By Kourosh SafaviAssistant Sports Editor
LASVEGAS – Some say that in life, to gain something valuable, somethingelse must be sacrificed.
For the San Diego State football team, the sacrifice could beheavier than the gain. Shortly after a 7-0 road victory overdivision-rival UNLV, the Aztecs found out they would be without theservices of freshman running back Lynell Hamilton for the remainderof the season. Hamilton, who suffered a broken fibula after his anklewas twisted in an awkward position in the fourth quarter, was helpedoff the field by trainers and taken to the locker room.
SDSUhad to manage with Michael Franklin taking the load of the carriesfor the rest of the game. Hamilton’s absence will serve as a hugeloss for the Aztec offensive attack, which has heavily relied on hisconsistency in gaining tough yards while taking pressure off ofquarterback Adam Hall.
And at the critical juncture SDSU is facing (being forced to winout against Colorado State and Air Force), Hamilton’s presence in thebackfield will be greatly missed.
“We’ll just have to move the next guy up, and right now it’sMichael Franklin,” Craft said. “We’re having a difficult time rightnow offensively with the injuries.”
The Aztecs have no time to pout over the loss of their bestoffensive player and need to gear up their matches against arguablythe two best teams in the division – Colorado State and Air Force.But nonetheless, SDSU’s bowl hopes remain on life support for yetanother week and only time will tell whether the loss of Hamilton canbe overcome.
Big plays, right timing
Wide receiver Kyle Conerly and cornerback Jeff Shoate both madekey fourth-quarter plays that allowed the Aztecs to get their firstdivision road win of the season Saturday against UNLV.
With third and six from its own 7-yard line, SDSU’s offense sorelyneeded a first down in order to prevent the Rebels from gaining goodfield position, while the Aztecs were nursing a 7-0 lead. Head coachTom Craft made a bold decision and went for the deep pass instead ofrunning the ball to eat up the clock. Conerly, who has seen scarceaction as a wide receiver in 2003, made a spectacularover-the-shoulder catch down the sidelines for 37 yards, giving theAztecs some much-needed breathing room, while also allowing theoffense to chew up the clock even more.
SDSU would eventually go on to punt, giving UNLV the ball at itsown 5-yard line with 2:43 remaining. On second and 10 Rebelsquarterback Kurt Nantkes threw a slant intended for Earvin Johnson,who he had been favoring earlier in the contest. Unfortunately forNantkes, Shoate was dropped back in zone coverage and had perfectpositioning on the ball, snagging his first interception of the yearand ultimately sealing the deal against UNLV.
“Luckily I had a feeling they were going to go to that receiverbecause they tried it the series before, so I dropped straight to himand was able to make the play,” Shoate said.
Until the interception, Shoate had been notorious for constantlydeflecting passes and being in the right place to prevent a completedpass, but not having a pick to show for it. The senior finally gothis shining moment and it could not have come at a better time.
Injury update
Aside from Hamilton’s injury, Hall and wide receiver Jeff Webbsuffered injuries against the Rebels; their status is unclear at thispoint. Hall re-aggravated his ankle, while Webb strained his leftshoulder and clavicle. Hall contests that he will be ready to playnext weekend against Colorado State, while Webb is not sure whetherhe will suit up.
