On an emotional night in Las Vegas, San Diego State took down UNLV on Saturday night to keep pace in the Group of Five race for a New Year’s Six bid.
Less than a week after the mass shooting that claimed 58 lives at the Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas, the city hosted its first college football game since the tragedy. San Diego State came to town hoping to continue its charge toward a third straight Mountain West title. UNLV had hopes of pulling off the upset as a 10-point underdog at home, and for a while it appeared that they might make life difficult for the Aztecs.
On its opening drive, San Diego State’s standout running back Rashaad Penny fumbled the ball in the shadow of the goal line. On their next offensive series, the Aztecs were held to a field goal that the Rebels soon matched on the scoreboard. By halftime, though, San Diego State had pulled ahead for a 20-10 lead that they would not relinquish.
In the end, the Mountain West leaders pulled away for a 41-10 victory on the road that pushed their record to 6-0. The Aztecs maintained their grip on a spot in the AP Top 25, and remain the team to beat in conference play. Here are some takeaways from the rout on the road in late Saturday action.
3. Rashaad Penny too strong for Rebels defense to stop
The Rebels thought they had solved the riddle of Rashaad Penny, who entered Saturday’s game among the top rushers in the country. In his first five games, Penny averaged over 160 yards per game. He has kept his name in the Doak Walker discussion among other tailbacks like Bryce Love and Saquon Barkley as the Aztecs continue to play undefeated football midway point of the calendar.
Though he coughed up the early fumble on the opening drive, Penny was not going to be denied on Saturday night. The Rebels held the standout back under his season average, but Penny still posted another ridiculous stat line after finishing with 170 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
At this point, Penny is close to a 2,000-yard pace during the regular season and seems a lock to pass that mark should San Diego State reach the Mountain West championship game. He added another eight yards on two catches, as he has slowly been integrated further into the passing game as well.
After replacing all-time FBS rushing leader Donnel Pumphrey this season, Penny has emerged as a star in his own right. If the Aztecs are going to complete the three-peat in the Mountain West, they will need Penny to continue providing a catalyst. There is little that opposing Mountain West defenses will be able to do to stop him.
2. The San Diego State defense stepped up big in second half
Throughout the season, San Diego State has been winning as much because of a talented defense as because of their strong offense. After a slow start, the Aztecs clamped down to keep UNLV off the scoreboard for the last 35 minutes of the game.
The Rebels were held to five three-and-out drives on offense, as they struggled to find space to operate against the swarming Aztecs defense. They did not generate any turnovers after forcing 12 through the first five games, but the San Diego State defense still came up big when it mattered most.
On the final two UNLV drives of the game, San Diego State stifled any chance of a late comeback. Both times, the Rebels came away empty after turning over the ball on downs. For a team bent on capturing another championship, it was a promising showing that augurs well for the second half of the season to come.
If San Diego State is going to win the league and challenge the American Athletic Conference’s top teams for the automatic New Year’s Six bowl bid, they will need more than just big runs from Rashaad Penny. Saturday’s showing by the defense demonstrated that they are again performing at a championship level.
1. Football offers a chance for Las Vegas community to come together
The Las Vegas community was still in pain after the mass shooting outside the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino claimed 58 lives and left hundreds more injured. It was a painful incident that will stick with the city long after it fades into history. It has generated a nationwide conversation about guns, crowd safety, and how to move forward.
On Saturday night, both official and spontaneous commemorations of the victims took place around Sam Boyd Stadium. Both teams wore decal ribbons, with UNLV sporting special helmets and San Diego State wearing a smaller version on the back of their helmets.
Together, we are #VegasStrong. @sd pic.twitter.com/zFYJY1NnQ8
— SDSU Equipment Room (@SDSU_EQ) October 7, 2017
Pregame ceremonies remembered the victims of the massacre, with 58 balloons released into the Nevada sky and one of the survivors brought in by wheelchair for the coin toss. Fans around the stadium also sported signs and banners that remembered the fallen. For a community where emotions continue to run high in the wake of the tragedy, the contest provide a chance to come together in a show of support and strength.
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Though the Rebels were unable to provide a win for the home crowd, it was still a night that will be remembered around the college football world for a long time to come. Saturday illustrated the power of sport to unite during good times and bad.