No. 23 San Diego State holds off UNLV, 28-20

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LAS VEGAS (AP) – Lucas Johnson made 18 of 24 attempts to pass for 192 yards, throwing three touchdowns and …

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Lucas Johnson made 18 of 24 attempts to pass for 192 yards, throwing three touchdowns, and No. 23 San Diego State survived a horror Friday night to beat UNLV 28-20.

The Aztecs (10-1) were only leading 21:20 before Johnson found Jesse Matthews in the game for a 7-yard stroke with 3:33.

San Diego State linebacker Seyddrick Lakalaka intercepted UNLV quarterback Justin Rogers with less than 2 minutes of play to thwart the Rebels’ final attempt.

Matthews finished with nine receptions for 75 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first San Diego State player to score three TDs in one game since Colin Lockett’s trio at the 2001 New Orleans Bowl.

The Las Vegas product Elijah Kothe finished with five receptions for 84 yards for the Aztecs, while Greg Bell ran for 52 yards on 14 carries.

UNLV (2-9) defeated the Aztecs, 394-290.

UNLV lost quarterback Cam Friel midway through the first half and turned to Rogers, the original starter of the season. Rogers didn’t look like the rickety quarterback who stepped in at times during the Rebel campaign.

Rogers finished 15 of 21 for 305 yards and two touchdown passes, while Steve Jenkins had five receptions for 176 yards.

Charles Williams, the Rebel career rushing leader, was held with 16 carries at 40 yards.

Instead, it was Rogers who ignited the rebels in the first half, 6 for 7 for 126 yards and a touchdown, a 43-yard blow to a wide-open Zyell Griffin.

Griffin found his way past San Diego State secondary school and was alone catching the ball before it rolled in untouched.

The Aztecs would reply on their next drive, taking only 3:38 to cover 59 yards in 10 games, culminating in a 4-yard TD pass from Johnson to Matthews to bring San Diego State back to the 14-10 at 14-10 Bring lace.

UNLV’s next drive started well but stalled when San Diego State beat the Rebels with 4th and 2nd

The Aztecs got to work right away, adjusting eight plays and 54 yards in just 44 seconds when Johnson and Matthews worked together a second time to increase San Diego State’s lead to 21-10 in the half.

SURVEY IMPACT

At the very least, the state of San Diego is likely to keep up in the top 25 discussion in this week’s poll, with the option to move a spot or two down after struggling with the two rebels it won. The Aztecs rank 19th in the College Football Playoffs rankings.

NEXT

San Diego State: Boise State hosted Friday’s season finale

UNLV: Ends his season with the Air Force on Friday

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