AZTEC NOTEBOOK : Defense Contributes but Still Gives Up 443 Yards

What was this? Big plays from the San Diego State defense?

Although the unit was far from perfect, the Aztec defensive line made several big plays during Saturday’s 31-31 tie with USC.

It was enough to give SDSU reason to think it will improve on its finish last year, when it was 103rd in the nation in total defense.

Outside linebacker Shawn Smith--who plays wide on the defensive line-- registered 1 1/2 sacks, defensive linemen Ty Morrison and Ramondo Stallings each had one and outside linebacker Jamal Duff added the other half of Smith’s.

“Oh, shoot, I’d give us a 10,” Duff said. “We got excellent push up the field. At times, it was too much. They got the screen on us a couple of times. We need to work on that.”

Duff helped set up SDSU’s first touchdown when he stripped USC quarterback Rob Johnson of the ball at the Trojan 21. Defensive back Robert Griffith recovered the ball.

Then the defense helped set up SDSU’s second touchdown. With the Aztecs trailing, 21-10, and USC at its own 20 in the third quarter, Smith sacked Johnson for an eight-yard loss.

After a punt, SDSU cut the score to 21-16.

And they even set up SDSU’s third touchdown when Smith recovered a Johnson fumble at the Trojan 32.

“I think the defense, we dominated,” Morrison said. “I feel, and everyone on the defense feels, like we were cheated. Luck was with them.”

Before the SDSU defense gets too giddy, though, try these numbers out:

- When the Aztecs finished 103rd nationally last season, they allowed an average of 453 yards per game. Saturday, USC got 443.

- Johnson completed four touchdown passes. Last season’s USC quarterback, Reggie Perry, completed only three for the entire year.

- Trojan receiver Johnnie Morton caught three touchdown passes, tying a school record.

The Aztecs scored 24 points in the third quarter. USC only allowed a total of 48 third-quarter points all of last season.

Neither team was--how shall we say it?-- shy .

“I thought we should have thrown the ball more,” USC’s Morton said. “I can beat man-to-man coverage every time. . . . They’re a typical WAC team, high-powered offense and no defense.

“Our offense didn’t score as many points as we should have. I thought we would score 50, but we only scored 31 and that was not good enough. I really consider this a loss.”

Said SDSU’s Darnay Scott: “A tie is a loss for us. . . . I don’t fear any opponent; I just have a job to do. I go out and do it.”

Sources said USC’s payout was in the low $400,000-range for the game, which was sponsored by the Greater San Diego Sports Assn. Fred Miller, SDSU athletic director, expected the Aztecs to net about $225,000.

The first words from Sue Luginbill--Al’s wife--to her husband afterward: “The one thing I never thought of was a tie.”

Luginbill was unhappy that, before Andy Trakas’ 30-yard field-goal attempt with 58 seconds left and the score tied at 31-31, USC called a timeout with a player injured and then the referees allowed a television timeout immediately afterward.

“That’s hardly fair,” Luginbill said. “But that’s no excuse for not making it.”

One of the cleanest tackles of the afternoon was made by . . . the USC band director.

During the halftime show, two men came out of the stands and tackled USC drum major Bijon Watson, who is 6 feet 6 and 330 pounds.

USC’s band director tackled one of the men before security hauled them away.