SAN DIEGO — It made headlines last week when UTSA All-America running back Sincere McCormick announced he would miss the Frisco Bowl against San Diego State.
UTSA cornerback Tariq Woolen may have been the player the Roadrunners missed the most, however.
Without Woolen in the UTSA secondary, SDSU quarterback Lucas Johnson and wide receiver Jesse Matthews enjoyed their finest days as Aztecs in a 38-24 victory Tuesday night.
Johnson had just the second 300-yard passing game for SDSU in the past seven seasons, throwing for 333 yards and three touchdowns.
Matthews was on the receiving end for most of the yardage, with a highlight-reel performance that included 11 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
No. 24 SDSU needed all of it — and more — before a very pro-Roadrunners crowd of 15,801 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Johnson capped his big night with a 2-yard rushing touchdown that sealed the victory with 10 minutes remaining in the game.
An hour before kickoff, 247Sports.com reported UTSA was missing as many as 20 players.
Most of the absences were due to COVID-19 protocols, although in the days leading up to kickoff three UTSA starters — McCormick, Woolen and defensive lineman Lorenzo Dantzler — opted out in order to focus on their professional aspirations.
McCormick’s absence was mitigated by the presence of backup running back Brenden Brady, who rushed 16 times for 76 yards and a touchdown against the nation’s No. 2 rushing defense.
Johnson (24-for-36 passing) displayed an accuracy and acumen that was absent earlier in the season when he took over for injured starter Jordon Brookshire.
He became the first SDSU quarterback to throw for 300 yards since Ryan Agnew had 323 yards two years ago against Fresno State.
A deeper dive in the SDSU record book is required to come up with the previous 300-yard effort, that being 326 yards by Quinn Kaehler in 2014 against Air Force.
SDSU (12-2) scored 21 second-half points — including a 24-yard TD catch by wide receiver Tyrell Shavers in the third quarter — fueled by Johnson’s efforts in his final collegiate game.
The Aztecs realized significant team and individual milestones in the game:
— The year’s 12th victory set a single-season school record.
— Senior Matt Araiza, a unanimous All-America pick who was honored two weeks ago as the nation’s top punter, had three punts that averaged 46.7 yards. Araiza finished with a 51.19-yard punting average, breaking the single-season NCAA record of 50.98 yards set three years ago by Texas A&M’s Braden Mann.
— Senior Greg Bell (26 carries, 101 yards, TD) went over 1,000 rushing yards for the season with a 5-yard carry in the second quarter. Bell finished the season with 1,091 yards. He is the 18th running back to reach the 1,000-yard milestone, which was accomplished for the 26th time in the program’s 99-year history.
Bell picked an important moment to reach the milestone, gaining five yards on a fourth-and-4 play from the UTSA 36-yard line. It extended a drive in which SDSU tied the score 14-14.
SDSU took its first lead of the game when Araiza’s 33-yard field goal made it 17-14 as time expired in the first half.
It was an uphill climb throughout the first half for the Aztecs.
UTSA (12-2) drove down the field with the game’s opening drive, covering 75 yards in seven plays. Quarterback Frank Harris (22-for-36, 271 yards, 2 TDs/1 INT) threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver De’Corian Clark to give the Roadrunners a 7-0 lead with just 2 1/2 minutes elapsed on the clock.
It was the first time this season the SDSU defense allowed a touchdown on an opponent’s first drive of the game.
The Aztecs responded with the season’s most effective offensive connection — Johnson-to-Matthews.
The athletic and acrobatic Matthews evened the score with 5:09 left in the first quarter on a 20-yard touchdown reception in which he avoided going out of bounds before leaping for the left cone to get over the goal line.
UTSA came right back to take a 14-7 lead on a 2-yard run by Brady with two minutes remaining in the opening period.
The drive was aided by a personal foul penalty against SDSU cornerback Tayler Hawkins moments before Brady walked into the end zone.
Johnson kept looking for Matthews when SDSU got the ball back early in the second quarter. A 30-yard completion to the junior from Christian High preceded an 11-yard touchdown pass that made it 14-14 with 9:14 left in the half.
Penalties plagued the Aztecs throughout the first half. They were whistled for nine infractions that totaled 80 yards.
The most egregious moments came just before halftime, when two false starts and personal foul for unsportsmanlike conduct moved the Aztecs back from the UTSA 1-yard line.
Instead of needing a yard for a touchdown, they had to settle for Araiza’s field goal.
SDSU finished the game with 14 penalties for 124 yards.
It didn’t matter because the pass was back in the Aztec attack.
