The Aztecs lose the thriller 29:26 against Washington State – San Diego Union-Tribune

San Diego State measured progress incrementally through the first half of the football season.

Saturday night against Washington State things progressed in leaps and bounds. And pain. Growing pains.

The Aztecs thrilled an announced crowd of 26,937 (18,375 turnstiles) at Snapdragon Stadium with an exciting group of soccer fans they were excited to see. And they were ready to upset a Washington State team that came in as two-touchdown favorites and took a 12-point lead less than two minutes into the fourth quarter.

But Washington State scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the second on a pass from SDSU quarterback Danny O'Neil, to secure a 29-26 victory over the Aztecs.

“The team played incredibly hard tonight,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said. “We have to be much better in certain situations, critical areas. We can continue to improve on all of this, but I think we fought really, really hard. It was great to see the boys compete against a really good team.

“We will continue to grow, we will continue to improve and we will continue to make progress as we move forward.”

After the Cougars took the lead with 5:03 left, SDSU (3-4) had one final possession to retake the lead. But the drive stalled at the Aztecs' 41-yard line and Lewis opted to punt rather than attempt it on 4th-and-22. The crowd booed the decision.

Lewis said the thought was to “turn the field over and lean on the defense, which played very, very well, and be able to get a stop and get the ball back, especially there being a field.” Goal would have sent us into extra time.” .”

SDSU had all three remaining timeouts as well as the two-minute timeout. All of those stoppages didn't stop Washington State (7-1) from keeping the football until time expired. Washington State actually kicked the ball back to SDSU with 22 seconds left, but the Aztecs called for roughing the kicker and the Cougars kept the ball.

After trailing 14-12 at halftime, SDSU seemed to have everything on the line in the second half.

The Aztecs' defense forced Washington State to throw away four straight possessions. SDSU also covered a loose ball when the Cougars thwarted a punt.

The greatest excitement came from two particular pieces:

A leaping 27-yard touchdown catch by SDSU wide receiver Nate Bennett – on, of all things, a pass from wide receiver Jordan Napier – in the third quarter and a 1-yard plunge into the end zone by SDSU running back Marquez Cooper (18 runs). , 78 yards, 2 TDs) in the fourth quarter the Aztecs rallied.

Cooper's score gave SDSU a 26-14 lead with 13:39 left in the game.

Washington State quarterback John Mateer (19 of 27, 257 yards, 2 TDs/20 carries, 45 yards, 2 TDs) came right back with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Hernandez that made it 26-21.

A 2-yard scoring run by Mateer and a two-point conversion put the Cougars on top 29-26 with 5:03 left.

“It definitely hurts,” said Letuli, who had a game-high 10 tackles. “They all hurt. But we saw some good things.”

Bennett added: “It’s burning. If it doesn't, there is a problem there. Ultimately, we must not let this influence us too much. We just have to learn from it.”

SDSU emerged rested and ready from an off week against Washington State.

The Aztecs didn't even make it to kickoff when the players were already making their way to the sideline.

Starting wide receiver Louis Brown IV, starting tight end Jude Wolfe and third-string quarterback AJ Duffy did not dress. All three watched in street clothes as punishment for violating team rules.

Adding insult to injury: O'Neil (22 of 34, 195 yards, INT) and starting right guard Tyler McMahon were injured on the same drive late in the first quarter.

SDSU edge rusher Darrion Dalton had to be helped off the field in the second quarter.

The defense was already outnumbered, so to speak.

Linebackers Tano Letuli and Owen Chambliss both started with protective bandages on their surgically repaired right hands.

That's all the Aztecs need against an opponent that comes into the game scoring two touchdowns.

The Cougars looked as advertised as they capped their first drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Flea Flicker, with Mateer connecting with tight end Cooper Mathews for a 7-0 lead.

SDSU's injuries began piling up with five minutes left in the first quarter, shortly after the Aztecs' defense stopped Washington State on a fourth-and-3 play at SDSU's 28-yard line.

On the first play of the next drive, O'Neil was sacked for a 7-yard loss by Washington State's Ansel Din-Mbuh.

The true freshman QB from Indianapolis remained lying on the torn turf. Trainers came out and examined O'Neil's left shoulder as Lewis watched. O'Neil left the field under his own power and was further examined on the sideline before heading to the locker room.

Four players after O'Neil's injury, McMahon fell when a Cougars player rolled on his left ankle.

McMahon's ankle was taped and he was on the sideline in the second quarter, although substitute Saipale Fuimaono remained at right guard. McMahon did not return until late in the second half and was forced back into the game when right tackle Nate Williams left the field with a left foot injury.

SDSU backup quarterback Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson took over when O'Neil was injured and led the Aztecs on a drive that ended with Gabriel Plascencia's second field goal of the quarter.

Plascencia's 28-yarder cut the Cougars' lead to 7-6 at the end of the opening period. Previously, the kicker scored a 46-yard field goal on a drive that was extended by a fake punt. This play also energized the crowd as punt protector DJ Herman received the snap and shoveled a pass to Ja'Shaun Poke for a 21-yard gain.

Washington State extended its lead to 14-6 midway through the second quarter with a drive that took up half the quarter before Mateer curled across the goal line on a fourth-and-1.

O'Neil returned in the final two minutes of the first half and led the Aztecs with a six-play, 60-yard drive that culminated with a 7-yard touchdown run by Cooper.

SDSU's two-point attempt failed and the Aztecs went into the locker room trailing by two points.

Remarkable

• The Aztecs return to the Mountain West on Friday to play at Boise State. Kickoff is 5:00 p.m. PT (Fox Sports 1).

The Broncos (6-1, 3-0 MW) are tied for the top of the conference with Colorado State (5-3, 3-0) after a 29-24 win at UNLV. Boise State running back Asthon Jeanty carried 33 balls for 128 yards and a touchdown. He leads the nation with 1,376 rushing yards and is second with 18 rushing touchdowns.

• SDSU senior Marlem Louis played in a game for the first time as a father. He and his wife welcomed their first child, Marlem Louis Jr., on Tuesday.

• SDSU, second nationally with 10 penalties per game, had eight penalties for 78 yards against the Cougars.

Originally published: October 26, 2024 at 11:16 p.m