Former Charter Oak standout Adam Muema rushed for more than 100 yards but it wasn’t enough to get the Aztecs past BYU.
(San Diego) – BYU ran off three consecutive touchdowns in the fourth quarter including two from the defense to beat San Diego State 23-6 Thursday night in the Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium.
Down 6-3 entering the fourth, BYU scored three times in just over six minutes. First Kyle Van Noy sacked Aztec quarterback Adam Dingwell in the endzone, forced a fumble and fell on the loose football for a touchdown. After Dingwell was intercepted in his own end Jamaal Williams rumbled in from 14 yards out for a 16-6 lead
On the next possession, Van Noy locked up game MVP honors with a pick six. He stepped in front of a Dingwell toss and sprinted 17 yards for the score finish the 20-0 run and ice the 23-6 win.
The Aztecs went up 6-0 in the first half on two Chance Marden field goals. He hit one in the first quarter and added a 23 yarder with 10:46 left in the second.
Eric Pinkens then intercepted BYU quarterback James Lark to set up the Aztecs at the Cougar 29 yard line late in the second quarter, but BYU’s defense held and forced San Diego State to punt to stay within six points.
Justin Sorenson booted a 23 yard field goal as time ran out in the first half to get BYU on the board. The three points was set up by a 38 yard pass from Lark to Devin Mahina down to the San Diego State six yard line.
Neither team managed must offense in the third quarter. San Diego State was forced to punt from the back of its own endzone to start the fourth quarter.
Then Van Noy and the BYU D took over.
Former Charter Oak High School star Adam Muema rushed for 103 yards on 26 carries for San Diego State but it wasn’t nearly enough. The Aztecs turned the ball over five times – four by Dingwell with three picks and a fumble.
Lark completed 23 of 42 for 244 yards for the Cougars but he also threw two interceptions. Cody Hoffman, who shared the MVP award with Van Noy, caught 10 passes for 114 yards.
BYU finished the season at 8-5 and the Aztecs fell to 9-4.
BYU 0 3 0 20 23
SDS 3 3 0 0 6
Leave a Reply