running backs really stole the show today, being

LAS VEGAS -- Donnel Pumphrey seemed nowhere near as excited about the chance to become the NCAA career rushing record as his San Diego State teammates during the week leading up to his final game.Fittingly, when he broke the record on a 15-yard toss sweep to the right early in the fourth quarter, Pumphrey ended being pushed out of bounds on the sideline where he could be immediately swarmed by his friends and coaches.Pumphrey finished with 115 yards rushing and a touchdown in San Diego States 34-10 victory over Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl.Pumphrey passed former Wisconsin star Ron Daynes mark of 6,397 yards and wrapped up his sensational career in his Nevada hometown with 6,405 yards, earning the games most valuable player honors.Pumphreys senior total of 2,133 yards rushing ranks in the top 10 for an FBS player.It means the world to me, Pumphrey said on the field immediately after the game as his father wiped away tears before hugging him.It means just as much to his teammates.Its emotional, running back Rashaad Penny said. To watch that guy do what he do and accomplish so many goals, its amazing.Were just as fired up as he is, linebacker Calvin Munson said. All of our defensive guys hate him in practice because he is good and he gets us better. He couldnt have done it without the O-line, the fullbacks, the offense.Im just trying to take some credit for you, Munson joked, with a smiling Pumphrey sitting next to him.Head coach Rocky Long turned to Munson and responded: You dont block anybody.Ron Smith returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown, Curtis Anderson caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Christian Chapman, Juwan Washington ran for a touchdown, and John Baron kicked two field goals for the Aztecs (11-3). They overcame a 10-0 first-quarter deficit against the Cougars (9-4) to turn their second consecutive bowl win into a laugher.Neither the victory nor Pumphreys record-setting performance seemed likely after Houstons defense absolutely smothered the Aztecs in the first quarter. Led by freshman Ed Oliver, Houston had seven tackles for loss on San Diego States first 16 plays. Pumphrey had minus-1 yard rushing on seven carries in the first quarter and the Aztecs didnt have a first down until the first play of the second quarter -- on a penalty for running into the kicker.The first quarter, they came out with more intensity than we did, at least their defensive side of the ball, Pumphrey said.But Pumphrey started to gash Houston on the perimeter, giving San Diego State the lead for good on a 32-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, and the defense intercepted four of Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr.s passes in the second half.When you are leaving your defense out there too long thats what happens, Houston coach Major Applewhite said. When you give a great back that many at-bats and that many opportunities, one is going to hit at some point and it did.Ward threw for 229 yards and had a 2-yard touchdown run, tying Bryce Bealls school record of 39 rushing touchdowns.Houston finished with 254 yards of total offense and just 25 yards rushing.They beat the crap out of us, tight end Tyler McCloskey said. We didnt show up. We didnt execute the way we needed to.THE TAKEAWAYSan Diego State: The running game for the Aztecs was historic. Not only did Pumphrey set NCAA and school records, but Penny topped the 1,000-yard mark to give San Diego State the first college backfield with a 2,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard rusher in the same season. Capping its most prolific rushing season ever, San Diego State had 127 yards on the ground against the nations No. 3 run defense.We a run-first team, Penny said. Thats all we count on.Houston: Oliver is the real deal, finishing his remarkable freshman season with 23 tackles for loss and five sacks after picking up 3.5 stops in the backfield in his first bowl game. With his knack for delivering in showcase games -- Oliver had 8 1/2 tackles for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble against Oklahoma, Louisville and San Diego State -- it wouldnt be a surprise if his second season ends with national awards.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Aztecs could find themselves ranked in the final poll for the first time since 1977. Houstons tumultuous season will end outside the Top 25.HE SAID ITThey dont get their per-diems unless they show up for curfew, so they were all there because they love money. -- Long on why his team obeyed curfew this week.Houston wide receiver Chance Allen, who had a team-leading six touchdown receptions this season, did not play after breaking curfew Thursday night.UP NEXTSan Diego State: The Aztecs must replace four starters on the offensive line, but should be contenders to defend their Mountain West title for a third consecutive season with a strong group of returning skill players.Houston: After dropping his first game as head coach, Applewhite must build a staff. Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando is set to join Tom Herman at Texas, and the American Athletic Conference is not lacking for offensive firepower.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Chad Thomas Womens Jersey . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. Austin Corbett Jersey . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. http://www.brownsauthenticproshop.com/Youth-Myles-Garrett-Jersey/ . PAUL, Minn. Austin Corbett Womens Jersey . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. Ozzie Newsome Browns Jersey . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. Juventus says Pirlo underwent tests on Monday which revealed he has "a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee. DENVER -- Instead of 300 yards receiving from Julio Jones, the Atlanta Falcons got 3 1/2 sacks from Vic Beasley Jr.Maybe this defense really can play.Already an offensive juggernaut, the Falcons turned up the defensive pressure and made life miserable for rookie Paxton Lynch in a 23-16 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.Beasley led the punishment of Lynch, who was making his first start as he filled in for a banged-up Trevor Siemian . Lynch was sacked six times and looked every bit like the rookie he is for the Broncos (4-1).It may be the start of something good for a maligned Falcons defense.This is like a machine and you have to have all the parts of the engine working together, defensive end Dwight Freeney said. When you have that, you can have the success like were having.The road wont get any easier for the Falcons (4-1) as they stay out west to go against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks next weekend.For Denver, its quickly back to the drawing board in a short week. The team travels to San Diego on Thursday. Siemian and his sprained left shoulder could be back in time for that game.We didnt want to expose (Siemian) today, explained Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who was taken to the hospital following the game as a precaution with flu-like symptoms. They came into our place, played with a lot of poise and made a lot of big plays.But none of them came from Jones. He had 300 yards receiving in a win over Carolina last weekend, but was held to two catches for 29 yards.They took me away and they were like, `All right, youre not going to beat us today, Jones said. Everybody else is going to step up. Weve got a lot of weapons.Like tailback Tevin Coleman, who had four catches for 132 yards and a TD. Or Devonta Freeman, whose 1-yard TD on fourth down during the opening drive set the tone for the rest of the game. Matt Ryan later converted a fourth-and-1 with a QB sneak that set up a field goal before halftime.Thats our mindset, to attack offensively, Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. We just wanted to keep attacking.A few takeaways from the game:BRONCOS QBss: Lynch struggled in his first NFL start, and the Broncos only have three days to get Siemian healthy.dddddddddddd.Siemian sat out with a sore left shoulder, though Kubiak said he had been very close to being able to play against Atlanta. Instead, Lynch went 23 for 35 for 223 yards and took six sacks. It was a near opposite of his relief appearance last week against the Bucs , when he threw for 170 yards and a score to help the Broncos pull away from Tampa Bay.If my number gets called again, Im going to make sure Im ready to go out there and play, Lynch said. But if my number isnt called, Ill make sure Im ready to play if I have to go in the game.BY AIR OR LAND: Jones took a backseat to Atlantas tandem of tailbacks. Freeman rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries and caught three passes for 35 yards. Coleman caught four passes for 132 yards and a touchdown and added 31 yards on six carries.I thought the running backs really stole the show today, being a factor both in the run game and the pass game, Quinn said.FAST START, THEN WHAT?: The good start is nothing new for the Falcons. But now what?Atlanta won its first five games last season, but only won three games the rest of the way. This year, the Falcons are 4-1 through five games and Quinn is convinced the season wont play out like 2015.We are mentally tougher than what we were, Quinn said.RESHUFFLED LINE: With right tackle Ty Sambrailo struggling to keep Beasley contained, the Broncos juggled around their line. They shifted Michael Schofield from guard to tackle and inserted Darrion Weems at guard. Sambrailo watched from the bench.NEAR PICKS: Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. both had interceptions in their hands, but couldnt hang on.Those are plays we expect to make all the time, Harris said. We just didnt make them today.---AP National Writer Eddie Pells and AP Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '