COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT : WEEKDAY UPDATE : SAN DIEGO STATE : Rowe In, Arey Out of Top Receiving Spot

It was only last week when Patrick Rowe set his sights on fellow receiver Dennis Arey. Arey was ranked No. 1 in the nation in yards receiving per game, and Rowe wouldn’t let Arey forget it. Arey took some ribbing from teammates, particularly Rowe.

So what happens? Rowe goes out Saturday against UCLA and catches 11 passes for 224 yards and, presto, takes Arey’s spot as No. 1 in the nation. Rowe is averaging 120.5 yards receiving a game. Arey, at 106.67, is fourth.

Now, Rowe is the target of jokes. He isn’t paying too much attention, though. It seems he and Arey came to an understanding last week.

“We agreed when he was No. 1 that we wanted to end the season one-two,” Rowe said Tuesday.

Seriously?

“It could be very realistic,” Rowe said. “We said it jokingly, but if you come out to see us on Saturday night. . . .”

The Aztecs’ next game isn’t until Nov. 3, at home against Utah.

Although SDSU’s next game isn’t until Nov. 3, Coach Al Luginbill said there will be very few personnel changes in the Aztec defense, which is ranked 106th--last--in the country. He did say that sophomore Zac Stokes will likely make his first start at free safety. Freshman Marcus Preciado, who made the team as a walk-on in August, started Saturday against UCLA in place of junior Johnny Walker, who missed Saturday’s UCLA game with a mid-foot sprain. Walker said he has bone chips in his right ankle and a stress fracture in his small toe on that foot. He did not practice again Tuesday, but said he thinks he will be ready by SDSU’s Nov. 3 game. . . . Since the Aztecs have two consecutive Saturdays off, Luginbill has adjusted the practice schedule to allow the players some time to rest and study. The team will not practice today or Friday this week.