecs did get on the board in the 2nd quarter using the ground game both by QB Jayden Denegal and then Lucky Sutton on a 1-yd TD run. Then there you have the comeback when on the next drive the Denegal hit WR Donovan Brown for a 46 yards TD pass & catch.
Unfortunately New Mexico picked up again a huge run play for a score and taking back the lead 17-14. This time was in the 3rd quarter when RB D.J. McKinney rushed for 54 yards on the Lobos first possession after an SDSU 3 & out.
Missed Opportunities
On the night the SDSU defense once again gave it all they had aside from those two big run plays. They limited the Lobos to just 1-11 on 3rd down conversions, but let up a perfect 2-2 on 4th down conversions.
It appeared the Aztecs defense made the play of the game when early in the 4th quarter UNM QB Jack Layne’s pass was intercepted by SDSU DL Micah Finau at the UNM 33 yard line. The Aztecs would have the ball at the UNM 29 with all the momentum and an offense in need of a boost.
But it wasn’t mean to be a pass interference penalty was called on Dwayne McDougle for the pass breakup that caused the interception. It was a bang bang play that definitely had its contact to it. It appeared the pass was initially tipped at the line of scrimmage which would’ve allowed any defender free contact to go after the ball.
The ruling of the penalty on the field was upheld and the Lobos got the ball back. Huge opportunity gone. Aside from that Kicker Gabriel Placencia missed a 52 yard kick that hooked wide right. Definitely not an easy kick, but definitely within his range.
Penalties
Overall on the night 9 penalties for 73 yards against the Aztecs were tough to overcome. An absolutely brutal pass interference call negated SDSU of a key turnover in Lobos territory.
A touchdown pass to tight-end Jackson Ford was wiped off the books as well. Ford who represents a seldom used tight-end group was whistled for lining up as in ineligible receiver on the formation of the line.
Lastly, in the 2OT period the Aztecs offense was shaken by the home crowd’s noise and maybe a little bit of something else. Three straight false start penalties set the ball back outside of the red zone with a nearly impossible scoring situation to tie and take the lead.
Yes the rabid Lobos fans were making a ruckus of things inside the stadium—but for what was a game full of questionable penalties by the refs, the last two false start whistles were certainly adding to the notion of funny business several online accounts spread about on social media.
Perhaps the frenzy created by the fans affected more than just the offensive line, but rather the referees judgement as well. Much more noticeable movements on the line have gone uncalled in these similar kind of situations in much bigger games.
To see these very debatable whistles affect such a match in this situation for the Mountain West absolutely leaves room to question the conference. Especially knowing the bitter & legal battles between the departing schools to the Pac-12 and the remaining schools in the Mountain West with it’s conference commissioner.
In the end, whether due to the controllable or uncontrollable, the loss stings for a team that must now lean on the metrics of a four way tie in the Mountain West. San Diego State, Boise State, UNV, and New Mexico all now are in a grid-locked state of wins & losses in conference.
While we wait for Sunday morning and the conference’s official ruling of which two teams will battle in the championship game next Friday, the haunting reality remains—SDSU football had their destiny in their hands and could not finish the job.
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