Heading into last weekend’s game at BYU everything was in place for a momentum building SDSU gridiron victory. At the time, BYU (1-4) was off to its worst start in nearly four decades. Their rookie quarterback was struggling, their offense and defense were wracked with injuries and they had abruptly fired their defense coordinator just three days earlier. Golden opportunities such as these rarely occur during the course of a football season.

   With this, the opening game of the Mountain West Conference play for both teams, the Aztecs were poised to send a message. Unfortunately, the message they sent was that they are not yet ready for prime time.

   “We didn’t execute, we didn’t stop the run and we didn’t tackle,” Aztec Head Coach Brady Hoke said afterward.  “I think in the first 18 minutes of the game we pushed too hard to make something happen and we didn’t wait for the game to come to us. When you do that you get beat.”

   To win this game, it was important for the Aztecs to get off to a good start. They didn’t.

   Quarterback Ryan Lindley and his receivers were not on the same page early in the game. With the Cougar defense keying on freshman running back Ronnie Hillman and Walter Kazee nursing a sore hamstring on the sidelines the running game was bottled up before it could get started. The result was too many three and outs and far too much time on the field for the beleaguered Aztec defense.

   Apparently somebody forgot to tell BYU that they weren’t supposed to be very good this year. They dominated the time of possession hogging the ball for a Mountain West record 45:01. Their rushing attack which had been averaging just 119 yards per game exploded for 271. Their game plan was a simple one. Run the ball until the Aztecs make you stop. The Aztecs never did.

   With the Cougars offense on the field practically the entire game and the near capacity crowd behind them every step of the way they were able to turn that home field advantage into a 24-21 victory. Aztecs offense could muster just three touchdowns in their limited time on the field. So, what might have been a momentum building Mountain West victory for the Aztecs ended up in a disappointing 24-21 defeat. That brings the all-time series record against BYU to 7 wins, 27 losses and 1 tie. The good news is that BYU will be leaving the Mountain West Conference next season to become an independent.

   On Saturday, October 16 the Aztecs (3-2) will host #23 ranked Air Force (5-1) at the “Q” with kickoff scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Air Force runs the triple option effectively with quarterback Tim Jefferson and running backs Asher Clark and Jared Tew each rushing for more than five yards per carry. Primarily a running team, they have been averaging 34 points on offense while allowing just 18 on defense. Their lone defeat (24-27) was at the hands of sixth ranked Oklahoma. Needles to say, the Aztecs will have their hands full.