San Diego State Rolls Up Sixes and a Win, 66-14 : Aztecs: Point total against Utah is biggest since 1968. McGwire passes for four touchdowns.
SAN DIEGO — A well-rested San Diego State turned three weeks worth of frustration into 60 minutes of fury Saturday night in a 66-14 Western Athletic Conference rout of Utah before a homecoming crowd of 25,504 at Jack Murphy Stadium.
San Diego State had not played a game since Oct. 13 and not one at home since Sept. 29.
And no one, including their coach, knew how the Aztecs, 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the conference, would react to nothing but three weeks of practice in the middle of the season.
The Aztecs answered in the affirmative. The 66 points were the most for the Aztecs since they defeated Southern Mississippi, 68-7, in 1968.
Quarterback Dan McGwire moved into second place on the San Diego State career passing list, completing 22 of 33 passes for 286 yards and four touchdowns before getting a chance to rest almost the entire fourth quarter.
McGwire moved ahead of Brian Sipe, who finished with 5,707 yards, when he completed a 35-yard pass to Dennis Arey two minutes into the second quarter. McGwire’s 5,858 yards trail only Todd Santos, but by a lot. Santos had 11,425 yards, the NCAA record.
But second-place all-time at SDSU isn’t bad for someone who hasn’t even completed his second full season. The Utah game was his 19th at SDSU after transferring from Iowa.
With still about 11 minutes to play in the second quarter, this is what McGwire had accomplished: 13 completions in 15 attempts for 181 yards.
The Aztecs outscored the Utes 28-0 in the second quarter and led 42-7 at halftime.
Patrick Rowe and Arey each caught two touchdown passes. Rowe, who came into the game leading the nation in receiving with a 120.5-yard average, had seven catches for 120 yards as he passed the 100-yard mark for the fifth straight game. Arey also caught seven passes for 102 yards.
Utah (3-6, 1-5) lost for the sixth time in its last seven games.
Utah’s Jason Woods completed 10 of 25 passes for 147 yards. His only touchdown pass came late in the third quarter on a 13-yard throw to Mike Anglesey.
San Diego State became the last Division I-A team to intercept a pass as Johnny Walker intercepted Woods twice in the fourth quarter.
San Diego State scored 24 points in the fourth quarter.
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