Weird Aztec Touchdown Fires Up Colorado State

FORT COLLINS, Colo. —  Colorado State, aroused by a ruling that awarded San Diego State a touchdown on a bizarre punt return, rallied for 13 points late in the third quarter en route to a 19-17 victory Saturday.

Anthoney Hill ran for one touchdown and passed for another, and the unbeaten Rams converted two turnovers into two scores in that decisive third quarter.

Colorado State, 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the Western Athletic Conference, has won seven in a row.

The disputed play gave San Diego (2-2, 0-1) a 10-6 lead. Matt McDougal’s punt was partially blocked by Freddie Edwards, and the Rams’ Steve Standifer appeared to be downing the ball when teammate Prentice Davis slid into it. The ball squirted out and, as Colorado State players eased up thinking the play was over, San Diego State’s Ray Peterson scooped it up and dashed 37 yards for the score with 9:51 remaining in the third quarter.

Ram running back E.J. Watson, who rushed for 136 yards, said he and his teammates were “really ticked off. Our player downed the ball, and he picked it up and ran. I don’t see how a referee could let that happen. It’s unprofessional.”

Referee Jack Baker said the ball wasn’t downed. “Touching it and walking away is not considered downing the ball,” he said.