Aztecs, Hardy Run Away From Colorado State, 48-23

When San Diego State was in its glory years of the 1960s and 1970s, its trademark was the big passing play.

The Aztecs again used the big play to key a 48-23 win over Colorado State in their Western Athletic Conference opener Saturday night, but it was not a pass.

Instead, Chris Hardy’s 92-yard run late in the first quarter got the Aztecs off and running in front of 14,755 fans at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. The run gave SDSU a 14-10 lead that it never lost.

On the play, which tied the second-longest run in school history, Hardy broke loose of two tacklers near the line of scrimmage. At the Colorado State 40, he eluded an attempted diving tackle by Hardy Griffin.

“Once I’m in the open, no one will catch me,” Hardy said. “If they do, I’ll give them this football.”

Hardy was holding the game ball, presented to him by his teammates. He said he would give the ball to the son of ex-Aztec linebacker Herb Brohn, who was killed in an automobile accident five days ago.

Before the run by Hardy, Colorado State had scored a touchdown and field goal on its first two possessions. The Rams did not score on their next two possessions, but SDSU did on theirs, taking a 28-10 lead midway through the second quarter.

And for the rest of the evening, Hardy kept on running. The junior from San Diego’s Clairemont High rushed 20 times for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns, finishing with the fourth best single-game rushing total in SDSU history.

“I went in with a lot of confidence,” Hardy said. “They weren’t very good tacklers. LSU ran all over them because they couldn’t tackle.”

Colorado State, which had lost the week before to eighth-ranked Louisiana State, 17-3, certainly had problems stopping Hardy. The Rams had further problems with Todd Santos, who completed 19 of 27 passes for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was intercepted twice.

It was also a memorable night for Aztec placekicker Chris O’Brien, who set a WAC record by making his 12th and 13th consecutive field goal attempts.

At the outset, Colorado State’s offense gave the impression that it was hoping for a blowout of the Aztecs. The Rams methodically drove 77 yards in 12 plays on the game’s first possession, scoring on a six-yard pass from Kelly Stouffer to Steve Schultz.

When the Aztecs took over, their offense didn’t look like it had a clue. Before the first play, Santos had to call timeout to organize his team. Brett Blanchard dropped Santos’ pass on the first play, and the quarterback had his next pass deflected.

Then, SDSU turned things around. On third-and-10 at the 20, Santos connected with Casey Brown for 28 yards. Santos continued the drive by throwing 12-yard passes to Webster Slaughter and Vince Warren. Later, on first-and-goal at the 5, Corey Gilmore carried up the middle for a game-tying touchdown.

Colorado State drove to the Aztec 12 with ease on its next possession. However, on first down, Brett Faryniarz sacked Stouffer for a seven-yard loss. The Rams netted one yard in two plays before Steve DeLine kicked a 35-yard field goal, giving Colorado State its last lead, 10-7.

Things didn’t go so well immediately after the Aztecs took over. Santos was sacked for a 12-yard loss on the first play, but it only served to set up Hardy’s 92-yard run.

On the ensuing kickoff, Randy Kirk tackled Sanjay Beach at the 18, and Colorado State was called for a clipping penalty. The Rams were unable to record a first down.

After a short punt, SDSU took possession at midfield. On the first play Slaughter ran 15 yards on a reverse. He later caught an 11-yard pass that took the ball to the 10. On the second quarter’s first play, Santos threw a five-yard touchdown to Robert Awalt that gave SDSU a 21-10 lead.

When the Aztecs next took possession the next time, they didn’t do themselves any favors. A personal foul after Colorado State’s punt gave SDSU a first-and-25 at its 41.

Santos passed 20 yards to Moore on first down, and Hardy rushed four yards on second down. However, a facemask penalty against SDSU on Hardy’s run gave the Aztecs third-and-16 at the 50.

Again, it was time for the a play. Santos found Warren for a 50-yard scoring pass down the left sideline, beating freshman cornerback Ron Cortell from National City’s Sweetwater High.

Finally, on the Aztecs’ fifth possession, they were stopped by Colorado State. The Ram defense succeeded when Griffin intercepted a Santos pass in the end zone with 7:24 left in the half.

For the next 6:59, Colorado State controlled the ball until Beach scored on a 10-yard pass from Stouffer. DeLine’s extra point cut the halftime margin to 28-17.

SDSU began the second half the way Colorado State ended the first half--with a time-consuming touchdown drive. The Aztecs marched 84 yards in 16 plays, scoring on a one-yard run by Brown 6:59 into the quarter.

With a fourth-and-one at Colorado State’s four, the Aztecs had successfully gambled. Gilmore ran three yards to the one to set up Brown’s score.

Freshman Alfred Jackson recorded his second blocked punt in three games midway through the quarter, giving SDSU possession at Colorado State’s 10. The Aztecs gained only five yards before O’Brien came on to set the WAC record with a 22-yard field goal, providing the Aztecs a 38-17 lead.

Colorado State drove to a fourth-and-one at the Aztec 12 on its next possession. However, Schultz dropped Stouffer’s pass on fourth down.

Early in the fourth quarter, Marvin Gross intercepted a Santos pass at the Ram 47. Colorado State drove 53 yards, scoring on a six-yard pass from Stouffer to Steve Bartalo on fourth down.

With his team trailing, 38-23, Coach Leon Fuller decided to go for the two-point conversion. The attempt failed when Stouffer’s pass fell incomplete.

After a clipping penalty on the ensuing kickoff, the Aztecs were faced with field position at their 3. Helped by a 23-yard pass from Santos to Kenny Moore and a 29-yard run by Hardy, the Aztecs drove to the Colorado State 3.

Hardy scored an apparent touchdown from there, only to have it called back by a clipping penalty. After a holding penalty on third down, SDSU was moved back to the 21.

On came O’Brien for a 37-yard field goal, his 13th straight success. Thirty seconds later, Hardy rushed for a 36-yard touchdown with 30 seconds remaining.

The Aztecs improved their overall record to 2-1, while Colorado State fell to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the WAC.

All was not well for SDSU, however, as linebacker Jack Eaton will undergo surgery today for a dislocated right thumb. He is expected to be sidelined at least two weeks.