McGwire’s Career Day Carries SDSU : College football: Senior passes for 530 yards in 40-34 victory over New Mexico. Aztecs draw interest of the Independence Bowl.

San Diego State quarterback Dan McGwire had more than a career performance Saturday afternoon.

He might have helped the Aztecs take a step toward their first bowl berth since they appeared in the 1986 Holiday Bowl.

McGwire passed for a career-high 530 yards, six short of the school record set in 1987 by Todd Santos against Stanford. He completed a career-high 33 passes, which ties for fifth in SDSU history, and he threw two touchdown passes to Jimmy Raye.

And by sparking SDSU’s 40-34 victory over New Mexico in front of 7,868 at University Stadium, McGwire rekindled hopes that the Aztecs (5-4, 4-2 in the Western Athletic Conference) could land a bowl bid.

SDSU Athletic Director Fred Miller said the Aztecs are still one of the teams under consideration for a berth in the Dec. 15 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.

The Shreveport Times, quoting Independence Bowl officials, reported that SDSU is among four teams being studied as an opponent for a Southwest Conference team, probably Baylor (6-3-1). The other three are Temple (6-4), North Carolina (6-4-1) and Louisiana Tech (8-3).

Bowl representatives could not be reached for comment.

The presence of a marquee quarterback such as McGwire might be attractive to any postseason game. Against New Mexico (2-10, 1-6), though, McGwire and his teammates had to work furiously to save the regular season.

Not until 1:37 remained, when McGwire passed 21 yards to Patrick Rowe for a first down, was SDSU’s third consecutive victory a certainty.

Afterward, as McGwire walked toward the locker room, helmet in hand, he flashed a sheepish grin at Coach Al Luginbill. Luginbill grabbed McGwire’s hand and said, “That’s all right.”

They laughed, and their eyes gleamed. Aztec hearts were pounding during a game they figured to win easily. They weren’t complaining. When you get your first road victory of the season, you’re not too picky.

Indeed, the Aztecs’ statistics belied their slightly beleaguered demeanor. The Aztecs rushed for 158 yards and finished with 688 total yards, third-highest in school history. And it was believed to be the first game in school history in which three receivers had more than 100 yards.

“It didn’t seem like it; we were so inconsistent,” said McGwire, who had two interceptions. “We were inconsistent throughout the whole game. We had an off day. To overcome that and post a victory like this . . . “

Rowe caught six passes for 131 yards and tied a school record with seven consecutive games of 100 or more receiving yards. The NCAA record is eight, set in 1965 by Tulsa’s Howard Twilley and tied by Fresno State’s Henry Ellard in 1982.

Rowe now has 1,129 yards this season, which ranks seventh on SDSU’s all-time single-season list.

Rowe also became the 10th receiver in SDSU history to surpass the 1,000-yard mark in a season with his first catch of the game, a 34-yard reception on the last play of the first quarter. Entering the game, Rowe had 998 yards.

Dennis Arey caught eight passes for 150 yards, and Raye had eight for 110 and two touchdowns.

Even so, it felt like a weird day to the Aztecs. They went to the wire to beat a last-place team, yet they were pleased to win a game on the road. They had another astronomical day offensively and yet they felt they were inconsistent.

“We had 500 yards throwing?” Luginbill repeated when told about it after the game. “That’s great for Danny and great for this football team. We were just sloppy. That may sound terrible . . . “

The Lobos were playing their final game of the year, and a large group of seniors--23--made it an emotional afternoon for them. The sparse crowd, though, made for what Luginbill thought was a scrimmage-type of atmosphere. And the Aztecs’ inconsistency troubled him.

“We didn’t play with a lot of enthusiasm today,” Luginbill said. “New Mexico did. They might have played their best game of the year.”

But the Aztecs won, and if they defeat Texas El Paso next week, they will clinch a winning record for the second year in a row, something they haven’t done since the 1981-82 seasons.

In addition to the 688 yards of total offense and 33 pass completions, the Aztecs had 34 first downs. All of those numbers are season highs allowed by New Mexico.

And still, by the end, the Aztecs were sweating.

They took a 10-7 lead and were threatening to add to it three minutes into the second quarter when McGwire passed 42 yards to Arey at the New Mexico 21. But on the next play, the drive stalled when Eric Jack intercepted a pass.

But the Aztecs scored touchdowns on each of their next three possessions and led at the half, 31-21. By then, McGwire had 331 yards and the Aztecs had 407.

And believe it or not, McGwire wasn’t his usual self in the first half. He was off just a little. He made several first-rate throws, particularly a 19-yard touchdown pass to Raye in the last minute of the first half. He hit Raye, who was cutting across the back of the end zone, in full stride.

But SDSU started slowly in the second half. The Aztecs’ third-quarter possessions resulted in a punt, a fumble and a field goal. The fumble hurt. McGwire completed a pass to Arey at the New Mexico 36, but Arey fumbled and the Lobos recovered.

The Lobos pulled to 31-28 when Marcus Goodloe passed 43 yards to Eric Morgan for a touchdown to cap a four-play, 67-yard drive.

Then the Aztecs steadied themselves and scored on a 23-yard field goal by Andy Trakas with 14:50 left in the fourth quarter. About 3 1/2 minutes later, Tommy Booker capped a 67-yard, nine-play drive with a five-yard touchdown run to put SDSU ahead, 40-28.