Part of the appeal of SDSU’s 2024 season is learning the scheme and coaching personalities of the staff. Saturday revealed head coach Sean Lewis and his assistants have the makings of an elite group. 

Since Lewis’ hire, public opportunities to scout the Aztecs have been limited. When the curtain finally dropped on his offense, its potency (at least in the second half) did not disappoint. SDSU’s 45 points was its most since September of 2021. 

Behind freshman QB Danny O’Neil and star running back Marquez Cooper, Lewis’ offense churned out 468 total yards, 254 on the ground and 214 through the air. Stuck in neutral at the start of the contest, Aztec Fast ramped up as the game progressed. 

“I’m really happy to get the win,” Lewis said postgame. “It’s going to be a lot better to clean up a win than it is a messy loss. We’re happy to do that. But obviously, lots of room for improvement, lots of room to grow, but I’m really proud of everyone in the program and the work that they put in to get to this point and to be one to know.”

SDSU gained 44 yards in the first quarter on 22 plays and 103 on 21 second-quarter opportunities. After halftime, the Aztecs hit their stride. They gained 216 yards in just 15 plays in the third. Even as they iced the victory in the fourth, they put 105 yards on another 15 plays in the fourth. 

There was variety in the scheme. Six Aztecs caught at least three passes. There was complexity. O’Neil masterfully executed an RPO bubble screen to Jordan Napier for a 29-yard gain. Its best feature, though, was its simplicity. 

Lewis gave Cooper 30 touches. With TAMCU doing everything to stop the run, he exploited single coverage on touchdown passes to Napier and Louis Brown IV. Lewis simplified his QB’s options after going 1-9 on third down in the first half. The Aztecs were 5-6 in the category after intermission. Three of those conversions came through the air. All of them were O’Neil’s first read. 

Defensively, Eric Schmidt’s debut broke from their modus operandi of the past fifteen years by matching the personnel groupings of the offense. TAMCU opened the game in a jumbo formation. Schmidt countered by starting three defensive tackles: NT Sam Benjamin, NT Teivis Tuioti, and DT Krishna Clay. He also used his stoutest EDGE, Brady Nassar, in place of Marlem Louis.

Schmidt utilized three different attacks on obvious passing downs. On one, he brought in a third corner, Bennett Walker, to replace LB Owen Chambliss and slid S Deshawn McCuin into the box and CB Chris Johnson into the slot. When TAMCU had 3rd and 10 from its own 12 and a draw as a possible play call, Schmidt did not bring his dime unit in but opted for his base defense. 

Finally, on a 3rd and 17, Schmidt put all four of his EDGE rushers into the game as the entire defensive line. Ryan Henderson and Dominic Oliver played on the interior, flanked by Trey White and Jared Badie. At the snap, White dropped into a zone, the rest rushed, and Henderson sacked TAMCU QB Eric Rodriguez. 

“I thought they did a great job of communicating,” Lewis said. “They were playing with great effort and running to the ball, affecting their quarterback and getting him off his rhythm and disrupting some of the timing. It goes back to the basic fundamentals, those core tenants of communicating, playing with relentless effort, having great focus, and we just did that at a higher level.” 

On special teams, Zac Barton’s debut should help the Aztecs win throughout the season. Teams have a limited number of practice hours each week. Barton showed a full repertoire of formations and tricks. For the rest of the season, SDSU’s opposition will be forced to spend less time scheming on offense and defense to prepare for everything the Aztecs do in the third phase. 

Long snapper Ryan Wintermeyer’s direct snap to TE Mikey Harrison as the team spread out on an extra point attempt will keep Barton’s counterparts busy. Wintermeyer pitched the ball to Harrison, who ran it in for a two-point conversion. 

Barton’s units motioned more than Lewis’ offense. White looked like a conductor orchestrating an ensemble as he checked into different punt formations. Punter Tyler Pastula rolled out and kicked to both sides of the field and also attempted a traditional punt. On kickoffs, Barton called for pooch kicks. 

Teams usually make their biggest improvements between weeks one and two. SDSU has a lot to clean up before it takes on Oregon State this week. But, the early returns show Lewis and his staff are elite at football’s chess game.

What the win means for the Aztecs

Much like SDSU, its next two opponents struggled early with FCS opponents before pulling away to big victories. Oregon State trailed Idaho State 9-7 midway through the first half in its 38-15 victory on Saturday. UC Davis led Cal 13-7 with five minutes left before intermission.

The Aztecs, Beavers, and Golden Bears’ rosters turned over this offseason. Saturday was their first opportunity to learn how to win with new pieces throughout the two-deep. 

Against TAMCU, SDSU made losing plays that could cost them in the coming weeks. Louis’ blatant roughing the passer penalty negated Dalesean Staley’s endzone interception. The Lions scored their second and final touchdown of the contest on the next play. Other penalties in the first half prevented the Aztecs from building momentum.

“It’s just the kids needing to learn how to win as a team because there are so many moving parts and so many new pieces,” Lewis explained. “We are having to figure out what it all looks like. It’s an emotional game that needs to be played with emotion, but you can’t play emotionally, right? We can’t have foolish penalties that extend drives.”

O’Neil’s final line 22-33, 214 yards, and 2 TDs was fantastic for a first start. He grew as the game progressed. Six of his incompletions came in the first quarter and four in the second. He had one in his last twelve attempts. O’Neil’s final incompletion was a smart decision as skillful as the completions. 

At the start, O’Neil made freshman mistakes. He overthrew players on deep passes, made poor decisions on read-options, and made a sure sack even worse by spinning and giving up more yards making the ensuing field goal harder. Like the two public scrimmages, he showed good physical attributes but did not command the offense. The 6-3 halftime deficit reflected his poor play. 

With each rep, the young signal caller improved. His 21 passes in the opening half were the first of his career. Late in the second quarter, he found Louis Brown IV on a short post, placing the ball in perfect position just outside the reach of the TAMCU corner. The placement allowed Brown IV to race for a 39-yard gain. The duo connected again for a 44-yard touchdown pass midway through the third. 

Potentially, O’Neil’s most significant play as SDSU enters the teeth of its non-conference schedule was the one he made with his feet. With Cooper’s prowess on the ground, keeping defenses honest on read-options is a must. In the fourth quarter, O’Neil pulled a handoff and rushed 28 yards. Showing that he can hurt the defenses with his legs will keep one defender from crashing on Cooper, giving SDSU a numbers advantage in the run game.

“He did a great job leading our club,” Lewis said about O’Neil. “He managed the situation. Was a little bit rocky to start and settled in. There was a calmness and there was a collectiveness to him and a poise that rippled through the offense and allowed the offense to work. He’ll continue to grow and he’ll continue to mature. As much as he can carry, we’ll put on his plate. We’ll ride with him.”

Defeating an FCS team that had one win in 2023 does not indicate the ceiling of the Aztecs. The contest’s significance approximated that of an NFL preseason game. Like the professional dress rehearsals, if Saturday’s TAMCU tussle allowed young players to season, chemistry to form, and helped the team manage early season emotions, it could be an important victory.

Player of the Game: Marquez Cooper (27 carries, 223 yards, 2 TDs)

Cooper exceeded all expectations from his lofty preseason predictions. Comparisons to Aztec greats Donnell Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny preceded his SDSU debut. For a back who crossed the 4,000 career mark on Saturday, he belongs in that elite club.

During the offseason, “competitive” was the word used most to describe him. After Saturday’s performance, the meaning of that adjective became clear. Like all great backs, Cooper’s style is unique and defies precise definition. Saying that he is “competitive” amounted to “he’s difficult to describe.”

His 223 rushing yards set a Snapdragon Stadium record. Cooper was the best player on the field Saturday. If he plays at this level, SDSU has a chance to win every game. 

“His competitive spirit is second to none,” Lewis said when asked what makes Cooper special. “The way that he works each and every single day. From the moment he set foot on campus as an early enrollee (at Kent State) in January of 2020, he’s been mature beyond his years. He loves the whole process. He loves the day-in-day-out grind so to speak of what it takes to be a guy that you can count on, that you can trust in between the white lines on a Saturday night.” 

Unsung Hero: Trey White (5 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks)

White did not lead the Aztecs in tackles. Eric Butler did. He did not lead the team in sacks. That distinction went to Brady Anderson and Ryan Henderson. Despite not stuffing the stat sheet with gaudy numbers, White led the defense on Saturday, especially early on. 

At the beginning of the game, SDSU’s defense played according to script. Only White deviated from the prescription to make plays outside of the scheme. TAMCU came out trying to establish physical dominance, and the Eastlake High Alum stepped up to that challenge.

White did lead the team in tackles for loss with 1.5. His hustle and explosiveness led directly to LB Tano Letuli’s touchdown. After a bad snap, White arrived at the ball at the same time as TAMCU’s QB. Credited with a forced fumble, White jarred the ball, and it fumbled into the endzone and into Letuli’s waiting arms.

“He’s athletic, he’s productive, and he’s competitive,” Lewis said. “All the things that have led him to be one of our captains and to lead us on the Warrior Walk today as we go. He’s got a nose for the football. He plays with a relentless motor. He’s got great energy that he brings each and every single day.” 

Quick Takes

– Director of Player Personnel Sean Dillon capitalized on the opening game. There was a strong contingent of recruits on hand. 

– Among Dillon’s nice touches on the evening was lining the potential Aztecs next to the pyrotechnic pillars as the team made its way out of the tunnel. Judging by the smiles and cell phones recording the event, the high school athletes appreciated the moment. 

– Notable recruits at Snapdragon were offensive linemen Ashdon Wnetrzak and Malik White. Wnetrzak is a Class of 2025 commit. White is uncommitted and a year younger. The duo has worked out together in the offseason.

– SDSU’s size advantage was apparent even if the Aztecs looked slimmed down in their black uniforms.

– Max Garrison was among the pregame players pumping up his teammates. 

– If you had Jatavious Magee, Jelani Whitmore, Ja’Shaun Poke, Jordan Napier, Max Garrison, Josh Hunter, Jelani McLaughlin, Brady Anderson, Gabe Garretson, Michael Harrison, and Trey White on your bingo card as the first eleven Aztecs on the field in the Sean Lewis era, you win. 

– Eric Butler had a huge club on his hand. It didn’t stop him from impacting the game. 

– Darrion Dalton and Jerry McClure did not dress. 

– TAMCU outgained SDSU 47 to 44 in the first quarter. For the game, the Aztecs had a 288-yard edge. 

– Chris Johnson was a difference-maker at corner. He played a lot of snaps, deftly caused a fumble, and made stops in the run game. 

– Before sending out the offense onto the field, Lewis huddled with his team. He had nearly every offensive player close to him to mask the personnel he was putting in from the opponent’s defensive staff in the booth.

– Christian Jones filled in well at left tackle after Joe Borjon went down with an injury. Lewis credited Jones’ intelligence for knowing the guard and tackle assignments.

– Through the first two weeks of camp, offensive line coach Mike Schmidt was rotating his line in practice to prepare for the inevitable injury. That work paid off right away.

– The defense rotated throughout the night. Among the starters on the depth chart, Deshawn McCuin and Owen Chambliss’ positions appeared the most threatened. Their reserves, Josh Hunter and Cody Moon, saw a lot of action.

– McCuin was yanked from the game twice. It appeared he had trouble lining up correctly. Hunter also started the second half for the Aztecs. 

– Nick Lopez subbed for K Gabriel Plascencia. Place kickers and kick-off specialists are areas to watch. Plascencia started the game handling both duties, but Lopez ended it doing both. 

– 25,180 was the announced crowd. If that number is in their seats against Oregon State, it will be a good atmosphere. 

– The student section showed up in droves. Their “I Believe Chant” was powerful. 

– Sean Lewis was bookended by his children at the postgame press conference. “They’re everything to me,” he said about them.

– SDSU’s wide receivers blocked very well on the night. 

– Gabe Garretson was used as the second tight end as the h-back. He paved the way for Marquez Cooper’s second touchdown. 

Paul Garrison

My earliest sport’s memory involve tailgating at the Murph, running down the circular exit ramps, and seeing the Padres, Chargers and Aztecs play. As a second generation Aztec, I am passionate about all things SDSU. Other interests include raising my four children, being a great husband and teaching high school.