This Season, SDSU Finds It Can Win Close Games

Last season, SDSU played two games decided by fewer than seven points. The Aztecs lost to Utah on a last-second field goal, 39-37, and missed a last-second field goal in a 10-10 tie against Hawaii.

This season, the Aztecs have played six games decided by seven points or less, winning five.

Why has SDSU, once an Western Athletic Conference also-ran, become a contender for the championship? Consider the close games. The Aztecs’ four conference victories have been by 7, 4, 5 and 1 points.

“It’s really weird,” quarterback Todd Santos said. “Before, nothing went right. Things had to change. Something had to go right.”

It may be weird, but there are reasons:

- A “win-now” attitude.

- Confidence built from early success.

- Big plays from wide receivers.

- Clutch defense.

The “win-now” attitude was produced by Denny Stolz, who replaced Doug Scovil as coach.

Scovil always talked of a five-year plan. In retrospect, some players say it was difficult to get motivated when the future seemed more important than the present.

Stolz arrived preaching a new attitude. So far, it seems to have rubbed off.

“When you’re young, you hear about coaches like Bear Bryant or Joe Paterno,” wide receiver Anthony Conyers said. “Like them, Coach Stolz is a real motivator who makes you believe in yourself. I think the coaching staff has a lot to do with what’s happening. Now, we have confidence and poise to play through the tough games. Last year, we didn’t think we would win a lot of the close games. You don’t see quit in anyone’s eyes anymore.”

In the season opener against Cal State Long Beach, the Aztecs trailed early, 14-0. They won, 27-24, on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Santos to Alfred Jackson with 10 minutes remaining.

That game set the tone for the season. SDSU’s five victories have been by a combined 20 points. Its three losses have been by 50 points.

“Some teams learn to win, and some don’t ever learn to win,” Stolz said. “These kids have had great success late in games. Once you do something two or three times, you have confidence you can do it.”

The Aztecs failed once in a close game, losing at Stanford, 17-10. They had trailed going into the fourth quarter, 17-3.

What makes SDSU win most of its close games?

Three big-play wide receivers may be the answer:

--Jackson has had game-winning touchdown receptions against Long Beach and Colorado State. His five-yard touchdown catch with two seconds remaining defeated Colorado State, 27-26.

“I’d consider myself a big-play person,” Jackson said. “I like to be in that situation.”

--Conyers caught 4 passes for 86 yards on the game-winning drive against Colorado State. The Aztecs drove 86 yards in a minute without a timeout and were penalized once on the drive for illegal procedure.

“I like to think of myself as one who can make things happen, given the opportunity,” Conyers said. “I don’t feel I did anything spectacular against Colorado State. We kept calling the same play and I got open. If I had made a diving catch between three defenders, then I would’ve felt like I did something.”

--Kenny Moore caught a 41-yard pass in the final two minutes that set up the winning touchdown in a 37-30 victory over Utah.

“Any receiver would want the ball in that situation,” Moore said. “Everybody has big-play potential.”

The defense has also made its share of big plays.

In a 38-34 victory over New Mexico, SDSU’s defense recorded two key turnovers late in the fourth quarter. In the Colorado State game, the defense did not allow a first down after an Aztec turnover at their 19-yard line with 1:42 remaining.

“The defense deserves as much credit for winning close games as the offense,” Stolz said. “The offense gets the credit for driving and scoring. At Colorado State, the fans see Todd (Santos) throwing to Anthony (Conyers) and J.J. (Jackson) for the touchdown. The defense did a great job the series before by not allowing a first down.”

SDSU has won the close ones, but it also hasn’t been able to kick a team when it’s down. SDSU had led Utah, 29-17; New Mexico, 10-0; and Colorado State, 20-6.

“We could have won a lot of games by a larger margin,” offensive guard Doug Aronson said. “But winning the close ones is nice, too.”

Aztec Notes Nearly two weeks later, SDSU players are still talking about their last-minute, 86-yard touchdown drive that gave the Aztecs a 27-26 victory over Colorado State. “We looked at it as a championship game,” said Anthony Conyers, who caught 4 passes for 86 yards on the winning drive. “If Colorado State had won, it was pretty obvious they would have had clear sailing to the Holiday Bowl with their schedule. They didn’t think we would play very well because it snowed. They came out in their short sleeves without gloves and asked us, ‘How do you like this beach weather?’ I don’t think they realized the importance of the game until it was well under way.” . . . Quarterback Todd Santos said that his broken right wrist hasn’t completely healed. “I tried to throw without any tape on (the wrist) this weekend,” Santos said. “It got a little sore.” . . . Defensive tackle Craig Skaggs has been moved to offensive tackle for the remainder of the season, Coach Denny Stolz said. The Aztecs needed depth on the offensive line because starting tackle Mike Ariey suffered a season-ending knee injury against Colorado State. Center Kevin Wells (knee), guard Mark Tegio (knee) and offensive tackle Greg Williamson (ankle) are all expected to play against Wyoming.