By Michael KlitzingSports Editor
LAS VEGAS — For the San Diego State football team, the dream isstill alive but the mission is daunting.
SDSU kept its slim bowl hopes breathing Saturday with a 7-0 roadvictory over UNLV in front of a stunned Sam Boyd Stadium crowd of20,896. The Aztecs’ (5-5, 2-3) “Dark Side” defense shut the lights onthe Rebels (5-5, 1-4), who only seriously threatened to score once.
But on this day, there was a different dark side for the Red andBlack’s three most potent offensive weapons. Quarterback Adam Hall(left ankle bone bruise), wide receiver Jeff Webb (sprained leftshoulder) and star running back Lynell Hamilton (right fibulafracture) were all out of the contest by the fourth quarter.
However, as it proved against the Rebels, the Aztec defensethrives with its back to the wall.
“It felt like something special,” said safety Josh Dean, whonabbed one of the Aztecs’ three interceptions. “We came out therewith the confidence that no matter what, our defense was going toshut them out.”
No better was this exemplified than when SDSU was faced withstopping the Rebels on first and goal from the five with fewer thanseven minutes to play. UNLV was denied after one rush and three KurtNantkes passes could move the ball just two yards. Nantkes went forit all on fourth down, but cornerback Jeff Shoate blanketed Rebelwideout Earvin Johnson beautifully and the pass fell incomplete.
With 2:29 on the clock, Shoate came up large again, interceptingNantkes at the UNLV 25, setting off a wild celebration on the Aztecsideline and ending all Rebel comeback hopes.
“When it comes time to buckle down, that’s our strong point,” Deansaid. “(Shoate) came in on their last play of the game and made theplay of the game with the pick. You’ve got to give it to Jeff. He’sthe leader of the team and our captain.”
Asfor the team’s offensive leader, Hall was injured on afourth-and-eight scramble at the UNLV 33 midway through the third -the play immediately following tight end Jeremy Justice dropping whatlooked to be a sure touchdown lob over the middle. The seniorgunslinger looked upbeat after the game, and asserted he would beback under center Saturday in Fort Collins vs. Colorado State.
“I’m playing the next game,” Hall said with a grin as he walkedoff the field after the game, limping slightly.
The Aztecs’ lone points were scored at 9:02 in the first quarterwhen Hall found Robert Ortiz in the corner of the end zone. Ortizadjusted to the pass as it started to tail, making an impressiveleaping grab.
SDSU carried the lead into the half, but it seemed a tenuousadvantage. The Aztecs had dominant edges in both offensive yardage(161-50) and time of possession (17:04-12:56) as the offensive linecontrolled the line of scrimmage. However, the offense had blownthree opportunities at extending their lead to two scores in thesecond quarter.
Early in the period, a 36-yard J.C. Mejia field goal attempt wasblocked by Greg Estandia. Two drives later, SDSU advanced to theRebel 31, but stalled when Hall threw an ill-advised pass right intothe chest of linebacker Adam Seward.
The Aztecs reached their pinnacle of frustration with 42 secondsleft in the half, when Hall rolled out on a third and four at theUNLV 26, and flipped the ball to wide-open Wesley Williams. Williamswas hit and stripped of the ball at the 4-yard line by Joe Miklos.The ball was recovered by Rebel safety Jamaal Brimmer.
“It might not have looked like a thing of beauty, but it’s what wewanted and how we wanted to play,” SDSU head coach Tom Craft said.
Hamilton, the team’s most potent offensive weapon will be out forthe year, and it could not have come at a worse time. SDSU must nowwin its final two games of the year against Mountain West Conferenceheavyweights Colorado State and Air Force with a severe handicap.
“We’ve just got to sell out on offense, defense and specialteams,” linebacker Kirk Morrison said. “We’ve just got to keep onmoving. We lost key guys today, but we’re not dead yet and we’regoing to sell out next week in Colorado.”
The bottom line is clear – wounded and with their backs to thewall, the Aztecs survived this test. Round two comes Saturday.
