San Diego State had two players named Mountain West Player of the Week for the second straight week. Senior running back D.J. Pumphrey was named Offensive Player of the Week while senior punter was named Special Teams Player of the Week.

Pumphrey rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns in SDSU’s 42-28 win at Northern Illinois. He received the conference award in back-to-back weeks, also receiving it last week after a 281-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 45-40 win over Cal.

Pumphrey leads the nation in rushing with 599 yards (averaging 8.2 yards/carry). He moved up to No. 29 on the NCAA career rushing list with 4,871 yards.

Blain, who grew up within 100 miles of Northern Illinois in Lindenhurst, Ill, averaged 42.4 yards on his five punts against the Huskies. Most impressive was how he pinned NIU inside its 10-yard line on four occasions. He had punts downed at the 2-, 3- and 4-yard lines. Another punt went out of bounds at the 6.


For the season, Blain’s 18 punts have included seven inside the 20-yard line and five fair catches. He has punted for a 38.7-yard average.

Blain follows teammate Rashaad Penny as conference Special Teams Player of the Week.

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Off, then on to South Alabama

The Aztecs (3-0) have this week off before resuming the season on Oct. 1 at South Alabama. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on ESPNews.


The Jaguars (1-2) have lost two straight games —24-9 vs. Georgia Southern and 28-23 at Louisiana-Lafayette — since opening the season with a 21-20 win at Mississippi State.

South Alabama hosts Nicholls this week before the Aztecs come calling. South Alabama upset SDSU 34-27 in overtime last season at Qualcomm Stadium.

Light practice schedule

SDSU head coach Rocky Long said the team will have an abbreviated practice schedule this week. The Aztecs had Monday off. They will practice Tuesday through Thursday, then have Friday and Saturday off. Practices will include scrimmage time for reserves to get in extra work in full pads.

kirk.kenney@sduniontribune.com / on Twitter: @sdutkirKDKenney