Aztecs Hang On for Win : Defense Makes Big Plays as SDSU Beats New Mexico, 38-34

San Diego State’s least effective unit was also its most effective at times Saturday night.

The beleaguered Aztec defense, which has allowed 79 points in two weeks, also made a few points of its own.

One was a fourth-quarter fumble recovery that led to the go-ahead touchdown. Another was a fumble recovery in the end zone that gave the Aztecs a 10-point lead with 7:09 remaining.

New Mexico scored another touchdown, but the Aztecs held on to win, 38-34, in a Western Athletic Conference game.

SDSU and New Mexico combined for 1,215 yards total offense. The Aztecs had 525 yards, New Mexico 690.

Lobo quarterback Billy Rucker set school records for pass attempts (55), completions (33) and passing yardage (490).

However, New Mexico’s 20,579 fans will remember the two turnovers the Lobos suffered after leading, 28-24.

--Early in the fourth quarter, SDSU’s Steve Lauter recovered a fumble at the Lobo 44. Four plays later, a 29-yard pass from Todd Santos to Anthony Conyers gave the Aztecs a 31-28 lead.

--On New Mexico’s next possession, blitzing middle linebacker Kris Jensen hit Rucker in the end zone. Rucker fumbled, and Milt Wilson recovered for an Aztec touchdown.

“I’ll tell you what,” SDSU Coach Denny Stolz said. “We better get those turnovers. Without them, it’s a long fourth quarter.”

The Aztecs are 2-0 in the WAC and 3-1 overall. New Mexico is 0-2 and 0-4.

For the third straight season, Santos had a field day against the Lobos. He completed 25 of 49 attempts for 358 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception.

“They gamble a lot and blitz a lot,” Santos said. “Either you come up with a big play, or they come up with a big play.”

The Aztecs had dedicated the game to Ron Santos, Todd’s brother. Ron suffered a broken arm, broken leg and a severe concussion in a hit-and-run accident last week.

Todd Santos had two favorite receivers Saturday. Robert Awalt had 9 receptions for 99 yards. Kenny Moore had 7 catches for 108 yards.

“They rushed a lot of men, so they played man-to-man coverage,” Awalt said. “As long as our offensive line picks up the blitzes, we have all day to get open. I don’t think any defensive backs can stick with us one-on-one for that long.”

The Aztec defense had difficulty staying with Lobo receivers, but when the game was on the line, SDSU’s defense made critical plays.

Lauter’s fumble recovery resulted when Tony Jones dropped the ball without being hit. Jensen’s key play on Rucker derived from advice from defensive coordinator Tim McConnell.

“Coach McConnell realized they were hurting us with the sprint out,” Jensen said. “He told me if he called a plug, I was supposed to go for the hole when they rolled out. Our middle linebackers hadn’t blitzed all night. Their line opened up like the Red Sea.”

New Mexico had lost 19 of its last 22 games. And on the Lobos’ first drive, they showed why winning has been so difficult for them.

After moving 68 yards to the Aztec 1, New Mexico lost 2 yards on its next 4 plays. On fourth down from the two, Duane Pettitt led an SDSU defensive line that stopped Kevin Burgess for a one-yard loss.

The next time New Mexico had the ball, it drove to the SDSU 22 before the Aztec secondary recorded its first turnover of 1986. Mario Mitchell tipped a pass in the end zone that was intercepted by teammate Lyndon Earley.

Starting from its 20, SDSU drove 55 yards. After the drive stalled, Ken Rahill kicked a 42-yard field goal with 59 seconds left in the quarter.

New Mexico fumbled its next play from scrimmage, losing the ball to Jensen at the Lobo 14. Chris Hardy, who rushed for a team-leading 109 yards, scored three plays later from one yard out.

New Mexico drove 80 yards for its first touchdown, scoring on a 20-yard pass from Rucker to Glenn Rogers with 3:57 left in the half.

The Lobos covered 76 yards in 5 plays in their next drive. Rogers scored on an 11-yard run with 1:53 remaining before halftime.

Moore, who caught six first-half passes, made a significant catch earlier in the fourth quarter.

Moore made an over-the-shoulder catch for 34 yards to the Lobo 27, then a 14-yard penalty was added for a late hit. Hardy scored three plays later on a 4-yard run.

But the Lobos rebounded to cover 80 yards in 5 plays on their next drive. A wide-open Terance Mathis caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Rucker, giving New Mexico a 21-17 lead.

Later in the quarter, Lobo Ron Keller had a punt down at the Aztec 1. Santos’ next pass was dropped by defender Mike Kirkindoll, who would have scored a touchdown.

The Aztecs took advantage, driving 99 yards in 13 plays. Alfred Jackson caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Santos, giving the Aztecs a 24-21 lead with 14:27 left.

Again, SDSU’s defense could not hold a lead as New Mexico marched 77 yards in 6 plays.

Aztec punter Wayne Ross later matched Keller, having a punt downed at the 1. The Lobos gained 33 yards their next plays, but Jones then fumbled away to Lauter.

From there, the Aztecs scored two touchdowns before New Mexico scored with 1:34 remaining. The Lobos attempted an onside kick, which was recovered by SDSU’s Corey Gilmore.

“If you watch our practices, you’ll see we work on that every single practice,” Stolz said. “That was the whole ballgame.”