Idaho had its shot to tie the game early in the fourth quarter. Down by seven, on the San Diego State seven-yard line, senior running back Jerrel Brown fumbled the ball and gave possession back to the Aztecs — and ultimately the game.
San Diego State handed Idaho its 21st consecutive road loss with the 35-21 outcome. The Aztecs improved to 5-4 on the season, while the Vandals dropped to 1-8.
“Until we quit hurting ourselves in key situations, we’re not going to get over the hump,” Idaho coach Paul Petrino said. “To come in here, at their place, and play them that competitive, again it shows how far we’ve came but it’s time to go to the next level and quit hurting ourselves and not beat ourselves and find a way to win.”
The first half was the Chad Chalich show. The sophomore quarterback from Coeur D Alene rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown against San Diego State, and had his team tied at half, 14-14.
But football is a game of adjustments — and that’s just what the Aztec defense did.
Chalich did not gain another yard, and instead was sacked for a 13-yard loss, which brought he rushing total to 67 yards.
Petrino said Chalich suffered a groin injury at some point during the game, and that might have been the reason his production dropped off.
“He played really well, ran really well,” Petrino said. “I think if he wouldn’t have done that (hurt his groin), he probably would’ve ran more that way in the second half … Hopefully he’ll be okay, but I think he competed really hard, did a good job.”
Chalich finished 11-of-22 for 144 yards passing with one touchdown, and rushed for 67 yards and one touchdown.
San Diego State, known for it’s smash mouth approach on offense, took to the air in the second half. Aztec quarterback Quinn Kaehler connected with wide receiver Eric Judge four times for 107 yards and a touchdown — all in the second half.
“They look like they had a lot of time, and any time you have that much time, it’s hard to cover people that long,” said Petrino of the SDSU passing game.
That’s not to say the Aztec rushing attack wasn’t affective. Sophomore running back Donnel Pumphrey rushed for 142 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries. SDSU is now 8-1 when Pumphrey eclipses the century mark.
The Vandals have been in the majority of their games this season, and have had their fair share of chances to win, too.
“We had a chance to win our last five games, but we didn’t,” Petrino said. “We better get ourselves to do it and win these last two.”
Idaho returns next Saturday Nov. 15 to play Sun Belt opponent Troy in the Kibbie Dome. San Diego State will also be in Idaho, but it will be down South to take on Boise State.
Korbin McDonald can be reached at [email protected]