GAME INFORMATION
Date: Friday, November 8
Location: Snapdragon Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 PM PT
TV: Fox Sports One
Aztecs Radio Network: San Diego Sports 760

Last Friday, the Aztecs suffered an enormous loss to Mountain West foe Boise State, 56-24. The game was never close, as the Broncos took a 28-0 lead into the second quarter. That loss showed that much progress is needed for this team to compete with the best in the conference.

“Guys have done a great job responding,” head coach Sean Lewis said on Monday. “Obviously, the outcome on Friday was not great. Sometimes this learning process, the growth, the mastering skills, and building the culture can be pretty messy.”

This week is another short one as the Red and Black are back under the Friday night lights. This time to face the University of New Mexico who are 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the Mountain West.

The Aztecs are 29-15 in the series and have won the last nine games against the Lobos, a streak that started in 2009. This Friday will also be the first in San Diego since November 24, 2017, when the Red and Black defeated UNM 35-10. In recent games, SDSU’s offense has flourished against the Lobos, scoring 30 points or more in seven of the last nine matchups.

For the Lobos, this year’s offense features dual-threat quarterback Devon Dampier. Dampier is the team’s leading rusher with 745 yards and 13 touchdowns. Despite their record, the offense can put up points, as they have scored 50 or more in their three wins.

On defense, UNM has a good front but has surrendered 35 or more points in all but one game this season. Lewis will exploit any opportunities seen on tape to put up points. SDSU is the only team in the country with just one player scoring a rushing touchdown, but that could change this week.

The Aztecs will be tested on both sides of the ball this week. Their Aztec Fast offense could use this opportunity to propel itself into the rest of the season with a bounce-back performance. The defense will have to stop the run and contain a solid quarterback who can make you pay if you don’t keep an eye on him.

“While we are building something special, we are not just using this year as a throwaway at all,” Lewis said of the opportunity to become bowl-eligible. “Every single day, every single moment that we get to create extra time today that can build toward a postseason play and creating that bowl opportunity to keep this team together for as long as possible is critically important.”

Player to watch: Devon Dampier

Another week, another dual-threat quarterback for Eric Schmidt to scheme for.

“He’s got an extra gear and that home run ability to be able to finish from anywhere,” Lewis said, describing the threat Dampier poses. “I think that is pretty special…you have to do a great job maintaining where he’s going to be and keeping a cage around him; otherwise, he catches a crease, and he’s dynamic.”

Dampier possesses threats similar to those faced by other quarterbacks by the Aztecs. His ability to run the ball is lethal, and he has more rushing yards and touchdowns than any other quarterback that SDSU has faced this year. He has 745 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. Washington State’s John Mateer, who defeated the Aztecs at Snapdragon, is second behind him.

When the Aztecs faced Mateer, they were able to hold him to his third-fewest rushing yards (42) with the most attempts of the season (21) but surrendered two rushing touchdowns.

That game against Wazzu proved that the defense can contain a running quarterback. SDSU’s EDGE position played well. Trey White had half a sack and was constantly in the backfield.

In the secondary, players like Bryce Philips and Chris Johnson will have to play tight coverage. Dampier has been known to throw interceptions. He has 12 so far this season to only ten touchdowns. He has also thrown multiple touchdowns in over half the games this season (5).

The Aztecs defense has been opportunistic. If Dampier is contained to the pocket and pressured, he could make errant throws that JD Coffey III and Eric Butler can sit back and intercept, which could make a huge difference.

With the short week, the defense will be looking to bounce back, and Dampier is the biggest threat to them doing so. He also presents the opportunity for the defense to exploit him.

Key to the game: Stopping the run while limiting the pass

With a dual-threat quarterback like Dampier, containing him within the pocket is the best way to slow him down, but SDSU will still have to play well in the secondary as the Lobos have many playmakers at wideout.

“They’re explosive and Dampier, individually, is amazing on these long runs that he able to maintain and gain full speed while changing direction,” Lewis commented on the Lobos offense. “Their ability with the number of explosive touchdowns that they have generated, with Dampier and the other talent that they have, we have to do a great job winning the pre-snap cycle.”

The Red and Black stacked the box to stop Ashton Jeanty against Boise State. This left the field open to the passing attack, and the Broncos exploited that to put up points quickly by going after the Aztecs in the air. Madsen Maddex was able to throw four passing touchdowns by halftime. Jeanty didn’t find the endzone until the third quarter.

The results could be similar this Friday if SDSU does not execute its game plan better. UNM has weapons out wide that, combined with its ability to run the ball, present a formidable test.

Seven players have scored receiving touchdowns for the Lobos this season, with four of those 40 yards or more. The stats show they are deep enough at wideout to keep a steady rotation. The secondary will have to show better physicality to stay on top of the wideouts.

The rushing attack behind Dampier is led by Eli Sanders, who has twice as many carries as the other backs. Sanders runs tough and averages 6.5 yards per rush but only 73.4 yards per game. Stopping the rushing attack shouldn’t prove as difficult as with some other teams, which have two main backs who split carries.

The true test will be stopping the quarterback. Schmidt will have his hands full as this offense has the players and ability to score many points. They are a threat to score from anywhere on the field.

Fun Facts

• Former Aztec Noah Avinger will be making his return to Snapdragon to face his former team.
• With 158 more rushing yards, Marquez Cooper will eclipse 1,000 yards in rushing for the fourth straight year.
• EDEG Trey White is one sack away from jumping to third all-time for sacks in a season at SDSU. He would be tied with Andy Coviello (12.5, 1991).
• The Aztecs have won the last four home games against the Lobos.

Johnny Olivieri

Johnny is born and raised in San Diego and a diehard fan of all his hometown teams. He is an avid collector of sports memorabilia that help paint a picture of the history of sports in San Diego. He spends a lot of his time attending sports games across San Diego county and enjoys studying the history and spreading knowledge of San Diego’s diverse sports.