Aztecs Watch Central Michigan Claw Back for 22-21 Win in Final Seconds

San Diego State put up 21 points in the first half, and nothing in the second, yet the Aztecs still clung to a 21-19 lead over Central Michigan with under two minutes to play Saturday.

They had two key chances to give themselves a cushion in the fourth quarter, but kicker Nick Lopez missed two field goal attempts – from 33 yards with 4:44 on the clock and 28 yards with 1:56 left – to give the Chippewas a chance.

They didn’t waste it, and with 5 seconds left, Central Michigan kicker Tristan Mattson hit a 46-yard field goal – his career high – to hand SDSU its third straight loss, 22-21.

The game winner, one of three field goals for Mattson, completed a 15-play, 52-yard drive by quarterback Joe Labas.

Danny O’Neil, returning from injury, and Jude Wolfe teamed up for 5- and 26-yard touchdowns in the second quarter, giving San Diego State (1-3) a 21-13 lead at halftime.

With the touchdowns, SDSU took the lead following a first quarter in which Labas had an 8-yard scoring toss to Marion Lukes and Mattson added a 25-yard field goal to give Central Michigan (3-2) an early 10-7 lead.

O’Neil totaled 246 yards on 14-for-23 passing for the Aztecs. Marquez Cooper rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown, in the first quarter, on 34 carries. Louis Brown IV caught eight passes for 149 yards.

Labas completed 27 of 43 passes for 275 yards with one interception for the Chippewas. B.J. Harris had a 1-yard touchdown run at the end of a 15-play, 77-yard drive in the third quarter but the two-point conversion failed, leaving SDSU with the slim lead.

Bryce Phillips gave the Aztecs what appeared to be a huge boost with 2:17 remaining, intercepting a pass from Labas and returning it 68 yards to the Central Michigan 11-yard line. But three plays later, Lopez missed his second field goal of the quarter and the Chippewas had their opening.

Head coach Sean Lewis did not point fingers at his players. Instead, he told San Diego Sports 760 that his staff needs to do a “better job leading guys” so the team “can finish the right way.”

On defense, J.D. Coffey III had a big day with 15 tackles, but left the game due to injury. Lewis didn’t go into specifics, but said after the game that “he’s doing alright.”

San Diego State returns home Oct. 5 to begin Mountain West play, hosting Hawaii (2-2).