After a disappointing end to conference play for San Diego State football, the Aztecs returned home for the season finale against former Mountain West foe, Brigham Young Cougars. The Aztecs ended the first half with a touchdown, and they never gave up the lead as the defense was able to knock down Brigham Young’s offense.
The Cougars got on the board first at 11:21 in the first quarter with a 24-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Skyler Southam. Saturday was just the third game Southam has appeared in, and the 24-yarder was his first field goal attempt of the season.
The Aztecs had their chances following Brigham Young’s score, however, on 4th & 1 at the Cougars 10, freshman quarterback Carson Baker and the San Diego State offense went for it, but were stopped by the BYU defense for a turnover on downs.
After many drives, the Aztecs had the ball at 2:23 left in the half in a 3-0 game. The drive began with an eight-yard completion from Baker to sophomore running backKaegun Williams, and ended with a 25-yard reception to sophomore tight end Daniel Bellinger for the first career touchdown pass for the 19-year-old Baker.
With an 8-0 record with the lead at half, the Aztecs were going into halftime with great momentum, scoring the game’s first touchdown within the final 15 seconds.
The Aztecs reached the board first in the second half after freshman kicker Matt Araiza kicked a 44-yard field goal to put San Diego State up by seven.
Araiza added three more points with 5:40 left in the final quarter after a 27-yard field goal for his second of the half.
On the Cougars’ 4th & 10 with under five minutes to go, Aztecs’ junior safety Tariq Thompson made the team’s third interception to get the ball back, which practically ended the game.
The Aztecs ran the ball in their final possessions as they came out victorious by a score of 13-3.
Game notes:
With his first career appearance in college football, Carson Baker became the first Aztec since the San Diego State 2008 season opener to start a game without throwing a pass in a previous game.
Baker completed 19 of 24 passes for 172 yards. He threw one touchdown without an interception.
In the first quarter, Dwayne Johnson Jr. made his first career interception for one of two interceptions by the Aztecs.
In addition to his fourth quarter interception, Tariq Thompson recovered a fumble for three Brigham Young turnovers.
What’s next:
With the Aztecs season over at a 9-3 record in the Mountain West Conference, San Diego State is bowl eligible for the program-record tenth consecutive year.
The SDSU Aztecs will make their bowl game announcement on Sunday, Dec. 8th.