Air Force @ San Diego State preview
SDCCU Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2009 ) San Diego State 14, Air Force 26
Even though San Diego State (3-2) is off to its best start since 2003, Aztecs coach Brady Hoke can only lament what could have been.
The Aztecs host Air Force in what should be a close Mountain West Conference game at Qualcomm Stadium on Saturday night.
Both of the Aztec losses have been close and controversial.
San Diego State fell to Brigham Young last week 24-21. The Cougars limited the Aztecs to minus-2 yards rushing in the first half and 53 for the game. San Diego State entered the contest 23rd in the nation in rushing.
Senior wide receiver and Biletnikoff Award watch list member Vincent Brown recorded his second straight 100-yard receiving game and the ninth of his career with 101 yards on six catches.
But in the loss, the Aztecs were denied possession after a Cougar runner fumbled the ball. BYU scored a touchdown five plays later to take a 24-14 lead en route to the victory. The three replay officials were later suspended for blowing the call after they cited technical difficulties involving the replay feed.
San Diego State also lost 27-24 at Missouri when the Tigers connected on a 68-yard pass with just 51 seconds to play. But on that play Missouri was guilty of two illegal blocking penalties that went uncalled.
Hoke later said he has received noticed from the head from the officiating review board that the game officials blew the call.
That comes as little solace to Hoke and the Aztecs as they prepare to face the nation’s top rushing game.
No. 23 Air Force (5-1) has rushed for an average of over 350 yards a game, and last week the Falcons even looked skyward. Quarterback Tim Jefferson threw for 160 yards on 5-of-9 passing, including a pair of touchdown passes to Zach Kauth in a 49-27 rout of Colorado State.
Air Force has won three straight in the series and three straight overall following a narrow loss at Oklahoma. And the Falcons have to guard against looking past the Aztecs with games at No. 4 TCU and No. 11 Utah in the weeks following this contest.
Air Force’s rushing attack features Asher Clark and Jered Tew, who have both gone over 500 yards on the ground on the season and combined for five touchdowns. Jefferson leads the team with seven rushing touchdowns.
The Aztecs are more conventional in their offensive plans. San Diego State junior quarterback Ryan Lindley leads the Mountain West Conference in total offense and in passing offense at 278.8 yards a game. To go with Lindley's numbers, freshman running back Ronnie Hillman leads the conference in rushing at 118.8 yards a game.
On the medical front, Air Force linebacker Brady Amack is questionable with an ankle injury. San Diego defensive back Romeo Horn is out with a foot injury.