SDSU Offense Falls Short in 17-10 Loss as Stanford Rolls On
One San Diego State defensive back had his hands on a ball that was caught for a touchdown. Another misjudged the ball on a long pass play that led to another touchdown.
The offense did not make a first down in the second quarter. It twice failed to score after getting inside the opposition’s 30-yard line in the second half.
Coach Denny Stolz was livid over what he perceived as a bad spotting of the ball by officials.
Those were a few of the reasons San Diego State lost Saturday afternoon to undefeated Stanford, 17-10, in a game the Aztecs could easily have won.
“Our defense certainly played well enough to win,” Stolz said. “We didn’t get quite enough points. It wouldn’t have taken many more.”
Stolz said he even had a two-point conversion play planned if the Aztecs scored again. Stolz wouldn’t say what the play might have been.
In retrospect, SDSU could have prevented its second loss in five games and Stanford’s fourth straight victory by making a couple of key plays.
--On Stanford’s first touchdown, Thomas Henley pulled a pass for 19 yards out of the hands of cornerback Clarence Nunn.
“He got lucky,” Nunn said. “I had my hands on the ball, then I hit his shoulder pads.”
Said Henley: “He had the ball. I reached in and grabbed it.”
--Three plays before Stanford’s second touchdown, Henley made a reception over cornerback Mario Mitchell for 37 yards at SDSU’s 23.
“I kind of misjudged the ball and he was in front of me,” Mitchell said. “I didn’t want a pass interference. He came up with a helluva catch. If he’s back next year, that’s not going to happen again.”
Said Henley, a senior: “I had a step on him inside. John (Paye) threw the ball outside, so I had to adjust.”
All afternoon, the Aztec offense was adjusting to reserve quarterback Jim Plum. Todd Santos missed his first game since Pop Warner with a broken right wrist.
Plum led the offense to a first-quarter field goal, but the second quarter was a disaster.
SDSU was unable to record a first down in five second-quarter possessions, and Plum was 0 for 8 passing. The Aztecs netted 0 yards in 15 second-quarter plays.
“The offense just didn’t click then,” Plum said. “I’m to blame there. At times, I had pretty good protection. I made my reads, but I might’ve rushed myself a couple of times.”
After trailing at halftime, 10-3, the Aztecs marched to Stanford’s 27 on their first second-half possession. Plum was sacked for a seven-yard loss on third down, leaving SDSU with a fourth and 17 at the 34.
Stolz, rather than attempt a field goal or go for the first down, elected to punt. Wayne Ross punted a ball that went out of bounds barely inside the end zone for a touchback.
“We should’ve kicked the ball out of bounds instead of into the end zone,” Stolz said. “If you kick it in the end zone, it makes you look bad. If it goes out on the one, it makes you look good.”
SDSU’s defense looked bad when Stanford regained possession. Aided by Henley’s 37-yard reception, the Cardinal drove 80 yards in 6 plays, taking a 17-3 lead on Brad Muster’s three-yard run.
When SDSU regained possession, it drove 76 yards in 17 plays--and came away with nothing.
On fourth and two from Stanford’s six, Corey Gilmore dove over the left side of the line. The ball was placed just short of the first-down marker, giving Stanford possession.
Stolz, thinking Gilmore had a first down, said the officials’ spotting of the ball was “just terrible.”
“I think we got a bad spot,” Gilmore said. “I thought I landed at least right on the (first-down) stake. I felt their linemen push me back. I felt I had enough movement for a first down.”
Said Stanford Coach Jack Elway: “I didn’t think it was a bad spot. Our coaches upstairs didn’t, either. They were yelling, ‘First and 10.’ ”
The Aztecs finally scored a touchdown with 4:30 remaining on a one-yard run by Chris Hardy. Plum set up the touchdown with passes of 25 yards to Anthony Conyers and 26 to Kenny Moore.
With 1:49 remaining, SDSU had a final chance starting from its 21. On first down, Plum was sacked for a four-yard loss. On second down, he fumbled the snap away to Stanford’s Kurt Colehower.
“I was trying to get a play called at scrimmage,” Plum said. “Most likely, I pulled out too early.”
Stolz said that Plum, indeed, pulled out too early from center.
Plum, a fifth-year senior, played a complete game for the first time in his SDSU career. He completed 19 of 31 passes for 195 yards.
“I don’t usually judge by statistics,” Plum said. “We didn’t win. That’s all I care about. I didn’t care about how I did.”
The Aztec defense, which was awful the week before in a 38-34 victory at New Mexico, was much better against Stanford.
The Cardinal netted 306 yards in 61 plays, the Aztecs 234 yards in 70 plays. Last week, SDSU allowed a school-record 690 yards against New Mexico.
There were several key defensive plays by the Aztecs.
In the second quarter, linebacker Richard Brown recorded an interception after Stanford took possession at the SDSU 44. Later in the quarter, Brown threw Paye for a nine-yard loss on third and goal at the three. Stanford settled for a field goal.
In the third quarter, Stanford was stopped for no gain on fourth and one at the Aztec 34. Brett Faryniarz made the tackle on Muster.
“Our defense is tired of getting disrespect from everyone,” Brown said. “We have a great defense. Our goal was to play well and carry it on for the next few games.”
SDSU has a week off before playing at Texas El Paso in a Western Athletic Conference game.
Aztec Notes
Stanford’s Toi Cook, who led the nation in interceptions before Saturday, may miss the remainder of the season with a dislocated left wrist suffered on the first series against SDSU. Jeff James, the Cardinal leading receiver, did not play for the second straight game with a strained left heel. The Aztecs did not have any major injuries, Trainer Don Kaverman said. . . . Stanford is off to its best start in 34 years. . . . SDSU defensive end Mike Hooper said Stanford should have been penalized for holding on its first touchdown. “A guy pulled my jersey out completely,” Hooper said. “They didn’t get called for holding all day. I brought it to the referees’ attention, but he didn’t pick up on it.” . . . Aztec tight end Robert Awalt has been selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game Jan. 10 at Palo Alto. . . . When Brigham Young lost to Colorado State Friday night, it left SDSU and Wyoming as the only undefeated teams in WAC play. The Aztecs are 2-0 in conference and Wyoming is 1-0.