Oct. 12, 2014 SAN DIEGO -
RECAPPING THE NEW MEXICO GAME
Rushing Notes: San Diego State rushed for 397 yards in its win at New Mexico on Friday night, which was the third most by an Aztec team in the Division I era (since 1969), the eighth most in program history and the most since rushing for 400 at Wyoming on Nov. 24, 2012 ... SDSU is now 22-1 in its Division I era when rushing for 294 or more yards and 16-0 when rushing for at least 304 yards ... San Diego State won its 11th straight game when rushing for at least 200 yards and the 13th of its last 14 ... The Aztecs are now 2-0 this year when eclipsing 200 rushing yards and 19-2 in the Rocky Long era ... SDSU owned a 245-yard advantage in rushing (397-152), which is its fifth-largest advantage in its Division I era and largest discrepancy since a 278-yard edge at Wyoming on Nov. 24, 2012 (400-122) ... San Diego State is now 24-0 in its Division I era when owning at least a 196-yard advantage in rushing (65-4 when owning a 134-yard edge) ... The discrepancy is even more impressive considering that the Lobos came into the game ranked fourth in the nation in rushing at 322.40 yards per game ... The Aztecs and UNM combined for 549 rushing yards, the ninth-highest total in SDSU's Division I history ... San Diego State averaged 8.63 yards per rushing attempt, which was its second-best rush average in the Division I era, trailing only a 9.36 average vs. San Jose State on Oct. 21, 1995 ... The Aztecs rushed for three touchdowns in the game and has won seven straight contests when rushing for at least three scores ... The Aztecs now have 18 rushing touchdowns over their last seven games (since Dec. 21, 2013), which is tied for 20th in the nation over that span ... SDSU has outrushed its opponents in seven consecutive games and is now 20-10 in the Rocky Long era when outrushing its foe ... San Diego State has 41 rushing touchdowns since Sept. 28, 2013, which ranks in a tie for 13th in the country over that span, and 33 scores since Oct. 26, 2013 (also tied for 13th) ... The Aztecs have a 100-yard rusher in 12 of their past 16 games and have a total of 14, 100-yard efforts during that span ... SDSU had multiple 100-yard rushers for the 18th time in school history and is now 17-1 when it has two players gain at least 100 yards ... San Diego State is 3-1 this year and 23-7 in the Rocky Long era when it has at least one 100-yard rusher ... The Aztecs have 130 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of the 2010 season (58 games), which ranks in a tie for 21st in the nation over that span ... SDSU had just 134 (113th nationally) rushing scores over their previous 11 years (1999-2009) in the Mountain West.
Passing Notes: The Aztecs won despite having only three first downs passing, their fewest amount in a win since throwing for just two first downs against Colorado State on Dec. 2, 2006 ... SDSU won the game with just five completions, the program's fewest since Oct. 6, 1984 in a 21-0 win at Wyoming (also 5) ... The five completions were tied for the third fewest in its' Division I era ... San Diego State and New Mexico combined for just 184 passing yards, which are tied for the 13th fewest in an Aztec game in their Division I era.
Scoring/Other Notes: The Aztecs have played in consecutive games in which fewer than 40 points have been scored by both teams for the first time since Oct. 13-20, 2007 (SDSU lost both of those games, but is 1-1 in those situations this year) ... San Diego State owned a 207-yard advantage in total offense (470-263) and 68-5 in its Division I history when owning at least a 200-yard advantage ... San Diego State is now 3-1 (2014) and 27-8 (Rocky Long era) when scoring just 20 or more points ... What a difference a year makes. Through six games in 2013, SDSU was 3-3 with a scoring margin of -36 (SDSU 160, Opponents 196). This season, San Diego State is 3-3 with a scoring margin of +22 (SDSU 143, Opponents 121). That is an improvement of 58 points in scoring margin.
Defensive Rushing Notes: The Aztecs held New Mexico to just 152 rushing yards, the Lobos' fewest since gaining 137 at Colorado State on Nov. 24, 2012 ... It was their lowest output in a home game since running for 94 yards against Sam Houston State on Sept. 24, 2011 ... UNM came into the game ranked fourth in the nation in rushing at 322.40 yards per game ... The Aztecs have allowed 2,058 yards rushing on 615 carries over their last 17 games (since Sept. 21, 2013) ... Over that stretch, the SDSU defense ranks ninth in rush average (3.35) and 13th in rushing YPG (121.06).
Defensive Passing Notes: The Aztecs had an interception in their seventh consecutive game, which is the longest stretch since having one in eight straight games from Sept. 8-Nov. 13, 2010 ... SDSU held its opponent to under 150 yards passing, a 50 percent or worse completion percentage and a passing efficiency under 100 for the second straight game ... It is the first time each of those have happened in back-to-back games since Nov. 5, 2011 vs. New Mexico and Nov. 12, 2011 at Colorado State ... Since Mountain West competition started for the San Diego State (Sept. 27, last three games), SDSU's passing defense ranks 26th in pass efficiency defense (108.2) and 37th in passing yards per game (200.00).
Defensive Scoring/Other Notes: San Diego State gave up just 14 points Friday at New Mexico, its fewest in a game since allowing seven points to Northern Arizona in the 2014 opener, its fewest in a conference game since surrendering nine points to Air Force on Nov. 10, 2012 and its fewest in a road game since allowing 14 at UNLV on Oct. 26, 2011 ... The Aztecs have gone seven consecutive quarters without allowing more than one score by its opponent, its longest stretch of the season and longest since they went 14 quarters without giving up more than one score in 2012 (final quarter of Nevada game on Oct. 20, games vs. UNLV (Oct. 27), Boise State (Nov. 3) and Air Force (Nov. 10), and first quarter vs. Wyoming (Nov. 24)) ... San Diego State has now won 21 straight games when keeping its opponent to 17 or less points, 17 straight when forcing its opponent to a 33 percent or worse third down conversion percentage and 15 straight when holding the opposition to 15 or less first downs ... San Diego State held New Mexico to a 20-yard starting field position, which is the worst mark against the Aztecs since at least 1999 ... SDSU is 2-0 this year and 15-4 in the Rocky Long era when its opponent has starting field position of the 25-yard line or worse ... San Diego State has allowed just 121 points through six games this season after allowing 196 over the first six last year ... The 20.17 average per game leads the Mountain West and ranks 27th in the nation ... Since Mountain West competition started for the Aztecs (Sept. 27, last three games), SDSU's defense ranks in a tie for 23rd in the country in scoring defense (18.33), 26th in pass efficiency defense (108.2), 31st in total defense (344.33), 37th in passing defense (200.00) and 45th in rushing defense (144.33).
SPECIAL TEAMS IMPROVEMENTS
The area in which San Diego State showed the most improvement this season may be in the special teams. Below is a look comparing the 2013 special-team rankings with those from this season. NR - indicates national ranking
Category -- 2013 Number (NR) -- 2014 Number (NR)
PAT Percentage -- 67.7 (121) -- 100.0 (1)
Punt Return -- 11.16 (32) -- 9.38 (48)
Kickoff Return Defense -- 22.35 (86) -- 20.18 (57)
FG Percentage -- 50.0 (118) -- 88.89 (12)
Kickoff Return -- 21.04 (71) -- 16.56 (123)
Net Punting -- 36.33 (82) -- 37.22 (74)
According to ESPN's Team Efficiencies, San Diego State has the 22nd ranked special teams in the nation and seconde best in the Mountain West ... The Aztecs ended the 2013 campaign by missing its final eight field goal attempts, but in 2014. Donny Hageman, SDSU is 8-for-9 on FGA in 2014 (San Diego State's opponents are 3-for-7).
ONE FINAL NOTE
San Diego State beat New Mexico despite being -3 in turnover margin. It marked the 68th time in the Division I era the Aztecs have been -3 or worse in turnover margin and SDSU is now 15-50-3 in those situations.