FOOTBALL: Turnovers doom Aztecs in 29-point blowout

B.J. Williams’ third-down sack should have been the catalyst.

The sophomore ran around BYU’s 6-foot-8-inch, 330-pound senior tackle David Oswald, and killed the Cougar’s game-opening drive.

With the San Diego State football team’s offense taking over near midfield following the Cougar punt, Williams’ momentum-changing play should have given SDSU enough energy to spark at least three points.

One play later, the Aztecs set the tone for the game – with a turnover.

“(The mistakes were) at key moments,” redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Lindley said to www.nctimes.com. “(They were at) opportune times when we felt like we could make a difference.”

Facing the 15th-ranked team in the nation, SDSU turned the ball over four times in Saturday’s 41-12 loss to BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. The Cougars (9-1, 5-1 in Mountain West Conference play) compiled 24 points off Aztec miscues and were able to finish their third straight season undefeated at home.

“We can’t turn the ball over,” head coach Chuck Long said to AM 600 KOGO. “We would have had a chance today if we didn’t turn it over. We’re not a good enough football team to overcome that at this point and today sort of magnifies that.”

Lindley committed two turnovers — an interception and a fumble — while senior wideout Darren Mougey and junior kick returner Mekell Wesley both had a fumble.

Despite the team’s mistakes, the 29-point loss might have been one of SDSU’s best performances of the season. The Aztecs, who came into the game dead-last in the nation in rush defense, gave up just 104 rushing yards on 37 carries. On offense, SDSU didn’t allow a sack and ran the ball 28 times for 120 yards.
“They played hard; I was proud of that,” Long said to AM 600 KOGO. “We had some growth on this football team. The score doesn’t indicate it, but there were some young guys out there that grew.”

With junior tight end Matthew Kawulok, junior safety Nick Sanford and senior guard Mike Schmidt out because of injury, an already banged up team had to fill in more holes. The loss of those three veterans brought the number of players who have competed in all 10 games this season down to 20 for the Aztecs.

“Guys have been shuffled in and out of there because of the injuries,” Long said to AM 600 KOGO. “I was really proud of the way they played today.”

The defensive line, which has been hit the hardest by injuries, held its own against a BYU offensive line averaging 326 pounds. SDSU (1-9, 0-6) held the Cougars to 2.8 yards per carry, tallied eight tackles for a loss and compiled a season-high three sacks.

“I was really happy with our defensive line with the way they grew today,” Long said to AM 600 KOGO.  “Up front, they were outweighed by 30 or 40 pounds and they did a really nice job.”

Still, the Aztecs gave up 317 passing yards and three touchdowns to BYU’s Heisman Trophy hopeful Max Hall. The junior quarterback completed 83 percent of his passes and carved up an SDSU secondary all afternoon.

With No. 8 Utah coming to San Diego next week, Long knows his team must weather this storm to be successful in the future.

“You have to get through these times to get better,” Long said to www.nctimes.com. “You just have to.”

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