Wyoming QB Austyn Carta-Samuels scrambles for yardage (619 Sports photo/David Olender)
QUALCOMM STADIUM–Leading Wyoming 27-6 after three quarters, the San Diego State Aztecs were in prime position to earn their 5th win, close out their home schedule on a high note, win on Senior Night, and stay in line for their first bowl appearance in 11 years.
Then came the fourth quarter.
A Cowboys stampede turned into an Aztecs collapse. Wyoming erupted for 24 unanswered points, blocked a field goal which would have iced the game for SDSU, and recovered a Hunter Hewitt fumble on a pooch kickoff with 2:07 to play. Ian Watts’ 43 yard field goal gave the Cowboys the lead with 23 seconds to play, and a last-gasp Hail Mary pass was knocked out of Roberto Wallace’s hands in the end zone on the game’s last play.
It all added up to a stunning 30-27 Wyoming win, dropping the Aztecs to 4-6 on the season.
SDSU head coach Brady Hoke was practically vibrating with anger after the game:
Hear more from Hoke, Ryan Lindley, Luke Laolagi and Peter Nelson after the jump:
SDSU offensive lineman Nik Embernate was ejected for this second quarter punch (619 Sports photo/David Olender)
The Cowboys, who like to run a hurry-up offense, stayed in the two-minute drill for the entire fourth quarter and ran the Aztecs’ defense ragged. Wyoming racked up 182 of their 446 total yards in the quarter, with quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels (16/22, 246 yards, TD, 13 carries, 51 yards, TD) making repeated big plays with his legs and with throws to his tight end.
Aztecs senior linebacker Luke Laolagi, one of 23 seniors honored on the field prior to kickoff, said the defense was in position many times but failed to make the big play:
Carta-Samuels’ 10 yard scoring run cut the SDSU lead to 27-13 early in the fourth, and when Alvester Alexander (15 carries, 73 yards, TD) burst through a hole over right tackle and scampered 33 yards for a touchdown, a 21 point lead had been cut to 7 in just over 4 minutes.
The Aztecs responded with an 11 play, 58 yard drive that stalled at the Wyoming 12 yard line. Lane Yoshida lined up for a 28 yard field goal that would have iced the game with 5:07 remaining, but the kick was blocked on a strong Cowboys push up the middle. The ball was then scooped and carried almost to midfield, setting up Wyoming’s game-tying drive. Carta-Samuels capped it off with a nine yard scoring pass to David Tooley, making it 27-27 with 2:07 remaining.
On the ensuing kickoff, Wyoming elected (as they had done most of the game) to kick high and short instead of deep. This kick was particularly short, but it caromed off the chest of Hunter Hewitt at around the 38 yard line and was recovered by the Cowboys after a madcap scramble. Seven plays later, Watts was kicking a field goal and the Aztecs were kicking themselves.
While Wyoming’s tempo clearly had something to do with their fourth quarter success, Hoke said it was nothing the Aztecs had failed to see coming:
Brady Hoke wasn't clapping after the fourth quarter (619 Sports photo/David Olender)
The fourth quarter will completely obscure the good work SDSU had fashioned in the first three quarters of action. The Aztecs running game played at its highest level of the season, rushing for 157 yards on 32 attempts, a 4.9 per-carry average. Brandon Sullivan ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns, while Walter Kazee added 52 yards and a score.
Peter Nelson, another devastated senior, talked about the frustration of a night where SDSU was in control for much of the game before losing:
Ryan Lindley was not at his best on this night, particularly on the short passes that had chances to turn into big gains. While his numbers were at least average (18/29, 200 yards), Lindley often missed by overthrowing or throwing high on quick passes over the middle or in the flat. On deep and intermediate passes, Lindley threw with precision and accuracy for most of the game.
Ryan spoke of his feelings after the game:
Of all the things to be upset about on an upsetting night, Hoke was most disappointed about leaving his 23 seniors with this dark memory about their final home game:
While going to a bowl game is still possible for SDSU, it would now require a monumental road upset against Utah next Saturday, followed by a season-ending win over UNLV on the road.
