About an hour before kickoff at California Memorial Stadium, SDSU starting quarterback Danny O’Neil emerged from the locker room in street clothes.

A white number five sat in the left corner of his practice t-shirt as the rest of the Aztecs’ QBs ran onto the field in their full uniforms. Throughout the week, questions about O’Neil’s fitness abounded. They were answered with little fanfare.

Signs that Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson would earn their first career start came when referee Patrick Roy came up to him to emphasize what constitutes a false start from the QB position. Roy did not approach any other SDSU signal caller.

Tupou’ata-Johnson’s task was to lead the Aztecs against the NCAA leaders in interceptions. Cal came into the game favored by more than 17 points. He could not get the job done as the Aztecs fell in a sloppy, penalty-filled game, 31-10.

“It was amazing coming back home. All my family is coming here to support me,” Tupou’ata-Johnson said postgame. “It was a dream come true playing in this stadium for my first start.”

O’Neil was not the only regular not in uniform for the Aztecs. Kicker Gabriel Plascencia did not make the trip, giving the kicking duties to Nick Lopez.

The Aztecs and Bears traded field position to begin the game. Cal received the opening kick, but SDSU forced a three-and-out. Their second possession started inside Cal’s territory at the 40.

As they had done all season, a penalty erased a promising start to a Red and Black. Unlike previous games, SDSU was able to overcome the mistake. On 3rd and 17, Tupou’ata-Johnson found TE Jude Wolfe for 11 yards and WR Nate Bennett on 4th and 6 to move the chains.

Bennett made a spectacular grab on a high throw while being hit by Cal safety Craig Woodson. Woodson was called for targeting on the play and ejected from the contest. Four plays later, kicker Nick Lopez, starting in place of Gabriel Plascencia, gave the Aztecs a 3-0 lead.

The Aztecs’ defense played a leading role early. A Tano Letuli sack on the first play of the game silenced the home crowd. Trey White came untouched on third down of Cal’s second drive. Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza was drilled into the turf hard on both.

“I think it was important to instill a message to their offense that we are going to be on them all day from the jump,” White said. “I feel that changes their game plan. The quarterback’s not going to sit there and dink and dunk all day. We got pressure coming at him so I feel that was our game plan coming out.”

Cal’s first third-down conversion did not come until its third drive. But, once the heavy favorites started going, they did not stop until the endzone. Mendoza took a QB read-option eight yards for a score and a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Tupou’ata-Johnson’s athleticism showed he belonged early, but penalties wiped away positive plays and put the Aztecs behind the chains. All three of SDSU’s interior linemen were called for an infraction. Two illegal men downfield and a false start took the momentum away from the Aztecs. Wolfe had a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that set up 3rd and 30.

SDSU came into the contest among the nation’s leaders in undisciplined play. They showed no signs of slowing down in the opening quarter. They upped their total to six one play into the second quarter.

“No, I don’t think we are an undisciplined team,” Lewis explained. “We are emotional at times. Personal discipline is a sign of a team with great competitive maturity, so we need to continue to emphasize that. We need to continue to stress that. We need to make sure the ones that are completely controllable, that are happening before or after the whistle, those cannot happen.”

SDSU’s defense came up with a turnover on downs with 12:20 left in the second. On 4th and 1, they stopped Cal running back Kadrius Callowy for no gain. The Aztecs took over on Cal’s 44 but could do nothing with it. Another penalty hurt the cause.

Cal’s next drive ended on another 4th down stop, giving SDSU the ball back. On 4th and one from SDSU’s 35, a trio of athletes met at a laser from Mendoza. The ball bounced into the air. Letuli intercepted the pass and returned it 65 yards for the score.

Instead of a game-changing play, another penalty brought the ball back to its own 45. Linebacker Marlem Louis was called for a block in the back.

Four plays later, SDSU lined up to punt. On a fake, punter Tyler Pastula found linebacker Owen Chambliss for a first-down pass. On the next play, Wolfe was called for another penalty, eventually leading to 3rd and 17.

Tupou’ata-Johnson came through again. On third down, he found Poke for 10 yards to move the ball to Cal’s 36. Needing seven yards for first, Lewis kept his freshman quarterback on the field.

SDSU would have converted on a screen to running back Marquez Cooper, but another hold wiped out the gain. This time, right tackle Nate Williams held a Bear. The tenth infraction of the first half forced another Pastula punt.

At the two-minute warning, White came up with his second sack of the night and SDSU’s third in the opening stanza. Following a 46-yard punt by Cal punter Lachlan Wilson, a -6 yard return by wide receiver Mekhi Shaw, and a half the distance to the goal penalty by safety Max Garrison, Tupou’ata-Johnson and the offense stumbled in the hurry-up offense.

Cooper gained a pair of first downs, pushing the ball to SDSU’s 40. Tupou’ata-Johnson found tight end Michael Harrison on 3rd and 11 for 15 yards on a middle screen. A false start by Shaw moved the ball back five and resulted in a ten-second run-off. With pressure in his face, Tupou’ata-Johnson threw the ball up for an easy interception.

The 13th penalty of the half gave Cal a 62-yard field goal attempt. It fell short, and the Bears led 7-3 at the half.

As the score would indicate, statistically, the game was fairly even. Cal had 163 total yards. SDSU had 140. Tupou’ata-Johnson was 7-15 for 70 yards and an interception. Many positive plays were wiped away by penalties. Cooper rushed for 54 yards on 12 carries. Ten offensive penalties for 70 yards and three defensive infractions for 30 yards prevented SDSU from potentially taking the lead.

“To come together,” Lewis replied when asked what his message was at halftime. “We talked a lot this week about showing the character of the club and to fill the jersey with passion and to do it the right way. To come out collectively and play together in all three units and to be dialed in and to have great focus on our jobs and our execution.”

SDSU did not heed their coach’s words to start the second half. The Aztecs’ offense produced no yards on three plays. The defense gave up a scorning drive, most of it on the ground. Bears’ RB Javian Thomas raced 57 yards on a 3rd and 1 to set up 1st and goal. Three runs later, Calloway scooted up the middle for a seven-yard run.

As the game was on timeout, having thrown flags of every possible manner, assessed an infraction on Cal’s fans. Throughout the night, objects were thrown onto the field. After multiple warnings, the referee forced the Bears to kick off from their 20-yard line.

Undeterred by the refs’ call, the fans continued to launch projectiles. Cal head coach Justin Wilcox walked over to the opposite sideline and begged the student section to stop. The refs gave SDSU another 15 yards for the crowd’s behavior.

Tupou’ata-Johnson and the offense overcame another penalty to earn a first down and switch the field position. It did not matter. Aided by another Aztec infraction, Cal marched 90 yards in 14 plays to effectively seal the game.

The drive bore an eerie similarity to Oregon State’s back-breaking drive at the same time in last week’s contest. The Bears led 21-3 with 90 seconds left in the third.

Sensing the game slipping away, Lewis kept his offense on the field on 4th and two from its own 33. Tupou’ata-Johnson slipped as he scanned the field.

“It felt like there was an opportunity there,” Lewis said about the decision. “I felt like we had a good beat on what they were going to give us, and I felt like it was an opportunity we need to capitalize on. It’s a call I wish I could have back, but I have confidence in the kids. And I’m always going to call it to win it.”

The Bears capitalized on Lewis’ generosity. They knocked through a 48-yard field goal to extend their lead to 24-3.

Signs of life from the Aztecs’ offense finally emerged at the beginning of the fourth. Cooper picked up a first down on a pair of runs. Tupou’ata-Johnson found Wolfe on a crossing route for 18 yards. A bubble screen to wide receiver Louis Brown kept the momentum going. Finally, Tupou’ata-Johnson found wide receiver Jordan Napier for a short completion that Napier took to the house for a 40-yard touchdown reception. The Aztecs’ first touchdown in over seven quarters made the score 24-10 with 11:05 left.

Needing a stop to keep their faint hopes alive, SDSU’s defense folded. Set up by another long run, this time a 60-yard scamper by Calloway, the Bears scored a touchdown on a pass from Mendoza to wide receiver Nyziah Hunter. It took them just 1:17 seconds to extend the lead back to 21.

Tupou’ata-Johnson threw his second interception of the game. He fit a deep ball into a window. Napier leaped and should have made a moderately tough catch. Instead, it fell into the waiting arms of Cal DB Marcus Harris.

Cal and SDSU traded four more drives, with the Bears missing a final field goal to secure the final 31-10 margin.

Tupou’ata-Johnson finished 13-29 for 156 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. A handful of good plays were erased by penalties. His promise flashed with terrific athleticism and great arm talent flashed. But his slow decision-making and the Aztecs’ dreadful offensive performance revealed why he was the backup to begin the season.

Wolfe and Louis paced the team with three receptions. Napier’s 53 yards led the Aztecs. Cooper had 22 carries for 87 yards.

Defensively, quarterback sacks were a bright spot for the team. The Aztecs had six in the game. White had 2.5. Defensive tackle Tupu Alualu had 1.5 sacks as well. Chambliss, linebacker Kyle Moretti, and White led the team with six stops.

SDSU has a bye week before traveling to Central Michigan on September 28. Nothing that transpired today should quell the troubles the team has had at the quarterback position.

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.