AZTECS WIN REMATCH AGAINST WYOMING 27-24, WIN SECOND CONSECUTIVE MW CHAMPIONSHIP

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UPDATE:  Aztecs will play Houston in the 2016 Las Vegas Bowl on December 17 at 12:30 p.m. on ABC

By Liz Alper

Photo: Rashaad Penny rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Courtesy goaztecs.com

December 3, 2016 (Laramie, Wyoming) - Today was the day.  Everything the Aztecs have worked for all season came down to this.  The Mountain West conference championship game against Wyoming.  The Aztecs were in Laramie two weeks ago and lost 34-33.  Now, it was time for revenge.

It wasn't easy.  The Aztecs were facing cold weather, a tough Wyoming defense and a ton of penalties.  But when Wyoming got great field position after a punt return, the defense held strong and limited the Cowboys to a field goal.  Wyoming led 3-0 in the first quarter.  From there, it spiraled out of control.  After redshirt sophomore quarterback Christian Chapman threw an interception to another redshirt sophomore, Sidney Malauulu, another redshirt sophomore quarterback, Josh Allen, made the easy pass to senior Jacob Hollister in the endzone and the Cowboys jumped out to double digits, leading 10-0 early.  But after a big breakout run by junior Rashaad Penny, senior Donnel Pumphrey did what he does best.  With a big burst of speed at the goal line, DJ rushed into the endzone.  Sophomore kicker John Baron II kicked the extra point for his 101st point of the season and the Aztecs were within three, 10-7.  

In the second quarter, despite the Cowboys defense stopping Pumphrey cold, Baron tied the game up with the long field goal.  10-10 at the half.  Both teams only completed a total of nine passes in the first half.

In the second half, SDSU rediscovered their identity.  After senior Damontae Kazee’s second interception of the game, Penny punched it in for the go-ahead touchdown.  The Aztecs took their first lead of the game, 17-10.  Near the end of the third quarter, Pumphrey rushed (pun intended) past Ricky Williams for second on the FBS all-time rushing yards list.  But it was Penny who rushed in for his second touchdown of the night and SDSU got out of danger by increasing their lead to two scores, 24-10.

In the fourth, Wyoming got back in the game with a 53-yard throw by Allen to senior Tanner Gentry for the touchdown.  SDSU led 24-17.  But Baron added three more at close range and the Aztecs led by 10, 27-17.  However, the man who scored the game-winning touchdown against SDSU two weeks ago, redshirt freshman C.J. Johnson, made the touchdown catch and Wyoming was within three, 27-24.  The Aztecs dodged a slew of close calls and won their second consecutive championship game for the first time in 42 years and their third in five years and avenged their loss to Wyoming from two weeks ago, 27-24.

The Aztecs’ season isn’t over yet; they’ll be playing in a bowl game to be determined.

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