The good vibes around Aztec Nation after an opening blowout victory might be starting to dissipate. After scoring the opening touchdown of the game, San Diego State (1-1) gave up 29 unanswered points to the Washington State Cougars (2-0) to suffer their first loss of the season, 36-13. 

The performance was eerily reminiscent of last season, when the offense struggled to generate first downs and extend drives, and the defense eventually wore down, giving up big, chunk plays. 

Following the scoring drive, the Aztecs went 3-and-out on four consecutive drives totaling 12 yards. The defense bent but did not break, and it appeared the Aztecs would head into halftime only down by three. 

With 1:16 remaining and at their own 8, the Aztecs opted to pass the ball instead of running out the clock. Jacob Bostick dropped a well-thrown pass down the middle of the field on first down that would have picked up about 20 yards. On the next play, Isaac Terrell (3 tackles, 2 TFLs) sacked Jayden Denegal in the end zone for a safety with 1:06 remaining.

The Cougars took the ensuing kickoff and drove 62 yards in four plays to take a 19-7 lead into the locker room. On the backs of a Joshua Meredith 34-yd catch and a 20-yd run by Leo Pulalasi, the Cougars reached the red zone in two plays. Trey Leckner’s second TD grab of the half completed the scoring drive, and the Aztecs never recovered. 

After allowing only 95 yards to Stony Brook, the Aztecs allowed 261 yards to the Cougars in the first half alone. The final tally was 396 yards for the Cougars to the Aztecs’ 215. Both teams struggled converting third downs (SDSU 2-13, WSU 5-18). 

QB Jaxon Potter bounced back from an inconsistent opening game and showed why new head coach Jimmy Rogers chose him as his starter. He completed 28 of 42 passes for 257 yards and 3 TDs. Meredith led the team with eight catches for 88 yards. 

QB Jayden Denegal (15/30, 133 yds, 1 TD) struggled for most of the night connecting with his receivers on deep passes and decision-making. He added a 1-yd TD run in the 3rd quarter. 

RB Lucky Sutton (15 carries, 88 yds) ran well, but his touches were surprisingly limited after five carries on the first two drives. WR Jordan Napier led the Aztecs with seven catches for 69 yards.  

The Cougars thought they struck first, picking up a Napier fumble on a punt return and taking it into the end zone. But the referees correctly ruled that the ball hit the helmet of a Cougar before Napier’s scoop attempt and returned the ball to the spot of the first touch. 

Denegal found Jacob Bostick for a 35-yard touchdown on a 4th and 5 on the second drive of the game. Denegal dropped back and bought time until he found Bostick roaming free to his right towards the end zone. 

Kirby Vorhees converted a 4th and 1 with a two-yard run, and Potter found Carter Pabst for 34 yards down to the SDSU three. Potter then connected with Leckner to tie the game at 7. It was the first points given up by the Aztecs this season. 

Another fourth-down conversion by the Cougars fueled their following drive. Potter found Meredith for a 3-yard reception on the left side on 4th and 2. Jack Stevens gave the Cougars their first lead of the game with a 49-yard field goal. 

The Aztecs utilized a package for Bert Emanuel Jr. early in the second quarter, lining him up as the QB while Denegal spread out wide. Emanuel Jr. ran twice for only three yards before departing for the third-down play. The Aztecs appeared to convert their first third down of the game on Bostick’s 39-yard reception, but an official’s review overturned the reception due to the ball hitting the ground during the catch process. 

Trey White (4 tackles, 1.5 TFL) broke into the backfield and stopped Vorhees for no gain on another 4th and 2 attempt, but the offense was unable to take advantage before the back-breaking end-of-half sequence. 

The Cougars drove 75 yards in seven plays and scored on a Leon Neal Jr. 18-yd TD reception on the first drive of the second half. The drive benefited from several missed tackles and assignments by the SDSU defense. 

Stevens knocked in his second FG of the night from 42 yards out to extend the lead to 29-7.

Denegal’s touchdown run gave the Aztecs some life in the second half, but the offense was unable to take advantage and make it a one-score game in the fourth quarter. 

Backup QB Julian Dugger ran for a score from three yards out to finish the scoring on the night.

Quick Notes

• The contest was SDSU’s first trip to Martin Stadium in its history
• The Aztecs were 1 of 4 on 4th down after converting 3 of 4 in their opening game
• Brady Anderson committed his second 15-yard penalty on special teams in as many games this season; a kick catch interference on a punt in the first quarter helped the Cougars start a drive on the SDSU 48
• P Hunter Green, named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List this week, averaged 43.9 yards per punt on seven attempts and matched his long of 67 from last week; he also had a punt only go 26 yards
• C Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli sustained an injury in the 3rd quarter and was replaced by transfer Michael Leville Watkins before returning on the following drive
• LB Tano Letuli (team-high 10 tackles) suffered an injury to his left upper extremity in the 4th quarter and did not return
• The Aztecs have neither turned the ball or forced a turnover yet this season 

The Aztecs head into their first of two byes next weekend before hosting California (2-0) at Snapdragon Stadium on September 20. 

Andre Haghverdian

Avid sports fan and historian of basketball, baseball, football and soccer. UC San Diego and San Diego State alumni living in America’s Finest City. Diverse team following across multiple sports leagues, but Aztecs come first in college athletics.