SAN DIEGO, CA – The San Diego State Aztecs defeated the San Jose State Spartans 43-27 in a critical matchup that had a large impact on the Mountain West-West standings. The loser of this game would essentially be eliminated from conference championship contention.
Coming into this game the Spartans were in second place in their side of the conference with a 4-1 record, and the only loss being to Fresno State who is currently sitting in first at 4-1. The Aztecs were in third after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Fresno St. which gave them two losses in conference play.
The game started off seeming as if San Diego State would be eliminated from contention as they were in a fourteen point hole in the first quarter. On their first possession, Chevan Cordeiro marched them down the field as he hooked up with Elijah Cooks who made an acrobatic one handed catch over his back shoulder to pick up a crucial first down.
They would score on that drive, force a turnover, and score another touchdown looking as if they were going to run away with this game. The tables would turn on the ensuing kickoff where Jordan Byrd ignited life into this team by returning it 95 yards for a touchdown.
San Diego State’s offense would take over the rest of the first half behind the arm of Jalen Mayden. He threw two touchdowns in the second quarter with one of them being a 66 yard pass to Tyrell Shavers.
The Aztecs went into halftime with 24 unanswered points, and that would grow larger since they received the ball to start the third. Jalen Mayden and Jesse Matthews connected on two more touchdowns in this quarter before the Spartans were able to get on the board.
San Jose State tried to pull a comeback similar to the one that Fresno State was able to complete against this same Aztec team. However, this time San Diego State was able to hold off the Spartans who scored two touchdowns late in the game.
This victory for the Aztecs kept their goal alive of competing in the Mountain West championship game. They would need some help from other teams beating Fresno State who is sitting comfortably in the drivers spot. The Spartans on the other hand fall to third on their side of the bracket with head to head losses to Fresno and San Diego State.
