San Diego State and UCLA first played a football game against one another 97 years ago. Since then they had met 22 times. The Aztecs had not won any of them.
As the old saying goes, the 23rd time is the charm.
SDSU went into the Rose Bowl and beat UCLA 23-14 on Saturday afternoon to snap what was the longest active losing streak between a pair of FBS programs. The Aztecs have won five of their last six games against Pac-12 Conference teams but this one, against this opponent, with this history ... this one is a little bit different.
“I think the whole experience is pretty special," said Aztecs Head Coach Rocky Long. "It’s really cool to get to play in the Rose Bowl against a great university and football program like UCLA. That is really neat, in and of itself. And San Diego State had never beat UCLA in a football game. If it had been two or three times, that’s not as unusual, but it was the 23rd meeting, that makes it a special day.”
SDSU quarterback Ryan Agnew had a fantastic day throwing the ball. The junior went 23-for-31 for a career-high 293 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers. Sophomore wide receiver Kobe Smith was his main target, hauling in seven balls for 131 yards and the lone score.
Defensively the Aztecs were stout again, holding a Chip Kelly-coached offense to a minute 261 total yards. SDSU also forced a pair of fumbles while their offense didn't turn the ball over.
SDSU improves to 2-0 to start the season. The Aztecs head to New Mexico State next week to face an Aggies team that's 0-2 after losing 62-10 in Alabama.
