San Diego State fullback Dakota Gordon helped spearhead the Aztecs' rushing attack and added four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown in the win. Gordon was named Most Valuable Player for the Aztecs. Steve Erler | SL

View image 1 of 1

HALAWA — San Diego State churned out 207 yards rushing and scored in all three facets of the game to pummel Cincinnati, 42-7 in the Hawaii Bowl Thursday afternoon.

A crowd of 14,537 fans at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium saw the Aztecs (11-3), champions of the Mountain West Conference, record their 10th consecutive victory to match the school record for victories in a season that was set in 1966. 

Cincinnati, of the American Athletic Conference, suffered its third straight bowl loss and saw its season end with a 7-6 record.

The 35-point differential tied the largest margin of victory in the Hawaii Bowl. 

"I didn't anticipate this to be the way it was," San Diego State coach Rocky Long said on his team's decisive victory. "I thought it was going to be a fairly high scoring game and somebody win by 3 or 7 points." 

Senior fullback Dakota Gordon spearheaded the San Diego State rushing attack and was named the Most Valuable Player for the Aztecs. He paved the way for tailbacks Donnel Pumphrey (25 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown) and Chase Price (13 carries, 68 yards) while being a sneaky receiver on play-action passes, finishing with four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. 

"Coach called my name and he just gave me an opportunity to make plays so I went out there and gave it my all," said Gordon. "Fullbacks don't get all the glory sometimes. The fact that I won this (award) just blows my mind." 

San Diego State also became the second team (outside of the University of Hawaii) to play at Aloha Stadium in the regular season and return for the Hawaii Bowl. The Aztecs defeated Hawaii, 28-14 to even their record at 3-3 on Oct. 10.

"We were more comfortable being here," said Gordon. "We got a win here the last time and I think that had an effect on how we played today." 

The Bearcats entered the contest with the fifth best offense in the country, averaging 559.4 total yards per game, but could not find any rhythm against the Aztecs' defense and was held to 279 yards of total offense.

San Diego State pressured quarterback Hayden Moore all game and recorded three interceptions on the redshirt freshman, which included a 43-yard pick-six by Alex Barrett. Moore was making his third career start behind center in place of regular starter Gunner Kiel, who did not make the trip to Hawaii for undisclosed personal reasons. 

Defensive lineman Kyle Kelley led the effort against the Bearcats and finished with three and one-half sacks, a new Hawaii Bowl record.

"They're a good defense, one of the better ones in the country," Cincinnati coach Tommy Tubberville said on San Diego State. "They bring five or six almost every snap. I thought our protection was good but Hayden (Moore) panicked a little bit, getting out of the pocket instead of waiting for his receivers to get open."

Another San Diego State player that set a new Hawaii Bowl record was Rashaad Penny, who returned the game's opening kickoff for 100 yards for his third touchdown return this season. His return jumpstarted a string of six unanswered touchdowns for the Aztecs.

"I think college football is based on momentum," said Long. "When you return the opening kickoff for a touchdown, the momentum goes to your sideline real quick and we just built on that."

The Aztecs pushed their lead to two scores with a 9-play, 85-yard drive on their first offensive series. Redshirt freshman Christian Chapman, who was making his second career start in place of the injured Maxwell Smith, capped the drive with a 14-yard scoring strike to Mikah Holder on third down.

Chapman benefitted from a run-heavy San Diego State offense (52 carries) and was efficient when the Aztecs needed to pass, completing eight of his 11 pass attempts for 113 yards and a touchdown.

Pumphrey touched the ball on every play of the Aztecs' next scoring drive to help his team take a 21-0 lead into the break. The 5-foot-9 junior began the drive with a 33-yard scamper, his longest of the game, and ended the series with a 16-yard pass to Gordon.

A gamble by the Cincinnati special teams unit in the third quarter would contribute to the Aztecs' next score. Instead of attempting a 41-yard field goal, kicker Andrew Gantz received a lateral over the head of holder Sam Geraci as he tried to get around the right edge. San Diego State's Malik Smith sniffed out the play and dropped Gantz for a 9-yard loss

The turnover on downs led to an eight-play, 56-yard drive that was capped with Gordon's 1-yard touchdown run. This gave San Diego State a 28-0 lead with 5:14 remaining in the third quarter.

San Diego State got the ball back two minutes later to engineer its longest series of the game. Pumphrey capped the 11-play, 85-yard drive with a 2-yard burst on his final carry of the afternoon.

The Aztecs' last score of the contest came on Barrett's interception return with 9:04 remaining in the game. The pick-six came one play after Kelley set the Hawaii Bowl sack record and two plays after the Bearcats were flagged for offensive pass interference. 

Cincinnati avoided the bowl's first shutout on Mike Boone's 1-yard wildcat keeper late in the fourth quarter. Gantz's PAT prevented the Bearcats from tying the bowl record for fewest points scored.