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Aztecs Get Win With 2nd Half Monster Effort, 28-10

gavinireGavin Ireland
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Aztec Quarterback Jordan Brookshire dives into the end zone to give SDSU their first lead of the game, 14-10.

Carson, CA – There are long-time San Diego fans who believed Qualcomm/Jack Murphy/SDCCU/”Fill In The Blank” Stadium was cursed. The stadium that every San Diego sports team to call it home were destined to Murphy’s Law. The stadium built on Native American land. The stadium where the only thing that went right was a fireworks show synced to classic rock.

Did that curse make it’s way up to Carson? Did the Chargers miserable existence leave a lingering fart that still hasn’t lifted? Did the stadium need a sage-burning ceremony as it was slowly taken down to cleanse the sting it had the frequent potential to deliver?

After a first half of football in the season opener for San Diego State, it certainly felt like the game might as well be passed off as just another event that was destined before it ever started.

Late hits, fumbled turnovers, another passing offense that struggles to move the chains, and lost opportunities. These things happen early in the season. These things can fortunately be fixed before it really counts.

Aztec fans won’t enjoy hearing this, but non-conference games are exactly what former Aztec Head Coach Rocky Long called them: “Pre-season games”. The games that matter the most for this program and this conference are the games that face opponents in the Mountain West.

Perfect seasons without a loss are so rare, it’s like expecting to make an income off of lottery tickets. These are the games to learn from and build on. That’s what good teams do. That’s what great coaches have the ability to manage.

In 2015, there were a number of Aztec fans who wanted Rocky Long out as coach until his program found a way to win their way to a division title and conference championship victory for the first time in Mountain West history.

This is going to be a game to build off of. After the end of the first half, that was on the minds of some of the old-timers.

Then came the 2nd half with San Diego State starting with possession on offense. Three plays later came the first scoring drive of the 2021 season. 7-10 New Mexico State. The Aggies then take their first possession on offense of the 2nd half on a 1st and 10, San Diego State comes up with an interception.

The shift of momentum was all on the side of Aztec football. Then Aztec starting Quarterback Jordan Brookshire threw a deep pass to Jessie Matthews into triple coverage, giving possession back to the Aggies. The Aztec defense followed with forcing New Mexico State to punt, with yet another opportunity bouncing out of Jordan Byrd’s chance to a fair catch when fellow Aztec Dezjhon Malone bumped into Byrd’s zone to secure the ball.

Possession, Aggies.

This was not a quarter that had either team in clear possession of momentum, as the football found it’s way to both teams. A total of 4 turnovers from both teams in the third quarter.

Then San Diego State showed signs of rejuvenated life on offense. Greg Bell looked like he was a man on a mission. Brookshire started to settle into his starting role. The offense had more yards earned in the 3rd quarter than it was able to gather in the entire 1st half.

One big pass to BJ Busbee, a big run by Greg Bell up the sideline, and a QB option draw, as Brookshire made a dive from the 3rd hashmark on the field and into the end zone to give San Diego State their first lead of the game.

Then at 2:53 in the 3rd quarter, Jalil Lecky put the heat on Aggies quarterback Jonah Johnson, forcing an interception into Andrew Aleki’s hands for a pick-six! 21-10, Aztecs!

This was the defense that Rocky Long built, and is still very much alive & well.

Enter the 4th quarter. San Diego State with the ball on a 2nd and 5, Greg Bell hit the hole for a 32-yard rushing gain. One play later, Jordan Byrd lined up wide, and took a motion option run all the way into the end zone for 43 yards. No defender was going to catch him.

28-10, all Aztecs.

Credit the coaches for not losing faith in Jordan Brookshire to gather his horses to a ride that led to a win. This was not a pretty win, but pre-season is never pretty. A win is a win. This is the experience the 2021 Aztec football team can take into the locker room, weight room, and practice field to build upon.

This is the right kind of momentum to take into next week’s game against a PAC-12 opponent in Tucson.

Player of the game? Give the game ball to place-kicker/punter Matt Araiza. Beast Mode as a punter tonight. This was a kicking night that any NFL scout would swoon on. If this is what Araiza has to offer for 2021, he’s going to be looking at what hat will be placed on his head in the 2022 draft. 

Good win, Aztecs. Build on this one. 

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