Aztecs Preview

Portland State at San Diego State
Date: Saturday, September 22, 2007
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. PT
Location: San Diego, Calif.
Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium (54,000)
TV: The Mtn. (San Diego Cox Cable channel 320.
Radio: AM 600-KOGO (San Diego)
Series: This is the first meeting between the teams.
Gameday Weather: Partly cloudy skies and a high temperature of 71 degrees.
Promotion: KGB SkyShow/Band Day

SAN DIEGO (Source: SDSU)- One of six teams nationally that will enter the weekend not having played a home game, San Diego State (0-2 overall) faces Big Sky Conference member Portland State (1-2) on Saturday afternoon at Qualcomm Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

Approximately 20 minutes following the game, the annual KGB SkyShow firework extravaganza will take place. The previous three years the Aztecs have played host to the SkyShow, SDSU has averaged 55,626 fans.

The Aztecs, which have played the seventh-most difficult schedule to date according to the Sagarin Ratings and the 12th-most difficult schedule according to the NCAA, concluded their two-game season-opening tour of the Pac-10 Conference with a 34-13 loss at Arizona State on Saturday night.

The Aztecs hung tough with the Sun Devils, and trailed 14-10 late in the second quarter before ASU struck for 10 points in the final 2:24 to open up a 14-point halftime advantage.

Once again, the Aztec offense impressed, compiling 323 yards of total offense (more than ASU's first two opponents - San Jose State and Colorado - combined). SDSU showed good balance, rushing for 143 yards against the nation's fourth-rated defense entering the game.

Senior quarterback Kevin O'Connell continued his impressive play, going 22-for-38 for 180 yards. Senior wide receiver Brett Swain passed 1,000 yards in receptions for his career with six catches for 66 yards.

The Aztecs defense showed marked improvement over week one, holding the Sun Devils to four plays or less on four possessions. For the second consecutive week junior cornerback Vonnie Holmes intercepted a pass.

Senior place-kicker Garrett Palmer once again showed why he is one of the best in the nation connecting on field goal attempts of 48 and matching a career long with a 50-yarder. He now has seven field goals of 48 yards or longer in his career.

Portland State, a preseason top 20 team in the Football Championship Subdivision polls, opened Big Sky play last week with a 35-24 win over Sacramento State. The Vikings own a pair of victories over Football Bowl Subdivision teams, having won at Hawai'i in 2000 and at New Mexico last season.

The Aztecs are looking to extend a two-game winning streak at Qualcomm Stadium, having ended the home portion of the 2006 schedule with victories over UNLV (21-7) and Colorado State (17-6). SDSU is looking for a three-game win streak at the Q for the first time since winning four in a row at home during the 2003-04 seasons.