SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State Aztecs started conference with a dominate 45-24 victory on Friday against the Colorado State Rams at Snapdragon Stadium.
For the Aztecs, this game was similar to a wet dream. Everything they tried on offense worked to perfection, and on the other side, the defense kept things moderately quiet.
This wasn’t a typical performance by the Aztecs, who are usually led by their smoothing defense. It was the offense that took command, for really the first time all season.
“They had our backs today,” SDSU edge rusher Trey White said. “We’re going to have points in the season where the offense going to have to pick us up. We’re going to have to pick the offense up, but that’s what a great team does. We just responded well. No matter the circumstance and tonight just happened to be the offense to pick us up this time.”
The drubbing began early in the first quarter after they punted on their first possession, and they managed to keep their foot on the gas throughout the game.
Following the punt, SDSU proceeded to score touchdowns six times on eight possession, not including the play kneel down to go to halftime. They drove at least 50 yards or more on all their touchdown drives with total plays ranging from 3-13.
In the first-half, the Aztecs completely outmatched the Rams. They out gained CSU in total net-yards (313-172), passing yards (226-69) and averaged 8.9 yards per-play. They also went 4-for-6 on third down while the Rams didn’t convert a single third down (0-for-7).
The most impressive performance of the night came from junior transfer Jayden Denegal, who had his best outing in his collegiate career. He looked very confident while in the pocket and was on the money with his throw, especially on the long ball, completing 81 percent of his passes (13-for-16).
“I mean we knew that they were a high pressure rate team,” Aztecs head coach Sean Lewis said. “If i’m not mistaken, coming into this week they had the highest pressure rate out of any defense in the country and they were a man pressure team. So we felt that if that trend continued that we felt good about how we could protect somethings and how we could push some good vertical balls down range that we thought were going to be good calculated shots and again we were able to connect on them.”
Passing for 223 during the first half, he finished with 256 yards and threw for a pair of touchdowns. It is the first time in his career where he has thrown for multiple touchdowns.
“I think just continuing with our process throughout the week,” Denegal said when asked how he’s improved moving the ball up the field. “We had a short week this week. We knew offensively what we were trying to do. Those first three games we struggled with downfield efficiency, but we just continued with our process and knowing what we can do and know we were able to do in camp and continue to make plays one-on-one and might get the shot at the end of the day. I thought that was the biggest part of it.”
103 of his passing yards came from his sophomore receiver Jordan Napier, who hauled in one of Denegal’s touchdowns from 42-yards and had another completion for 61-yards. Napier finished with 153 yards on seven catches, averaging 21.9 yards per-reception.
The other receiver that scored a touchdown came from junior Donovan Brown, who cashed in on a 45-yard touchdown to open the scoring for the Aztecs.
Not being able to sustain consistent attack until the second half, the Aztecs’ running game finished with 279 total yards on the ground and scored four times with their three-headed backfield consisting of Lucky Sutton (2), Byron Cardwell (1) and Christian Washington (1).
Sutton finished with the most touches (21) and rushed for 113 yards, which set a new career high. Cardwell also set a career-high in yards and totaled with 129 rushing yards on 15 attempts, and Washington had 28 yards on eight carries.
SDSU’s defensive unit coordinated their own attack against the Rams offense. While they didn’t record a turnover, they did finish with three sacks, including a pair by White, who would had hat-trick if it wasn’t for a hands to the face penalty.
They made it a nightmare for Rams’ quarterback Jackson Brousseau, who only completed 52 percent of his passes and threw for just 155 yards. Their running back Jalen Dupree did rush for over 100 yards rushing on 16 attempts.
Colorado State’s 18 points scored was first time any opponent has scored at Snapdragon Stadium all season.
Kicker Gabriel Plascencia continued his success in the kicking department. Not only did he make all of his extra points, but he extended his streak to 19 consecutive made field goals, following his 53-yard field, which was his career long.
A win like this not only gives the program a boost in confidence transiting into conference play, but it gives the fans a reason to come back to Snapdragon Stadium and to support the only football team in the 619.
“I think there’s an exciting brand of football that we’re playing,” Lewis said. “I think for the past two weeks, we’ve put a tremendous product out on the field that we continue to get better. And I think our community has responded in a big time way… I know our fans and our community is going to show up and show out. And i can’t wait to see this place packed.”
The Aztecs will head to Reno next Saturday to take on the Wolfpack for their second Mountain West Conference game of the season. Kickoff will start at 7:30 p.m. and will be aired on CBS Sports Network.