Sometimes the best offense is smothering defense.
That's what boosted No. 22-ranked San Diego State to its seventh straight win, a 20-14 victory Saturday night over Air Force at Falcon Stadium that enabled SDSU to remain one of only 10 unbeaten teams in the country.
SDSU limited the nation's top rushing defense to 192 yards, 142 yards less than its average, setting the tone early and making a big stop late to secure the win.
The Aztecs made big, disruptive plays in the first half against an Air Force team adept at controlling the ball (second in the nation in time of possession) and controlling it.
The D thwarted Air Force three times — with an interception, a fourth-down stop and fumble recovery — to set up each of SDSU's first-half scores for a 13-0 halftime lead.
The Aztecs' scoring drives in the first two periods: 4, 42 and 12 yards.
In addition to the defense, the nation's top punter also aided the Aztecs. Matt Araiza's first punt went 81 yards. By game's end, Araiza had punted five times for an average of 54.8 yards, a yard more than his 53.8-yard season average.
SDSU (7-0, 3-0 Mountain West) now is off to its best start since the 1975 Aztecs opened the season with eight straight wins.
Next up for SDSU is a home game against Fresno State (5-2, 2-1 MW going into the weekend), which had a 31-23 lead over Nevada (5-1, 2-0) midway through the fourth quarter.
SDSU drove 75 yards down the field with the opening possession of the second half — longer than its first three scores combined — culminating with Chance Bell's 3-yard touchdown run for a 20-0 lead.
The Aztecs played conservatively thereafter, keeping the ball on the ground most of the second half. SDSU rushed 39 times in the game for 157 yards, totaling 229 yards in total offense for the game.
SDSU starting quarterback Lucas Johnson (11 for 13, 72 yards) threw mostly screens and short outs, on the rare occasions that he reared back to throw the ball.
The Aztecs were looking for their first shutout since a 6-0 win over Weber State to open the 2019 season, and it appeared there was a chance of that before the bid ended amid some controversy.
Air Force benefited from a video replay that overturned a fourth-down incompletion into a 13-yard touchdown that made it 20-7 with 1:07 remaining in the third quarter.
On the play, SDSU safety Patrick McMorris hit Air Force tight end Dalton King at the goal line, knocking the ball loose before King made a "football move."
On review, it was ruled a catch with King crossing the goal line for a TD.
The pass was thrown by Air Force backup quarterback Warren Bryan, who sparked the Falcons after starting quarterback Haaziq Daniels was injured midway through the third quarter.
Air Force made it a one-score game when Dane Kinamon took a pitch and scored a 3-yard touchdown to make it 20-14 with 3:59 remaining.
The Falcons forced an SDSU punt on its next possession, getting the ball back with 2:18 remaining. The Aztecs defense stepped up one more time, stopping Air Force deep in its own territory to force a punt that allowed SDSU to run out the clock.
SDSU's big defensive plays began before the game was a minute old when junior cornerback Dallas Branch intercepted a pass by Daniels.
Branch made an outstanding one-handed catch, reaching high with his left hand to snag the ball out of the air before returning it to the Air Force 9-yard line.
The play was all the more memorable because Branch's season debut was delayed a month with broken bones in that left hand, forcing him to practice and play with his left hand wrapped like a club.
The club just came off, and Branch made immediate use of his freed fingers.
Three straight handoffs to SDSU running back Kaegun Williams, starting for Greg Bell, moved the ball only 4 yards closer to the goal line.
SDSU punter/placekicker Matt Araiza came on for a 22-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
You know it's your day when even mistakes are forgiven.
On Air Force's third drive of the game, the Falcons' Micah Davis got behind the defense on second down from the Falcon 14-yard line.
But Davis dropped the ball with clear field ahead for a would-be 86-yard touchdown.
Air Force punted two plays later.
The Falcons nearly lost the ball on their next drive when Daniels had it jarred loose on a run, the ball squirting straight into the air to the Falcons' Jake Spiewak.
No matter.
SDSU dug in, forcing the Falcons to turn the ball over on downs later in the drive when the Aztecs stuffed a fourth-and-1 play for no gain to take possession at the Air Force 42-yard line.
On the play, SDSU defensive end Keshawn Banks dove through the line and grabbed Daniels by the ankle and held on for a tackle before the QB could make a move.
SDSU converted that into a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Williams.
The Aztecs defense collected another turnover on the next Air Force drive when safety Trenton Thompson forced the Falcons' DeAndre Hughes to fumble and cornerback Noah Avinger covered the loose ball at the Air Force 42-yard line.
SDSU's offense stopped itself with a holding penalty and two false start penalties, so the Aztecs settled for a 51-yard field goal by Araiza for a 13-0 halftime lead.
