How the Chippewas and Aztecs match up
2006, a 20-12 loss to San Jose State. However, he came back in 2007 to lead the Lobos past Nevada, with then-freshman quarterback Colin Kaepernick, 23-0 to earn his first bowl victory in five tries.
McElwain previously coached at Colorado State and guided the Rams to a thrilling, come-from-behind, 48-45 win over Washington State in 2013.
“The first night of events (for the New Mexico Bowl), they were running highlights of different games that have been played here,” McElwain said. “I actually looked up and thought, ‘That looks awfully familiar.’ That was really cool. As a coach, you focus on the now and you don’t get a chance to relive the past.”
Perhaps, McElwain has a flair for the dramatic. At Central Michigan, he has directed the Chippewas to the biggest wins turnaround in the nation, both overall and in conference action. Last year, Central Michigan went 1-11, 0-9 in the Mid-American Conference. This year, the Chippewas are 8-5, and went 6-2 in the MAC to win the West Division.
McElwain is wary of San Diego’s State’s vaunted defense, which has allowed 154 points this season, just 12.8 points per game.
“It’s a huge challenge, and yet I like our plan,” said McElwain, the MAC Coach of the Year. “It really just comes down to us being able to execute and do what we can do and not worry about them.”
The Chippewas enter with a balanced attack on offense led by quarterback Quinten Dormady (2,148 yards, 14 touchdowns) with running backs Jonathan Ward (1,082 yards, 15 TDs) and Kobe Lewis (977 yards, 11 TDs), who average 6.2 and 5.5 yards per carry, respectively.
Meanwhile, many of the Aztecs, including sophomore defensive end Keshawn Banks (Rio
Saturday, noon, Dreamstyle Stadium. ESPN (Clay Matvick, Ryan Leaf, Dr. Jerry Punch) 101.7 FM (Dave Neal, DJ Shockley, Dawn Davenport) San Diego State by 3½ First meeting
San Diego State is making a school-record 10th straight bowl appearance but hasn’t won a bowl game since its 31-10 victory over Houston in the 2016 Las Vegas Bowl. The Aztecs lost to Ohio 27-0 in the Frisco Bowl last year. This season, San Diego State started with a 7-1 record then dropped two of its last three conference games to fall out of contention for a Mountain West title game berth. Meanwhile, the Chippewas under first-year coach Jim McElwain completed one of the nation’s biggest turnarounds following a 1-11 season — the school’s worst. Under McElwain, Central Michigan won the MidAmerican Conference West and reached the title game for the first time since 2009.
San Diego State and Central Michigan have stingy defenses and have offenses that seek to control the clock. The Aztecs rank second in the nation in rushing defense (72.3) and second in rushing yards allowed per carry (2.6). Central Michigan is also known this season for its rushing defense. The Chippewas have given up 115.1 rushing yards per game — a mark ranked 20th nationwide. Central Michigan, however, has scored 415 points this season, the fifth-most in program history. The Chippewas are averaging 31.9 points a game while the Aztecs average 19 points.
San Diego
Rancho High) and sophomore running back Jordan Byrd (Manzano), have a bad memory of their last bowl game and they have been using it for motivation for this New Mexico Bowl.
SDSU closed out the 2018 season with a 27-0 loss to Ohio in the Frisco Bowl.
State cornerback Luq Barcoo is tied for second in FBS with eight interceptions and is tied for first place nationally for pass breakups (16). He was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back). Mobile quarterback Ryan Agnew is ranked 18th in interception percentage (1.47). He is 14-4 as a starting quarterback over his career. Aztec LB Kyahva Tezino, 222 tackles, 11¾ sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception the last two seasons) is likely to be a late-round NFL draft pick. … Central Michigan senior running back Jonathan Ward comes into the game with 1,082 yards and 15 touchdowns. Behind him in the Chippewas run attack is sophomore Kobe Lewis, who has 777 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Quinten Dormady, a graduate transfer from Tennessee, took over the starting role midseason and has completed 66.8% of his passes for 2,148 yards and 14 touchdowns.
San Diego State coach Rocky Long is returning to Albuquerque, where coached New Mexico from 1998 to 2008 and led the Lobos to five bowl game appearances. … Chippewas coach Jim McElwain is returning to the New Mexico Bowl following a 2013 appearance as Colorado State head coach and led the Rams to a dramatic 48-45 come-from-behind victory over Washington State. … San Diego State’s 10th straight bowl appearance is tied for the 11th-longest streak nationally. … Central Michigan sophomore wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton, a transfer from Virginia Tech, had recorded 79 receptions and six touchdowns this season.
The Aztecs defense features five returning starters, including linebackers Kyahva Tezino and Troy Cassidy, as well as safeties Kyree Woods, Tariq Thompson and Trenton Thompson.