No Flashback: Aztecs Lose, 22-10

San Diego State had ample opportunity to beat the Air Force Academy Saturday night, but didn’t. The Aztecs were defeated, 22-10, in front of 27,336 fans at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

It was a homecoming game quite familiar to recent graduates, and a disappointment to those who hoped for a flashback to the 1960s and 70s.

Entering the game in first place in the Western Athletic Conference, SDSU came out of it in a three-way tie for second with Brigham Young and Colorado State at 3-1.

Instead, Air Force took possession of first-place with a 5-1 record.

If SDSU wanted to blame somebody for Saturday’s loss, all its players had to do was look in the mirror.

This was a team that failed to score five times after it reached the Air Force 40.

The Aztecs missed a field goal after reaching the 7, punted after reaching the 36, threw an interception after reaching the 22, fumbled after reaching the 15 and punted after reaching the 40.

Other than that, they were opportunistic.

“That happens in football,” Coach Denny Stolz said. “There’s nothing wrong with that. People do eove from the 20 to 20 a lot more than they score. That goes for pros, colleges, high schools, anybody. We missed some opportunities.”

SDSU’s defense had its moments against the Air Force wishbone, causing four lost fumbles. Two led to the Aztecs’ points.

However, the defense also was penalized twice in the second quarter for late hits that led to an Air Force touchdown and field goal.

Falcon quarterback James Tomallo passed three times all night, completing one for 24 yards. Air Force rushed 69 times for 314 yards.

“We wanted to keep the ball out of San Diego State’s hands,” Tomallo said. “They probably had more yards than us. But the story of the game was when our defense held them scoreless in the second half.”

Air Force actually outgained SDSU, 338 yards to 286.

Aztec quarterback Todd Santos completed 28 of 44 passes for 272 yards and 1 touchdown with 1 interception. However, he was sacked 7 times for 62 yards.

Chris Hardy rushed 70 yards for the Aztecs, moving into third-place on SDSU’s all-time list with 1,952 yards. Santos also threw the 39th touchdown pass of his career, tying for third on the all-time list.

But this was a night when the biggest cheer erupted after the scoreboard flashed that the Mets had won Game 6 of the World Series.

The Aztecs proved they could move the ball from the outset, but it took a while before they scored.

Santos completed 7 of 9 passes for 58 yards on SDSU’s first drive, moving the Aztecs 72 yards to Air Force’s 7. But Santos was sacked for a 4-yard loss on third and goal, then Kevin Rahill’s 27-yard field-goal attempt was wide right.

On SDSU’s next drive, Kenny Moore was 10 yards behind the defense on third down from Air Force’s 36. Santos overthrew Moore, forcing the Aztecs to punt.

“We had the kid wide open,” Stolz said. “We missed him by a yard.”

Air Force had marched 80 yards in 12 plays for a touchdown on its first drive. Pat Evans scored on a one-yard run with 5:09 left in the first quarter.

Successive turnovers created by SDSU’s defense led to a 10-7 Aztec lead in the second quarter.

Mario Mitchell recovered a fumble by Albert Booker at the Air Force 47 that was caused by Randy Kirk.

Rahill kicked a 27-yard field goal 3:04 into the second quarter after SDSU stalled at the 9.

On Air Force’s next possession, Duane Pettitt recovered a fumble by Falcon Marc Munafo that was caused by Steve Lauter.

Four plays later, Moore caught an eight-yard touchdown pass by Santos with 9:39 left in the half.

SDSU was subsequently called for late hits on Air Force’s next two drives, leading to 10 points and a 17-10 Falcon halftime lead.

Lauter was whistled for a late hit on Tomallo after the quarterback slipped on Air Force’s 47, averting would have been third and nine for the Falcons.

Air Force eventually drove to third and one at SDSU’s three, only to have cornerback Clarence Nunn tackle Munafo for a one-yard loss. Chris Blasy kicked a 21-yard field goal with 5:19 left in the half, tying the score, 10-10.

Mike Wilder was penalized for a late hit on Tomallo during Air Force’s next drive, giving the Falcons a first down at the SDSU 24. Three plays later, Tomallo scored on a six-yard run.

The Aztecs gained good field possession for their first drive of the second half when Monty Gilbreath returned a punt 38 yards to the Air Force 27.

But two plays later, Santos overthrew Robert Awalt and Trent Pickering intercepted and returned the ball 41 yards down the right sideline.

When the drive stalled at the 20, Blasy kicked a 36-yard field goal that gave Air Force a 20-10 lead.

The Aztecs had a key play later in the quarter when Santos threw a 34-yard swing pass to Hardy on third and 31 at the Air Force 49, but Santos fumbled the ball away to John Steed on a sack at Air Force’s 23.

The Aztec defense provided its third turnover when Nunn recovered a Robert Krause fumble at SDSU’s 42.

On fourth and inches at the Falcon 49, SDSU gambled and won when Hardy rushed for seven yards. However, the drive died three plays later.

SDSU received yet another break when Lauter recovered an Air Force fumble at the Aztec 20 with seven minutes remaining.

This time, SDSU’s offense retreated quickly.