The San Diego State Aztecs turned a rainy Halloween night into a needed win, leaning on a wild fourth-down trick play and a heavy dose of production from their running backs to beat Washington State 26-20.
With the victory, SDSU moved to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the Pac-12, while the Cougars fell to 1-8 and 0-5. The Aztecs still need two wins in their final three games to become bowl-eligible for the second straight season.
The play everyone will remember came late in the fourth quarter. Facing fourth-and-goal from the 2 with 9:47 remaining, coach Sean Lewis called for a sequence that ended with wide receiver Bert Emanuel Jr. throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Jackson Ford. Emanuel had been the backup quarterback last year.
The setup was as unusual as the finish. Lucky Sutton took the direct snap, handed to quarterback Stone Saunders, who was aligned to his right.
Saunders rolled left and, just before he was taken down, flipped the ball to Emanuel coming around the left side. Emanuel then found Ford wide open as he slid to the turf.
That score pushed the Aztecs ahead 26-14. The two-point try that followed failed, but the touchdown still gave SDSU the breathing room it needed.
Washington State answered with a 2-yard run by quarterback Owen Eshelman, trimming the margin and keeping things tense. The Cougars got one more chance, but their final drive was stopped at midfield, and Saunders took a knee to close it out.
SDSU’s offense did plenty of its work on the ground. On a night when Saunders finished with just 102 passing yards and an interception, Sutton and Javion “Chop” Kinnard carried the load. Sutton ran 18 times for 115 yards, while Kinnard added 87 yards on 17 carries and scored on runs of 9 and 10 yards in the first half.
Kinnard’s second touchdown was especially forceful, as he powered through two defenders to get into the end zone.
Cooper DiLeva also added field goals from 36 and 45 yards.
The defense, after struggling a week earlier to slow Colorado State quarterback Hauss Hejny in a road shootout loss, delivered when it mattered most. The Aztecs came up with two fourth-down stops in the fourth quarter, including the final stand at midfield. Sione Hala’s sack helped swing that sequence.
Earlier in the game, Josiah Cox stopped Kirby Vorhees on fourth-and-1 at the SDSU 21 on the opening drive. Kai Wallin also picked off a pass, though the Aztecs could not turn that takeaway into points.
Now comes the bye week, and SDSU will use the break to get ready for its final home game against Utah State on Nov. 14.
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