AZTEC NOTEBOOK / ALAN DROOZ : Faulk Quickly Sets Two NCAA Records

Aztec running back Marshall Faulk, who missed 2 1/2 games at midseason, made up for lost time Saturday against Brigham Young, setting two NCAA freshman records before the first half was over by scoring three touchdowns on rushes of four and two yards and an 80-yard reception. That gave him 22 touchdowns and 134 points for the season.

Both marks had belonged to Reggie Cobb of Tennessee, who had 20 touchdowns and 120 points in 1987.

Faulk added a fourth touchdown on a 15-yard reception in the third quarter. Faulk left the game midway in the fourth quarter with bruised ribs.

Faulk also put his name in the school record book several times. On the last play of the third quarter, Faulk pushed his evening’s rushing total above 100 yards, and broke the SDSU season record of 1,252 set by David Turner in 1977. And with his 80-yard reception, Faulk shared in a school record. The Aztecs had three pass plays of 70 yards or more in the first half, a San Diego State single-game record.

It didn’t take BYU quarterback Ty Detmer long to add to his list of NCAA records. Three plays into the game, he had completed two passes to give him 910 for his career, and in the second quarter he ran his 22nd play of the game to give him 1,723 in his career. Both broke marks set by San Diego State’s Todd Santos in 1987. By midway through the third quarter, Detmer had thrown his 37th pass to give him 1,485 attempts, breaking yet another Santos record.

In his career Detmer has set 58 NCAA marks and tied four more. He has broken 14 this season.

Aztec receiver Patrick Rowe sprained an ankle in the third quarter and left for X-rays, and SDSU cornerback Gary Taylor took a helmet in the back in the first half but returned on the Aztecs’ next possession.

BYU left San Diego beaten up. Junior receiver Nati Valdez broke a collarbone while making a touchdown reception early in the second quarter. Starting offensive tackle Tom Ladd suffered pulled abdominal muscles and didn’t return for the second half, and Detmer suffered a cut over his left eye and wore a bandage most of the game.

Aztec Coach Al Luginbill pulled out all the stops in trying to work on the emotion of the game. At 11 p.m. Friday he called athletic department officials to suggest that the team enter the field to the playing--loud--of Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” His theme for the game was “Rock the Cougars.” A long Aztec touchdown Saturday was greeted with the playing of Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild.”

Before the game Luginbill said he wanted to take advantage of the record crowd of 56,737. “It’s the first time we’ve really had a big home advantage,” he said.

With word of a sellout late in the week, the first person in line for tickets Friday was Aztec quarterback David Lowery. He got 13 tickets for friends and family. . . . Tickets, priced at a high of $18, were being scalped for $25 two hours before game time. . . . Media coverage was the highest of the year, though the late starting time may have discouraged some coverage. SDSU officials served about 200 meals in the press box but said there was more media on hand for last year’s Miami game, which began at 4 p.m. . . . When linebacker Andy Coviello went through the team walk-through practice in bare feet, a coach suggested he put on shoes. He replied, “The last time I went through a walk-through with shoes was UCLA. We don’t want another UCLA.”