The San Diego State defense came into their contest against Hawai’i as the second-best scoring defense (10ppg) and sixth-best total defense (246.25ypg) in the country.

Less than 26 minutes into the game, Hawai’i had 24 points and 306 yards. The Rainbow Warriors (7-3, 4-2) defeated the Aztecs (7-2, 4-1), 38-6, ruining SDSU’s slim hopes for a College Football Playoff appearance and an undefeated conference season. 

Freshman Micah Alejado (22/34, 256 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT) threw three touchdown passes to Jackson Harris (7 rec, 130 yds), dissecting the Aztecs’ vaunted secondary that was missing star CB Chris Johnson due to injury. 

Deshawn McCuin, who started in place of Johnson, intercepted a pass from Alejado on the first defensive drive of the gam, and returned it to the Hawai’i 25-yard line, setting up Gabriel Plascencia’s 42-yard field goal to open the scoring. 

But Alejado went to work after that. The first scoring play was from 9 yards out, as Harris made a great catch on a fade pass into the corner of the end zone and got one foot down to complete the play before Bryce Phillips could knock the ball loose. The scoring drive was aided by a taunting penalty by Phillips that erased a 3rd and 17 for the Rainbow Warriors. 

Harris beat Phillips again on a stop-and-go route for a wide-open 34-yd TD that made it 14-3. 

After another Plascencia field goal (43), Alejado found Harris deep again for a 35-yard scoring reception. This play came against Prince Williams, who relieved McCuin on the play after he and Phillips switched sides to give Harris a different defender.

A field goal provided the Rainbow Warriors a 24-6 halftime lead, aided by a 300 to 90 total yard advantage. While they converted 7 of 10 3rd downs in the half, the Aztecs were 0 of 7. 

Cam Barfield returned the opening kickoff of the second half 86 yards to extend the lead to 31-6. Barfield added 69 rushing yards on 11 carries. 

The offense was not able to pick up the defense in this contest, struggling to convert first downs and get in the end zone. Jayden Denegal (10/27, 132 yds, 2 INT) started despite being listed as questionable, but was ineffective in the passing game against a defense that allowed 630 yards to San Jose State last week, including 458 through the air.  

The Aztecs’ offense showed glimpses in the third quarter, driving deep into Hawai’i territory twice, but the drives ended in a really poor Denegal interception and a turnover on downs. 

On the ensuing drive, Denegal threw his second interception on a 4th and 3 from midfield, and Elijah Palmer returned it 53 yards to put the icing on the cake for the Hawai’i victory. It was the first time the Rainbow Warriors scored touchdowns on defense and special teams in the same game since 2012. 

Denegal committed his third turnover of the game, losing a fumble in the fourth quarter, before Bert Emanuel, Jr. finished out the game for the Aztecs. Emanuel, Jr. broke free for a 41-yd run in the final minute of the game, before losing a fumble himself. 

After only committing two turnovers in their first six games, the Aztecs have eight in their last three.

Jalen Smith and Peter Manuma led the Rainbow Warriors with seven tackles each. Smith added 2 TFLs.

Quick Notes

• The last time the Aztecs played in Hawai’i, McCuin returned an interception for a touchdown in an Aztec victory in 2023. 
• Lucky Sutton rushed for 78 rushing yards on 18 carries; he entered the game averaging 102ypg
• Backup P Tashi Dorje booted a 60-yarder on the second punt of the game for the Aztecs, and later had a 54-yarder; starting P Hunter Green punted the other four opportunities, averaging 54 yards per punt
• After making his first two attempts, Plascencia missed from 50 yards out at the end of the first half after a bad snap and hold threw off his timing; it was Plascencia’s second miss in as many weeks after a streak of 26 made attempts in a row
• Hawai’i PK Kansei Matzuzawa extended his streak of made attempts to 22 with a 22-yd FG in the first half
• LB Owen Chambliss was the lone bright spot for the defense, recording 13 tackles, 3 TFLs, and 2 sacks
• Donovan Brown led the Aztecs with 60 receiving yards (3 rec), including a 45-yard catch in the first half 

The Aztecs return home next Saturday night to host the Boise State Broncos (6-3, 4-1) for a battle for first place in the Mountain West. Kickoff is at 7:30 pm at Snapdragon Stadium.

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.