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Logan • The opening sequence of Friday night's game was a mirage in the rain for Utah State.
Any suggestion that the Aggies' promising start would lead to a different outcome than last year against San Diego State was proven wrong, as the Aztecs rolled to a 40-13 victory at Maverik Stadium.
The Aztecs (7-1, 4-0 Mountain West) produced a 40-0 run after punting on their first drive and allowing a touchdown on Utah State's opening possession.
Hoping to become bowl-eligible for a sixth straight season, Utah State (3-5, 1-4) needs three wins in its last four games — a position that's "certainly not where any of us wanted to be," said Utah State coach Matt Wells.
The Aggies' November calendar includes trips to Wyoming, Nevada and BYU and a home game vs. New Mexico, a challenging schedule for a program that is 5-10 overall since the Aggies arrived in San Diego last October and lost 48-14.
San Diego State's Donell Pumphrey enhanced his credentials as the country's leading rusher by accounting for 223 of his team's 400 yards on the ground as the defending conference champions dominated Utah State again.
The two-game series total, as MW members: Aztecs 88, Aggies 27.
Asked about Pumphrey, Utah State safety Dallin Leavitt shrugged and said, "Good back."
The Aztecs produced either a touchdown or field goal on seven of eight drives, starting with their second possession, and added an interception return for a touchdown. "Obviously, there were some things that we got gashed with," said Leavitt, who made nine tackles in his first action since being injured Sept. 24.
This was one game where time of possession told the story: 36 minutes, 45 seconds for the Aztecs; 23:15 for the Aggies. Utah State's offense and defense deserve equal blame for that discrepancy, which was even more stark through three quarters. Getting off the field was a problem for the defense; staying out there was difficult for the offense.
"You don't do those two things," Wells said, "you're going to struggle to win a football game."
Or even stay close, in this case.
The Aggies failed to record more than one first down on any drive in the second and third quarters, with four three-and-out possessions. And the Aztecs hogged the ball by routinely converting third-down plays, although they settled for four field goals.
Wells pointed to a second-quarter sequence when San Diego State picked up first downs on third and 10 via Pumphrey's draw play and third and 8 on quarterback Christian Chapman's scramble, sustaining an eight-minute drive for a touchdown and a 17-7 lead. And then Devante Mays was stuffed on third and 1, and Utah State punted.
"We're not doing a good job of building momentum and feeding off momentum," said Utah State center Austin Stephens.
Not even the return of Mays, who had carried the ball only once since being injured Sept. 10, gave Utah State's offense any consistency.
Aggie quarterback Kent Myers lost a fumble and threw the interception that was returned for a touchdown. A couple of long completions late in the game enabled him to finish 11 of 26 for 181 yards.
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