By David CorderoSports Editor
LARAMIE, Wyo. — Twenty-six points in four games. Then 34 pointsin one. All of sudden San Diego State’s offense is on fire.
What gives?
“I think going into the game, all we were trying to do was to goout there and have fun,” said SDSU quarterback Lon Sheriff. “I meanit’s hard to have fun when you’re 0-4 and getting beaten prettybadly, but we knew we had to just go back to playing as a team and goout there and get a win.
SDSU came into the game tied for 112th in the nation in scoringoffense. To put that in perspective, only North Texas had been worse.And Wyoming — a team that had beaten the Aztecs six straight inLaramie — wasn’t exactly the perfect panacea for a punchless attack.
Yet, SDSU had a bye week to prepare for the 1-4 Cowboys. It was anopportunity to soul search, heal bruised bodies and regain focus.
It seems to have worked. The Aztecs offense thrived, racking up434 yards of offense.
“The bye week helped us all,” said offensive coordinator Dave Lay.”If we ever needed a bye week, it was then. We needed to step backand regroup a little bit.
“I’m really proud of them.”
Said Sheriff: “Everything we tried worked. The offense played asone unit. Everyone made the plays when they were there and we didn’tmake too many mistakes.”
Toomany mistakes was exactly what Sheriff committed in the last game,when he threw five interceptions in the team’s 35-3 defeat to OregonState. This time the sophomore tossed just one pick, while locatingreceivers for gains of 31, 34 and 40.
Entering the game, the team’s longest play from scrimmage thisseason was 31 yards.
“Lonnie played great tonight,” said SDSU running back Larry Ned.”He showed a lot of poise. He made some good decisions and put theball where it needed to be.”
At one point, Sheriff, who ended up completing 19-of-27 passes for316 yards, connected on 16-of-17 in the second and third quarters.His unexpected aerial mastery was aided through an outstandingperformance by SDSU’s wide receivers.
After dropping more than its share of passes through the season’sfirst four games, the much-beleaguered receiving corps was golden. Inall, seven players made receptions –some routine, some difficult.
“I felt like we had a corps that could make plays like that,” saidSDSU head coach Ted Tollner. “We just haven’t made them. J.R.(Tolver) and Derrick made some, Sean Pierce made some great plays (aswell).”
Pierce (four catches, 74 yards) and Tolver (seven, 129) bothenjoyed career days for SDSU. Tolver, who earlier in the weekexpressed lament for dropping a sure touchdown against OSU, explodedfor 101 yards on five receptions in the second quarter. He madeseveral crucial grabs that set up two second quarter scores.
“They were even making plays when there wasn’t a play to be made,”Sheriff said. “I mean I was amazed at some of the balls they werecoming down with. That really helps when I can throw it up there andI know my team is going to come down with it.”
Spurred by the return of sophomore guard Johnathan Ingram (outthree games with a knee injury), the Aztecs offensive line gaveSheriff the protection he lacked in previous weeks, allowing him tolocate open receivers.
Against OSU Sheriff was sacked four times. Saturday he was droppedjust once.
“Our offensive line was astounding,” Sheriff said. “I got a littlegrass on my shirt — that was it. I couldn’t have done anythingwithout my offensive line and receivers tonight. I was gettingprotection so I could throw it down the field.”
A big part of the offense’s resurgence was the defense, forcingturnovers that resulted in excellent field position. The first was ainterception by Donte Gamble that turned into a 46-yard field goal byNate Tandberg. Then, right after a Wyoming fumble, Ned capped off asix-play, 14-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown romp.
Getting the ball on a short field was a welcome change of pace fora team accustomed to giving up good field position. Two weeks ago,OSU scored on drives of 23, 20 and zero yards.
“That’s huge when you can get the ball (there),” Sheriff said.”You have to score points right there. We were able to capitalize.”
Perhaps no unit was more pleased to see the improved offense thanthe defense. Having turned in solid performances in three of thefirst four games, the Aztecs defenders had been carrying the team –aweight they were more than happy to share.
“There’s nothing more exciting than seeing them take the ball downthe field,” Arnold said. “That’s something we hadn’t seen this year.”
A welcomed sight for sore eyes.
