Crazy Eights: SDSU Beats Nevada for 8-0 MW Record

Aztecs Collect 31-14 Win To Finish Perfect in Conference Despite QB Injury

Despite an injury to their starting quarterback, the San Diego State  Aztecs won their regular-season finale 31-14 over Nevada to cap off a perfect run through conference play.

It's the first time the Aztecs football team has finished 8-0 in the Mountain West.

The Aztecs lost signal-caller Maxwell Smith midway through the first quarter.

It happened on a short pass play when he was hit low in the pocket. Smith fell to the ground and clutched his left knee in pain. He had to be helped off the field and did not return.

Smith was replaced by redshirt freshman Christian Chapman, who hails from Carlsbad. Chapman did a good job taking care of the football in relief and the Aztecs didn't miss a beat.

They mainly let their offensive line and running backs do most of the work and Nevada had no answer for the SDSU ground game.

Rashaad Penny scored a 14-yard rushing touchdown by rushing to the left side minutes after Smith was injured to help SDSU take the lead 14-7.

Running back Donnell Pumphrey scored twice - including on a 72 yard touchdown run to eclipse 4,000 rushing yards for his career.

Pumphrey is second only to Marshall Faulk in that category in SDSU history.

He finished the game with 154 yards on 23 carries. 

Chase Price also racked up 114 rushing yards as the Aztecs gashed the Wolfpack on the ground. In all, five different SDSU players combined to carry the rock for a total of 320 yards against Nevada.

San Diego State (9-3, 8-0)  will play the Air Force Academy (which was upset by New Mexico 47-35 Saturday) in the MW Championship game on Saturday, December 5th. The Falcons fell to 8-4 overall after losing to the Lobos on the road in their regular season finale.

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