Entering Saturday night's game at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego State's defense was allowing 8.0 points a game for the season. Utah State's offense was putting up 48.5 points a game.
But it was the Aggies defense that ended up being the difference in a 23-17 win in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams.
Utah State used a 48-yard interception return by defensive back Shaq Bond to help build a 23-3 lead over SDSU before the Aztecs offense finally broke loose. In the 4th quarter, facing a 4th and 16, Aztecs quarterback Ryan Agnew scrambled for nearly 10 seconds before finding Kobe Smith for a 25-yard touchdown pass that cut the lead to 23-10 and kick-started the SDSU offense.
On their next possession the Aztecs faced 4th and 5 when Agnew hit Isaiah Richardson across the middle for a 49-yard touchdown that made it a one-score game.
Utah State missed a field goal to give the Aztecs one last shot with less than two minutes to play. On 4th and 10 from the SDSU 39, Agnew tried to work another miracle, running back to almost his own goal line before the Aggies defense tracked him down to end the game.
The Aztecs drop to 3-1 on the season and have a bye before heading to Colorado State on October 5.
