COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : SAN DIEGO STATE : Alexander Likely to Return for Game Against Air Force

San Diego State center Mike Alexander, out since the 35-7 loss to UCLA with a sprained foot, thought he would be back for Saturday’s 49-27 victory against Texas El Paso.

Instead, he stood on the sidelines at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium--still injured--and played cheerleader for his fellow linemen, who had their hands full trying to block eight- and nine-man fronts.

Monday was a different story. Alexander, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound junior, was back snapping with the No. 1 offense, running and putting full pressure on his left foot. He was listed as questionable to play Saturday against Air Force. But Alexander thinks he’s finally ready.

“It feels good, a lot better than I expected,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve actually ran.

“I’m real anxious. I knew I would miss the New Mexico game. With that bye week after, I figured I’d be back by UTEP.”

Asked if he expects Alexander back for the Aztecs’ 4:30 p.m. nationally televised (ESPN) game against the Falcons, Coach Al Luginbill said, “Off of tonight’s practice, I would say yes.”

Alexander’s return would be welcomed, now that the Aztecs expect to see more teams stacking the line to stop running back Marshall Faulk. Luginbill had graded Alexander as his top performer on the interior front before his injury--which contributed to some poor execution against UCLA.

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The Aztecs, the only WAC team without a conference loss, control their own destiny in getting to the Holiday Bowl. However, Luginbill said SDSU’s 21-20 loss at Air Force last year is getting no special attention this week. The 52-52 tie with Brigham Young remains the focal point of what cost them the Holiday Bowl berth in 1991.

“It was one of the reasons,” said Luginbill, whose Aztecs are 3-0 in the WAC, their best start since 1986 but have 3-9 overall record against the Falcons. “In the end, there were two football games that loomed big. They’re a good football team. They’ll talk about your athleticism and their little guys, and they’ll lull you.”

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Darnay Scott, on the wings of his 274 yards receiving against UTEP, now ranks third in the nation in yards per game (120.4) and is seventh in catches per game (6.8). . . . The Aztecs rank ninth in Division I in turnover margain at plus-1.20 per game. . . . Kicker Andy Trakas (four for nine in field-goal attempts) needs two points to move into fourth on the WAC all-time scoring list. . . . Faulk, who moved into second place in SDSU career rushing Saturday (2,422), is one touchdown away from tying Paul Hewitt (1987-88) and Art Preston (‘49-51) for the school record of 34 career touchdowns and is two points shy of second place in SDSU career scoring, a spot also held by Hewitt and Peston with 204 each.