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San Diego State likely awarded with warm vacation in the Vegas Bowl after outlasting Wyoming in frozen Mountain West Championship

San Diego State survived Wyoming and the elements to be crowned champions of the Mountain West Conference.
San Diego State survived Wyoming and the elements to be crowned champions of the Mountain West Conference.

Second coldest game in San Diego State’s recorded history? No problem.

San Diego State hung on to win a close 27-24 game over Wyoming, avenging SDSU’s 33-34 loss two weeks ago to the Pokes.

In what could have been a stand-in set for the Battle of Hoth, Wyoming and SDSU battled for the Mountain West Championship in frigid Laramie, Wyoming. Whereas it was Wyoming’s first trip to the MWC Championship since its inclusion to the conference, SDSU beat Air Force last season to become MWC Champions in another 27-24 victory.

Wyoming drew first blood with kicker Cooper Rothe tying a career long 46-yard field goal by doinking the ball off the crossbar and through the uprights.

Following that fortunate field goal make, Wyoming’s luck struck again as Sidney Malauulu, nose tackle from South Korea, tipped a screen pass and came down with the interception deep in SDSU territory. Taking advatage of the turnover, quarterback Josh Allen found Jacob Hollister in the end zone for a 12-yard score.

The Aztecs responded later in the first quarter with a 9-yard touchdown run from star running back Donnel Pumphrey. Pumphrey’s impressive carreer added another medal as he passed Ricky Williams as second all-time rusher in FBS history in the game. Another Aztec touchdown almost ensued, but Wyoming’s Josh Allen tracked back after throwing an interception and forced a fumble from cornerback Damontae Kazee as he attempted to extend the ball towards the pylon. SDSU kicked a 37-yard field goal to tie the game at 10-10, and the Pokes would not lead the rest of the game.

Wyoming ended the first half struggling to convert third-downs, earning just one of seven third down opportunities. The Pokes would only get one third-down in the second half too. While Wyoming missed a 42-yard field goal in the third quarter, Donnel Pumphrey’s backfield mate Rashaad Penny rushed for touchdowns to set up a 24-10 Aztec lead.

Quarterback Josh Allen made magic happen in the fourth quarter as he extended a play to throw a miraculous 33-yard rocket on a 3rd and 9 to C.J. Johnson for a score.

C.J. Johnson caught second touchdown later in the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 27-24 and a chance to win Wyoming’s first MWC title ever. Unfortunately for the Pokes, they could not capitalize on an Aztec fumble in the red zone with four minutes left. SDSU becomes the second back-to-back MWC Champions, previously accomplished by Fresno State.

San Diego State likely garners an appearance in the Vegas Bowl against Houston as a reward for their win in Laramie.