Aztecs Win Again, Improve to 5-0

SDSU's defense forces four turnovers in victory

The 19th-ranked Aztecs are not winning big. They’re not winning pretty. But they’re winning, and that’s all that matters.

After a comeback win over Stanford and scare at Air Force the Aztecs survived again, this time in a 34-28 win over Northern Illinois at San Diego County Credit Union Stadium. The win runs SDSU’s record to a perfect 5-0.

San Diego State had the lead after just 13 seconds. Juwan Washington took the opening kickoff 96 yards for a score and a 7-0 lead. It did not last long. On their next possession the Huskies (who beat Nebraska in Lincoln two weeks ago) quarterback Daniel Santacaterina hit Christian Blake for a 34-yard TD and a 7-7 tie.

San Diego State got the lead back on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Christian Chapman to Rashaad Penny. The Heisman Trophy hopeful also rushed 25 times for 107 yards.

Santacaterina threw another touchdown pass to Blake and finished with three TD passes but he was also picked off three times. The first one was by Tariq Thompson, who ran the interception back 83 yards for a score and a 21-14 lead. The Aztecs would never trail again, although they came close.

On their final two offensive possessions the Huskies were picked off, once by Kameron Kelly inside the 20 yard line. The game was put away when Thompson got his second interception of the night with less than two minutes to play.

San Diego State goes back to Mountain West conference play next week with a trip to Las Vegas to play the Rebels.

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