San Diego State’s football program has so thoroughly dominated the Mountain West Conference of late that we’ve kind of started expecting them to win every game. But when the Aztecs head to Wyoming, no matter what the sport is, they just seem to have trouble.
The Cowpokes won one of the most entertaining games of the season 34-33 in Laramie on Saturday and the way it ended will be causing a spirited discussion based on a questionable coaching decision. But first, a look at a series of San Diego State streaks that were snapped:
- 17 straight victories against conference opponents (longest active win streak in the nation)
- 7 straight victories in Mountain West road games
- 7 straight victories in games played during the month of November
- 6 straight victories against Mountain West, Mountain Division teams
- 6 straight victories overall
That’s mighty impressive, but for any program unsustainable.
The game started nicely for the Aztecs. Running back Rashaad Penny, one of the most gifted returners in the nation, took the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. In the second half Juwan Washington also returned a kickoff 92 yards for a score, the first time in program history the Aztecs have taken a pair of kicks to the house.
That other running back, senior Donnel Pumphrey, was held to just 76 yards on the ground by a stout Wyoming run defense but that was enough to move him past Tony Dorsett in to third place on the NCAA all-time rushing yards list. He’s just 270 yards from passing Ron Dayne to become the most prolific running back in college football history.
But the Aztecs could never pull away. In the 4th quarter Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen threw a pair of touchdown passes, the second one to wide receiver C.J. Johnson for a 29-yard score that gave the Cowboys a 34-27 lead with just 1:07 to play.
Aztecs quarterback Christian Chapman had a little magic of his own. As the clock struck 0:00 he lobbed a desperation pass to the end zone. The ball was tipped and caught just inches from the ground by wideout Quest Truxton for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 34-33.
But instead of just kicking the extra point and going straight to overtime Aztecs head coach Rocky Long decided to gamble. Long sent the offense out to go for the 2-point conversion and the win. Chapman’s pass fell incomplete and the Cowpokes walked away winners.
The Aztecs have now played two games while ranked in the AP Top-25 in 2016 and lost both of them, both on the road to unranked opponents (a loss to South Alabama was the other). They have one more regular season game at home against Colorado State then will very likely get another shot at Wyoming in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game.
