Lowery Shrugged Off Separated Shoulder : Freedom Bowl: SDSU quarterback completed two of 14 passes in second half.

David Lowery, San Diego State’s quarterback and 1991 most valuable player, played his way through SDSU’s 28-17 loss to No. 23 Tulsa in the Freedom Bowl Monday night and then made his way through the postgame disappointment.

He said he just didn’t throw the ball where it should be.

He accepted blame for not moving the offense.

He took heat, regardless of whether it was directed at him.

What he didn’t tell anyone was that he separated his left--non-throwing--shoulder on a quarterback draw in the third quarter.

“The only people he told were (offensive coordinator) Dave Lay and (quarterbacks coach) Steve Fairchild,” said SDSU Coach Al Luginbill, who didn’t find out about the injury until late Monday night. “He said he could play.”

But while the spirit was willing, Lowery completed only two of his last 14 passes and SDSU’s passing offense netted minus -five yards in the second half.

The injury apparently occurred with about seven minutes to play in the third quarter and SDSU deep in its own territory. On second-and-eight from the Aztec four and the score tied, 14-14, Lowery scooted around left end for a five-yard gain. He was tackled by Tulsa linebacker Todd Hays, and SDSU was forced to punt.

Tulsa then scored to go ahead, 21-14, and Lowery was back at quarterback the next time the SDSU offense took the field. He attempted a pass on the first play, but it was batted down at the line of scrimmage.

Including the batted pass, Lowery misfired on all seven pass attempts through the end of the game.

“Obviously, that’s going to hinder your ability to throw when your left side is out of kilter,” Luginbill said. “But at the same time, we didn’t make the plays, and the plays were there to be made.”

Aztec players scattered for winter break after a team breakfast Tuesday morning and Lowery could not be reached for comment.

SDSU adjusted its game plan going in, figuring it would have to emphasize the running game against the 15th-ranked Tulsa defense that employs a two-deep zone designed to take away deep passing.

Sure enough, the Golden Hurricane took away SDSU’s long passing game. Lowery completed 19 of 37 passes for 164 yards--SDSU’s second-lowest passing game of the season, behind a 94-yard Cree Morris effort at Air Force--and no touchdowns. The longest Aztec pass play all night went 22 yards to senior Patrick Rowe.

Of Lowery’s 19 completions, nine were to running back Marshall Faulk. But those were flare passes toward the sideline for fewer than 10 yards each.

What bothered Luginbill more than anything were the mistakes:

T.C. Wright’s fumble in the fourth quarter . . . Wayne Pittman’s fumble into the end zone from the Tulsa one in the second . . . a botched onside kick attempt in the first . . . and, though less specific in nature, the inability of SDSU to make plays in the second half.

“We will really focus in the off-season on crunch-time,” Luginbill said. “That’s the only difference between our team and a Top 25 team. When you play Top 25-caliber teams--and we’re playing them--the difference is going to come, when things are equal, in the third and fourth quarters. That’s when one team is going to make errors.

“You look at us and Brigham Young (a 52-52 tie). They made no errors down the stretch. Against Miami (a 39-12 loss), we didn’t make plays. And (the Freedom Bowl) was like a boxing match, but, down the stretch, we didn’t make plays.

“That will be the focus of our whole off-season.”

Luginbill indicated he will not fret about the Freedom Bowl loss despite the fact that the Aztecs did not accomplish a major goal he set for them this season--to win a bowl game.

“Our goal a year ago was to get to a bowl game, and we didn’t get there,” Luginbill said. “We elevated that goal this year, to win a bowl, and we didn’t do it. Our goal next year is to be ranked in the Top 25 and win a bowl game.

“You look at where we were, where we are and where we want to be, and we’re a lot closer today than we were a year ago at this time.

“Now, the stakes go up--and rightfully so. We’re going into our fourth year (under Luginbill), and we should be better. We will be better.”

Aztec Notes

SDSU Coach Al Luginbill is going to install a two-deep zone coverage defense, similar to that of Miami and Tulsa. . . . Luginbill said that linebacker Tracey Mao will return next year, although Mao will not be on scholarship. Mao was suspended from the team this season after his part in a fight last winter. He is currently serving time in a work furlough program. . . . Redshirt freshman Jamal Duff, who played defensive end in the Freedom Bowl, will remain at that spot, Luginbill said. Duff previously had played linebacker. . . . Five players recruited last spring will enroll at SDSU in time for the second semester and spring football: running back Marlon Manassa, offensive lineman Adam Norberg, outside linebacker Darcel Glover, inside linebacker Tyson Bruder and defensive back Thad Culpepper. . . . Luginbill said he expects his entire coaching staff to return.