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SDSU Aztecs hope to ride momentum of 31-10 win against BYU

By Phillip Brents

Posted Oct. 6, 2005

Photo: DeMarco Sampson, ex-Castle Park High School

If one cannot think of a bigger win scored by San Diego State University’s football team in recent memory, then last Saturday’s 31-10 Mountain West Conference victory against BYU at Qualcomm Stadium didn’t happen. But it did, and with it comes a renewed sense of confidence heading into the meat of the Aztecs’ conference schedule.

The win was the first against the Cougars since 2000 and the first at home since 1988. It was also the second-largest margin of victory against a BYU team in the 30-game history of the series and the first time since 1986 the Aztec defense had held the Cougars (who still own a decidedly lopsided 22-7-1 edge in the series) to 10 points in a game.

More importantly, it gave SDSU two wins in a row at home before heading out on a two-game road trip to UNLV (Saturday, Oct. 8) and Utah (Oct. 15). The Aztecs (2-3) return home to face New Mexico on Oct. 22.

SDSU’s morale-lifting win came on the heels of its 52-21 conquest the previous week against San Jose State after kicking off the season with consecutive losses against the likes of UCLA (44-21), Air Force Academy (41-29) and Ohio State (27-6). It also showed what the Aztecs really have going for them when paired up against MWC competition: a lot.

For former Castle Park High standouts DeMarco Sampson and Freddy Dunkle, both current Aztecs, the win meant more than just personal satisfaction.

“The whole week the coaches were talking how BYU was dominating the series. It was a big game for us to win but also for the alumni. I think our team came out to play hard for them,” said Sampson, who like Dunkle, competed on special teams in the game.

“This win was big for the entire Aztec community,” said Dunkle, who also wore a huge smile after last Saturday’s game.

For those among the crowd of 41,680 who were keeping score, sophomore quarterback Kevin O’Connell (La Costa Canyon) connected on his first 12 passes while also rushing for one score. Lynell Hamilton scored two touchdowns on short runs while Brandon Bornes (RBV) also scored one rushing touchdown for SDSU, which led 17-3 at halftime aided by a 30-yard field goal by Garrett Palmer.

But the Aztecs’ most impressive part of their game came on defense as BYU signal-caller John Beck — and the national’s fourth-ranked passing offense — was limited to 261 passing yards after passing for 517 yards in a 51-50 overtime loss to TCU the previous week.

Sampson made his first touchdown catch in his college career in the win against San Jose State. His 23-yard reception from reserve signal-caller Darren Mougey with 2:07 left gave the Aztecs a 45-21 lead in the contest, seen by a Sky Show crowd of 55,868 fans.

“It felt great that the coach had enough confidence in me to throw the ball with the time that was left,” said Sampson, who has four catches for 60 yards this season.

As for the remaining seven games of the season, the Aztecs will face four teams with winning records. But fighting through the 21^st most difficult schedule in the nation only intensifies the challenge for one of the nation’s youngest squads.

“It’s going to boost our momentum and confidence in ourselves. This will be a springboard for conference,” Sampson said.

SDSU head coach Tom Craft reiterated those sentiments in his post-game press conference.

“It was a great win for us. The key for us was not turning the ball over,” Craft said.

The Aztec coach could not praise the defensive job by his team enough. “Other keys for us were keeping everyone in front of us in the passing game and punishing their receivers. I got to give our guys credit for focusing. It’s not easy for someone to sit in the shotgun and throw 45 or 50 passes. It takes up a lot of energy. (But ultimately) our offensive line took control," Craft said..

SWC recap

The Jaguars head into Satuday’s Foothill Conference game at College of the Desert with a 1-2 conference record and 2-3 overall mark after last Saturday’s 17-15 loss against visiting Chaffey.