 "Photo: Derrick Tuskan, Photo Editor")
COLUMBUS, Ohio - With only seven penalties in the team's previous two games, San Diego State's nine penalties for 66 yards against Ohio State lingered in the mind of some after the 26-loss.
Head coach Tom Craft said he felt like the penalties were out of the ordinary and affected the momentum his team was trying to build early in the game.
"We seemed to get some odd penalties in a consistent manner," Craft said, referring to calls made during the two offensive series following SDSU's only score of the contest. "I felt like we were moving the ball early, and we'd always get a penalty.
"All of a sudden, now we're getting a number of holding penalties. Then, all of a sudden they stopped."
Sophomore quarterback Kevin O'Connell said an illegal procedure penalty on a 22nd and 8 from the Aztecs' 12-yard line in the first quarter was questionable. He asked a referee for clarification, he said, but the referee didn't specify which wide receiver wasn't on the line of scrimmage.
INTERCEPTION -- FINALLY
Junior cornerback Donny Baker's interception in the third quarter was the first interception for SDSU this season and Baker's third of career.
The Aztecs recorded 14 picks last year, and Baker's play was much appreciated by a defensive backfield that has been accountable for some big plays this season.
CLOSE CATCH
Senior wide receiver Jeff Webb moved into sixth place on the career reception list after his four- catch, 18-yard performance.
He needs 39 yards to become the 11th player in school history to record 2,000 career-receiving yards.
Webb has at least one catch in each of his last 24 games.
QUITE FRANKLY
It's not a mystery: An offense has a greater chance to score if it has better field position. However, SDSU hasn't been able to increase those odds too much this season.
Senior punt / kick returner Michael Franklin returned two punts for four yards, and although the Buckeyes' coverage was tight for most of the game, the results follow a trend.
Franklin has 12 combined punt and kickoff returns for 118 yards, and against Ohio State, he struggled to shake off tacklers so he could break something.
NOTES
O'Connell's 80-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Brett Swain was the Aztecs' first completion of more than 80 yards since 2002. SDSU has scored first in the last three games against the Buckeyes.
QUOTABLE
"I was going through a checklist: Number one was don't fumble. Then, make sure you don't celebrate until you get into the end zone."
--Swain on what he was thinking during his opening-game 80-yard touchdown catch.
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