On two of the first five carries of his college career, Walter Kazee fumbled the ball away. Guess where he spent the next 2 1/2 games?
Brady Hoke, coach of the San Diego State Aztecs, doesn’t tolerate mistakes. But that doesn’t mean he also doesn’t recognize talent. So after keeping the 18-year-old freshman from San Bernardino by his side for all but four carries the past two weeks at Idaho and Air Force, Hoke returned the youngster to the field Saturday night against New Mexico State.
Perhaps, the Aztecs have finally found themselves a running back. Kazee carried 22 times for 101 yards and scored his first college touchdown as SDSU bounced the Aggies, 34-17, to improve their record to 2-3.
On a night when quarterback Ryan Lindley was misfiring to the tune of just 7-for-27 passing, it was Kazee who carried the night, carrying the Aztecs offense to 17 points over the final eight minutes to win the game.
Kazee led Cajon High to the San Andreas League championship last season and was named the San Bernardino County Sun’s prep player of the year after rushing for nearly 1,700 yards and 29 touchdowns his senior season.
But like the rest of SDSU’s running backs, he looked tentative and slow the first month of his college career. Of course, the two fumbles during his home debut three weeks ago against Southern Utah and a (reported) concussion suffered during practice a week-and-a-half ago slowed his progress.
He gave New Mexico State headaches Saturday night. With the Aztecs offense slowed to a crawl through three quarters, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound youngster decided to finally take off the training wheels.
Following a New Mexico State touchdown that tied the score, 17-17, early in the fourth, Kazee made a veteran cutback move at the line of scrimmage and took a 26-yard run out near midfield to get SDSU’s game-winning drive moving.
Now confident, Kazee debuted a quick spin move on three successive carries to help the Aztecs get inside the 10. Then, after a fake to Kazee, Lindley hit backup fullback Willie Watters in the flat for a 5-yard touchdown pass and the go-ahead score.
Fullback Willie Walters is congratulated by teammates after catching his first TD pass/(619 Photo/David Olender)
Watters, a senior transfer from Palomar Junior College, was listed as a linebacker in the SDSU media guide. Having played nothing but special teams last season, he made his first-career appearance on offense in place of the injured Matthew Kawulok. The only time all game his number was called, Watters pulled in the short flat pass at the three and dove to the goal line to make it 24-17.
Following a turnover, Kazee again the ran the Aztecs close, setting up an 18-yard field goal by Lane Yoshida for a 27-17 edge. Then, following a Leon McFadden interception and return to the five, Kazee banged it in on his second try for the final score of the evening.
Kazee gained 75 of his 101 yards after halftime, averaging nearly six yards per carry after the break. More importantly, he became the first SDSU back this season to run with confidence, panache and power — perhaps giving Hoke and company some hope that the previously moribund Aztec running game will eventually find its stride.
In the first half, the Aztec offense never even left the starting gate. Lindley completed only four throws for 55 yards, and SDSU managed just five first downs. On seven first-half possessions, the Aztecs went 3-and-out five times.
But Rocky Long’s 3-3-5 defense saved the day by not only forcing two turnovers, but turning one of them — a 17-yard fumble recovery by safety DeJuan Hemmings — into a touchdown.
It took until the second half for Vincent Brown to get untracked against the Aggies/(619 Photo/David Olender)
Leading 10-7 at the break, Lindley finally found his favorite target, wide receiver Vincent Brown, streaking down the middle of the field for a 50-yard gain early in the third. On the next play, running back Davon Brown sold the sweep then pulled up to fire a 21-yard TD pass to Vincent Brown on the halfback option.
The Aggies (2-3) came back to tie, but then Kazee found his stride. Pronounced “Kaa-zee,” the kid looked OK. And overall, the Aztecs look OK heading into their bye week.
Sure the record is 2-3, and mighty BYU will come to town in two weeks. But don’t scoff Aztec fans.
Last year, win number two didn’t come until the final game of the regular season.
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Craig Elsten -
Chris Ello -
Chainsaw -
