Snapdragon Stadium- San Diego, California

The San Diego State Aztecs (2-1) dismantled the previously undefeated California Golden Bears (3-1), 34-0, in front of a raucous Snapdragon Stadium crowd announced at 31,369. 

“That’s a good team that played well on a good night,” said head coach Sean Lewis postgame about his team. “I’m really freaking proud of them. A lot of great emotional toughness that they’ve shown over the last 14 days to respond to coaching, to respond to situations, to respond to  incredible opportunities that they had tonight, and they really capitalized on against a really good football team. … It feels good.”

The Aztecs’ defense flustered and confused true freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (17/38, 208 yds, 2 INT) all night, and forced three turnovers in the third quarter, returning two for touchdowns to put the game out of reach. It was the second shutout of the season in three games for the Aztecs and the first time they shut out a team from a Power Conference in 50 years. 

“Everybody was talking about he is the best freshman All-American, he is the best QB in the nation, we were like, ok, we are going to see about that,” said S Dwayne McDougle postgame when asked about facing Sagapolutele.

Jayden Denegal (15/18, 189 yds, 1 TD) played an efficient game, relying on his ground attack and timely passes. An 80-yard catch and run by Jordan Napier (9 rec, 154 yds) jump-started the Aztecs’ offense, the longest pass play for the Aztecs since a Fred Trevillion 89-yard reception against Boise State on October 14, 2017. Two plays later, Napier took a shovel pass from Denegal and ran behind RT Joseph Borjon into the end zone for the first score of the game.

“The first two games (of the season) didn’t go the way I wanted it to go as a player,” said Napier postgame. “Me being hungry (and) me taking those two weeks of practice and preparing… (being) ready to ball.”

Despite dominating the game, the Aztecs held only a 13-point lead early in the third quarter. Up to that point, the Aztecs’ defense had yet to force a turnover 10+ quarters into the season. 

By the end of the third quarter, the Aztecs’ defense had three forced turnovers, two defensive touchdowns, and a 27-point lead. 

First came a fumble by Kendrick Raphael, forced by Dalesean Staley, that Dwayne McDougle scooped up and returned 35 yards for the score. 

On the ensuing drive, Chris Johnson intercepted a pass at the goal line and returned it 97 yards for the score. The return is tied for the fifth longest in program history. 

Staley closed out the barrage with an interception on the next drive, although it was not run back for a score.

“Before the game, I brought up all the people from California that’s here (at San Diego State) and told them, ‘they passed up on us, bro,” said McDougle postgame. “We gotta hunt the whole game, and we did. The two weeks that we had off, we wanted it bad. Coach Aurich emphasized four turnovers a day, and we did that every single day of practice, so I think that played a huge part.”

Owen Chambliss led the Aztecs with 8 tackles (all solo). Bryce Phillips had four tackles and a team-high three pass breakups. Trey White picked up his first sack of the season. August Salvati added two sacks, and Ryan Henderson added another. 

“In the third quarter, we talked about dragging them in to the deep end and drowning them,” said McDougle about the approach the defense took to close out the game. “And I think we did that.”

Lucky Sutton (12 car, 61 yards) closed out the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Christian Washington added 48 rushing yards on 9 carries. 

After the Aztecs punted on the opening drive of the game, the Golden Bears held the ball for 10:07 with the help of a 19-play drive and two fourth-down conversions. However, on their third fourth down attempt from the two yard line, Sagapolutele’s pass into the end zone fell incomplete for a turnover on downs. 

Later in the first half, Cal looked to get on the scoreboard, reaching the red zone on a 33-yard reception by Trond Grizzell. For one of the rarer times in Snapdragon Stadium history, the crowd and especially the student section down in that end zone played a huge role in thwarting the opposing offense. After reaching 3rd and 9 from the 16, Cal committed a delay of game and a false start due to the crowd noise, which pushed them back to the 26. After Dwayne McDougle dropped an easy interception in the end zone, Chase Meyer missed a 44-yard field goal wide right. 

“For sure,” said Napier postgame when asked if tonight was the loudest he had heard Snapdragon Stadium in his three years in the program.

“I loved it,” added McDougle about the crowd noise. “That means we have a great fanbase behind us. We are going to keep building every single week to show San Diego that we can do this. This is our year.”

Gabriel Plascencia’s 34-yard and 41-yard field goals gave the Aztecs a 13-point halftime lead. Dating back to last season, his 16 consecutive made attempts is now the longest streak by an Aztec since at least the 1996 season. 

Cade Uluave led the Golden Bears with ten tackles and two TFLs. Luke Ferrelli, from local Carlsbad High, added six tackles. 

Quick Notes

• Plascencia held the Warrior Shield and led the Aztecs out of the tunnel pregame
• Captain LB Tano Letuli missed the game due to an injury; Mister Williams started in his place and recorded five tackles
• After entering the game as one of only 25 FBS teams to score on every red zone trip this season (13 attempts), Cal went scoreless in three attempts against the Aztecs
• Cal’s defense only allowed 11 points and 82 rush yards per game; SDSU bested both in the first half alone, scoring 13 points and rushing for 83 yards.

The Aztecs head to DeKalb, IL, next week to face the Northern Illinois Huskies in their final non-conference game of the season. The kickoff is at 12:30 p.m. PT, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. 

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.