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On December 24, the Bearcats will face the 10-3 San Diego State Aztecs in what will likely be an offensive matchup. One of the top offensive players for the Aztecs is running back Chase Price. Though not the primary running back for San Diego State, Price has accumulated 940 yards and 6 touchdowns on the year, putting up some gaudy numbers in key games.
Price, a junior, rushed for over 100 yards in two of the last four games, and has accumulated three total touchdowns in the past four games. Although a second fiddle to starting running back Donnell Pumphrey, Price is still a key player on a team that utilizes the run often. In fact, this 2015 team owns the school record for most rushing yards accumulated in one season with 3,061.
Stopping the run is going to be a key factor for the Bearcats if they want to win this bowl game, and if they allow two running backs to accumulate big yardage on them, it could be a long day for Cincinnati. Price has gone over 100 rushing yards three times this year, and the Aztecs are 3-0 in those games. In addition, all six touchdowns by Price have been during the team's 10-game winning streak. In San Diego's three losses, Price was limited to under 50 yards rushing. This likely isn't a coincidence. It becomes difficult to win games when the opponent has two running backs that can eat up both yards and game clock.
Keeping Gunner Kiel and the Cincinnati offense off the field is going to likely be the gameplan for San Diego State, and having not one, but two running backs can help limit the opportunities of the explosive Bearcats offense.
The Aztecs have plenty of motivation to give the ball to Price. If Price gets over 60 yards in the Hawaii Bowl, it will be the first time in the team's history that they have had two 1,000 rushers in the same season. There have only been 21 players to do it in the history of the school's football program.
Highlights from San Diego State's 38-3 win over Wyoming
Price (No. 22) ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns.