Win Over Wyoming Could Turn Aztecs

The San Diego State football team is approaching tonight’s game against Wyoming as a meeting of championship proportion--a showdown for first place between Western Athletic Conference unbeatens.

That it may be, but seldom do undefeated teams meet on such unequal ground. While Wyoming is truly unbeaten--5-0, 2-0 in the WAC and ranked No. 16 in the nation--the Aztecs are perfect only within the confines of the WAC.

In the conference, they are 1-0 with a 39-36 victory over the Air Force Academy four weeks ago. Outside, they are in another world: 0-3 and with a 124-29 scoring deficit in games against Pacific 10 Conference members UCLA, Stanford and Oregon.

But as SDSU Coach Denny Stolz has reminded everyone this week, what the Aztecs did against the Pac-10 matters little compared with what they do within the conference. A victory tonight (7:30) in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium would turn the Aztecs into instant conference contenders.

“It’s no fun to lose,” Stolz said. “It doesn’t do you any good in any respect. It would be nice to have a three- or four-game winning streak because no matter who you win against, winning is contagious. . . . But what makes this game special is it’s a conference game. And if Wyoming gets by us, it looks pretty good for them.”

The Cowboys already have beaten Brigham Young (24-14) and Air Force (48-45) to stretch their regular-season unbeaten streak to 14 games over two years. The 5-0 start is their best since the 1969 team opened 6-0. They are tied for first in the WAC with Hawaii (4-0, 2-0), which plays host to Texas El Paso (4-1, 1-1) later tonight. Wyoming has yet to lose in 10 conference games under second-year Coach Paul Roach, including a 52-10 rout of the Aztecs in Laramie last season.

“There is a carry-over from last year,” Roach said. “We have a pretty good nucleus of football players back with us.”

Wyoming’s offense is led by quarterback Randy Welniak, a fifth-year senior who sat out last season after shoulder surgery. For an Aztec defense ravaged by injuries, Welniak poses an even trickier problem than Air Force quarterback Dee Dowis did.

Welniak was recruited as a wishbone quarterback, and not only has he shown strong passing ability (93 of 170, 1,452 yards and 10 touchdowns) but he also is the team’s second-leading rusher (231 yards and 4 touchdowns on 49 carries).

“He’s an even better runner than Dowis,” said Ed Schmidt, SDSU’s defensive coordinator.

That is not an inviting prospect for a defense that is allowing 40 points per game and might open without three of its four regular linebackers.

At inside linebacker, Lee Brannon likely is out with a sprained knee; Tracey Mao has not practiced this week because of a sprained ankle but might suit up for the game. Outside linebacker Kevin Maultsby has not practiced either because of a bruised neck nerve but will start if he is able, Schmidt said. The Aztecs have lost end Todd Coomes for the season with a broken ankle.

Mitch Burton will make his second college start in place of Coomes. Milt Wilson could make his first start at outside linebacker in place of Maultsby. Milt Maples and Sai Niu could make their first starts at the inside positions.

The injuries will do nothing to help another Aztec problem--lack of a pass rush. The Aztecs have only three sacks, and all have come in the past two games. SDSU is sacking an opponent just once every 30 passing attempts.

That compares with a Wyoming defense that has recorded 23 sacks, one every 6.8 passing attempts. Three Wyoming players, led by tackle Pat Rabold with seven, have more sacks than the Aztecs have as a team.

This could be a problem for SDSU, which has sustained 18 sacks in four games (one for every nine passing attempts) compared with 40 sacks in 12 games last year. Junior quarterback Brad Platt, who threw one interception in his first two college starts, has thrown four in his past two games and lost two fumbles in a 34-13 loss to Oregon last Saturday. The Aztecs don’t have a touchdown pass yet (they threw nine in their first four games last season) and have scored only 68 points, their lowest first four-game total since they scored 43 to open a 4-8 season in 1980.

One other problem: The Aztecs have been outscored, 56-10, in the first quarter. Wyoming has outscored opponents, 42-10, in the first quarter and 65-13 in the second.

Despite the Cowboys’ impressive credentials, Stolz is hoping a return to the WAC will mean a change of fortunes for SDSU. A victory against Wyoming, followed by one next week on on homecoming night against Hawaii, and the Aztecs figure they could be headed to their second Holiday Bowl in three seasons.

“I like our position,” Stolz has said. “I like our position a lot.”

Aztec Notes

The game is starting a half hour later than usual to accommodate ESPN’s schedule. . . . KFMB (760) will leave its broadcast of the American League Championship Series to join the start of the football game, a station spokesman said Friday . . . San Diego State and Wyoming have alternated winning each year since 1981, with the Aztecs winning in even years and the Cowboys in odd years. . . . This is the third time in five games that SDSU has played a ranked opponent. The Aztecs have lost at No. 2 UCLA (59-6) and to No. 18 Oregon (34-13). Their last victory against a ranked team was 52-31 over No. 12 Iowa State in 1981. . . . Wyoming was scheduled to arrive in San Diego this morning on a charter flight from Cheyenne. The Cowboys were to check into a hotel after the 2-hour flight for a brief rest before pregame activities. “I checked with my medical people and some other sources, and they said it won’t be a problem,” Wyoming Coach Paul Roach said. “But like I told (the players). ‘If you lose the game and you want to use it as an excuse, that’s fine.’ But it shouldn’t be a problem for them.”