The San Diego State Aztecs (2-3) started the conference schedule strong by defeating the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors (2-3), 27-24, in front of an announced crowd of 31,307 at Snapdragon Stadium. 

After blowing a ten-point second-half lead and falling behind by four in the 4th quarter, the Aztecs offense put together its most important drive of the season to retake the lead. 

8 plays. 87 yards. Marquez Cooper 2-yard touchdown run. 

“There was no doubt that we were going to go down and score,” said QB Danny O’Neil postgame. We all have belief in each other and belief in coach, and that he is going to put us in the best position possible.”

The drive was kick-started by Nate Bennett’s 48-yard reception. After getting behind the cornerback, QB Danny O’Neil found Bennett streaking down the left sideline untouched. 

O’Neil mentioned postgame the play to Bennett was a double move they set up all game but saved for a “desperate moment.” 

“On that play, we got the look that we wanted,” O’Neil recalled. “I looked to my right, made sure I had the safety in the middle of the field so he couldn’t be a factor on (Bennett’s one-on-one). He dropped the corner, and he was wide open. I was just making sure that I could give him a nice catchable ball.” 

Jordan Napier’s catch and run took the ball down to the two before Cooper’s game-winning score. 

The defense took its turn to seal the victory, ending a promising Hawai’i drive by stopping a 4th and 2 attempt from the SDSU 30. The Rainbow Warriors opted to go for it in lieu of attempting a game-tying 47-yard field goal. 

“Tonight is a byproduct of the way that our guys have pulled together through all the adversity, putting the blinders on and needing to rely on one another, and that showed up tonight in all three phases,” said head coach Sean Lewis postgame. 

O’Neil completed 24 of 33 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown and has yet to throw an interception in his short collegiate career. 

Cooper added 109 rushing yards (on 30 carries) and, 28 receiving yards (on four receptions) and two scores. 

The Aztecs also converted all three 4th down attempts in the game and did not commit a turnover as a team. 

Brayden Schager passed for 272 yards (26/44) and three touchdowns for the Rainbow Warriors. Pofele Ashlock (8 rec, 117 yds), Nick Cenacle (3 rec, 56 yds), and Tylan Hines (3 rec, 33 yds) each caught a score. 

As has been the case all season, the Aztec defense was led by EDGE Trey White, who added three more sacks on the night and a pass breakup. Marlem Louis chipped in two sacks. Safety Dalesean Staley led the team with eight tackles. 

“I just wanted to come up big for our team,” said White postgame. “I didn’t want to have that feeling again of a loss. I hate that feeling, and I know all of our team members do.”

White explained the Hawai’i offensive tackles were jumping outside against him more so than usual which didn’t allow him to use his speed as much. Instead, defensive coordinator Eric Schmidt utilized their “Cheetah” package, putting EDGE Dom Oliver inside next to White to help free him up. 

Elijah Robinson led the Rainbow Warriors with 11 tackles and three tackles for loss. 

Both offenses held long drives in the first quarter resulting in field goals to open the scoring. The Aztecs’ drive lasted 16 plays (53 yards) and 6:38, leading to Gabriel Plascencia’s 24-yard field goal. Plascencia retained his placekicker spot after Nick Lopez took on the role the last two games. The drive was extended on a 4th and 5 conversion by a catch by Louis Brown IV and included a lot of short screens to the backs and receivers. 

The Rainbow Warriors’ subsequent drive lasted 15 plays (77 yards) and 4:49 ending in a 35-yard field goal by Kansei Matsuzawa to tie the score at 3-3. 

The score remained that way until halfway through the second quarter. After CB Jelani Whitmore picked off Schager around midfield for his first career pick, the Aztecs offense came to life. Cooper broke off a 31-yard run on the first play of the ensuing drive and finished off the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run to put the Aztecs up 10-3. 

Once again, the Rainbow Warriors offense matched the Aztecs, tying the game on Hines’ 23-yard TD reception on the first play after the two-minute timeout.

With the help of a few penalties and a chain measurement on Nate Bennett’s 4th and 4 reception to ensure a first down, O’Neil found Brown for a 16-yard touchdown catch with six seconds remaining for a 17-10 halftime lead. 

Plascencia knocked in his second field goal of the night early in the third quarter to put the Aztecs up ten. Hawai’i answered with a 12-play, 75-yard drive ending in Ashlock’s 6-yard reception for the score to cut the lead to three. 

Hawai’i took the lead 24-20 on a long drive that started at the end of the third quarter and went more than five minutes into the fourth quarter. Cenacle capped off a 14-play, 89-yard drive by catching a short pass inside the 20-yard line, breaking a tackle and taking it the distance for the 23-yard score.

Fortunately for the Aztec faithful, they answered the bell in the final nine minutes to avoid a 1-4 start to their season and a home conference loss in a game they were favored to win. 

After losing by one point last week to Central Michigan after two missed short field goals by Lopez, making both attempts tonight made a big impact on a three-point win. Lewis noted Plascencia separated himself this week in the competition and he will be the kicker moving forward after his “big step tonight.”

Defensive lineman Ryan Henderson was flagged for targeting near the end of the first half and was ejected from the game. 

Captain Tano Letuli missed the game with a broken hand but still took part in the opening coin toss at midfield with his fellow captains. Kyle Moretti started in his place. 

Dean Abdullah replaced Brayden Bryant at center to start the second half. Bryant had been dealing with an injury during the week, although he was able to start the game. 

The Aztecs head back on the road to Laramie, WY, next week to take on the Wyoming Cowboys next Saturday. Kickoff is at 1230 pm PDT. The Cowboys (1-4) will be coming off a bye week. 

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.