San Diego, California: Aztecs Beat Washington State 26-20 on Kinnard's Two Touchdowns and a Trick Play

San Diego State held off a late Washington State comeback on a rainy Halloween night at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, beating the Cougars 26-20 on Saturday behind two rushing touchdowns from Javion Kinnard and a fourth quarter trick play.

Kinnard ran for 87 yards and scored on runs of 9 and 10 yards in the first half. Lucky Sutton carried the Aztecs ground game with 115 yards on 18 carries, and San Diego State built its win on 202 rushing yards on a night when its passing game produced just 102 yards.

A back and forth first half in the rain

Washington State answered the Aztecs opening touchdown drive with a 75 yard, nine play drive of its own, finished by a 4 yard touchdown run from quarterback Owen Eshelman that tied the game at 7. Kinnard scored again early in the second quarter to put San Diego State back in front 14-7.

The teams traded scores from there. Cooper DiLeva kicked a 36 yard field goal with 3:16 left in the first half that gave the Aztecs the lead for good at 17-14, according to the Associated Press game report.

San Diego State quarterback Stone Saunders finished with 102 passing yards and an interception, and the win was his first as a starter. The Aztecs stopped Washington State on fourth and 1 on the opening possession.

DiLeva extends the lead, then the trick play lands

Jaylen Thomas intercepted Saunders on the third play from scrimmage in the second half, but Washington State failed to convert a fourth and 4 from the San Diego State 30. DiLeva added a 45 yard field goal about six and a half minutes into the third quarter to stretch the lead to 20-14.

The decisive score came on fourth and goal in the fourth quarter. Sutton took a direct snap and handed off to Saunders, who pitched the ball to wide receiver Bert Emanuel Jr. coming around the left end. Emanuel, a former backup quarterback, threw a 2 yard touchdown pass to tight end Jackson Ford in the end zone. The play gave San Diego State a 26-14 lead with 9:51 to play, and the two point conversion pass failed.

Eshelman brings the Cougars back, but the last drive ends on downs

Eshelman was the Cougars offense. He completed 30 of 42 passes for 299 yards with an interception, ran 16 times for 34 yards and two touchdowns, and accounted for 333 of Washington State's 367 total yards. Daniel Blood caught eight passes for 105 yards.

His 2 yard touchdown run with 6:55 left, after a 43 yard completion to Blood set the Cougars up deep, cut the lead to 26-20. The extra point was no good. Washington State forced a punt and converted two third downs on its final possession, but the drive ended on downs at the Cougars own 48 yard line.

San Diego State improved to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the Pac-12, and now needs two wins in its final three games to reach bowl eligibility for a second straight season. Washington State fell to 1-8 and 0-5 in the Pac-12, and has lost six games in a row. Announced attendance was 19,184, the lowest of the season.

San Diego State hosts Utah State on November 14, and Washington State hosts Colorado State in Pullman on November 14.