Show me that smile again.
Don’t waste another minute on your cryin’.
We’re nowhere near the end
The best is ready to begin.
As poetic as these words may be, sorry—they are not mine.
If you are of a certain age you will know these lyrics to be of a popular 1980’s sitcom by the name of Growing Pains. Perhaps a more fitting marketing slogan for this new era of Aztecs football I’d say.
This was the theme the SDSU football program was singing in place of the fight song Saturday night, as the Oregon State Beavers came to San Diego and not just took down the Aztecs, they shut them out 21-0.
The loss sets SDSU at 1-1 on the season.
Coming into this anticipated matchup the only thing guaranteed was that there would be a lot revealed about our Aztecs and how they truly stacked up in the world of college football. Certainly the level of competition brought by playing against the former PAC12 level of competition Beavers was far greater than the likes of Texas A&M Commerce.
Like the Aztecs, Oregon State first year head coach Trent Bray and the Beavers were coming off a week-1 victory over an FCS opponent. And just like the Aztecs, the Beavs were going to learn a lot about themselves just the same.
So what was the conclusion?
What ensued was a wake up call for the Aztecs faithful. Though the style of play is branded AztecFast, there will be nothing quick about the transformation Sean Lewis is attempting with this offense specifically.
The good news is as a whole the team cut down on their penalties by half, from a shocking 16 in the season opener, to 8 this week. The bad news is that 8 is still not any good.
The slow start in back to back games due to penalties is not a recipe for success. Against an FCS squad, it’s doable. Against a caliber team like the Beavers or most Mountain West Conference schools, it is not.
Controlling the controllables, as coach Lew was hoping to do, seems to be still out of reach at this point.
And it cuts like a two edged sword. When the offense commits a hold, false start, delay of game, or any other illegal procedure, it obviously stalls drives or completely squashes them.
When the defense commits penalties it hurts the offense in terms of field position and momentum. Both allow a deficit to put added pressure on a struggling young unit.
“Obviously losing Joe Borjon for the season has created some stress points for us. So we’re looking to see now as we’re moving the pieces around that we do have and that are available.” detailed Sean Lewis in his post game presser with goaztecs.com
With the loss of offensive lineman Joe Borjon, the unit has had to scramble to find a replacement on the fly. Next man up mentality brings about great opportunities. In Saturday’s contest several different lineman spotted up at that guard position.
“What is the best collection that we can put out there. What’s the best five, that see the game most cohesively together, with the same set of eyes. So that we can be on the same page and we can play and be efficient in the manor that we want to be.”
Not being set in place on the line prohibits that fast pace of play, as the Aztecs visibly were taking more time between plays than expected.
The pace of play wasn’t the only thing that slowed down. In the first half QB Danny O’Neil was seen headed for the sideline medical tent. Shortly after there revealed to be a knee brace of some sort on his left planting leg.
Oregon State on the other hand ran their ball control offense somewhat effectively. At times it felt as though we were watching the Aztecs offenses of the past as led by OC Jeff Horton.
Pound the run game, take the what the defense gives you, don’t turn the ball over, and set up multiple 3rd down and short situations to keep the chains moving and the clock ticking.
And it worked.
But the Aztecs weren’t without their opportunities. This game was in large part only a 7-0 deficit, despite Oregon State missing a field goal and a dropped flea flicker touchdown pass & grab.
Into the 3rd quarter Oregon State shanked a wobbly punt near the 45 yard line. It was perhaps the first momentum changing play in the Aztecs favor and they quickly seized it.
Feverishly driving into Beaver territory, Danny O’Neil (11 for 26, 107 yards) threw a deep pass to Louis Brown IV in man on man coverage. Brown made an incredible body contorting catch while being interfered with.
His second in as many weeks for the talented Colorado State transfer Brown IV.
After inching their way inside the 2 yard line, on 3rd & goal and moving fast, O’Neil had the option to toss left to Marquez Cooper or take it himself.
With a safety barreling in on Cooper full speed, O’Neil tucked the ball, put his braced legged foot in the ground, and darted towards an opening end zone.
But it was Oregon State’s Jack Kane off the edge who stripped O’Neil of the ball at the 1 yard line and the Beavers recovered. CBS Sports commentators said it well, disaster for San Diego State.
Though a whole quarter remained the Aztecs couldn’t recover after that missed opportunity.
The defense played with fight all game long keeping the Aztecs within range. Led by Chris Johnson’s 9 tackles, Owen Chambliss and Tano Letuli with 7 a piece, there were so little times for big tackles for losses or sacks.
On the ensuing drive for the Beavers however, they drove down inside Aztecs territory possessing the ball the rest of the quarter. It was on the first play of the 4th quarter and on 4th & 1 that the Aztecs line couldn’t seal the edge, and Oregon State ran the ball in for the score.
It was game by that point.
Credit to the Beavers not allowing much disruption to their offensive operation & game plan. The grinding Beavers offense kept the defense on the field and the Aztecs offense out of their game plan, operating at a much less desirable count of plays.
The growing pains will continue to be felt for these Aztecs. As they’ve failed the first true test of the season, a big opportunity is before them on the road this Saturday against the CAL-Berkely Bears. More pressure, more heat. For coach Lewis, he sees it for what it is and wouldn’t want anything less in order to get this team to where he wants it to be.
“The great–great bonds are formed under heat and pressure right …” a visibly dejected but determined coach Lewis illuminated.
“Obviously we’re feeling a little bit of heat, little bit of pressure for the very first time, right. Awesome. Cool. Great. Let’s embrace that and let’s come together as a unit, as a team, through this adversity.”
Side notes:
The larger anticipated crowd of 25,318 was just a tick above the season opening crowd. Perhaps temperatures well into the 90’s was a detractor of achieving a bump in attendance.
Aztecs fans will have to wait a whole calendar month after the CAL game, a bye week, then at Central Michigan, and then back home again vs Hawai’i October 5 at 5pm PDT. It will be the team’s first Mountain West Conference game of the season.
Stay tuned for a whole new week of Sons of Montezuma content including our podcast Livestream on YouTube this Tuesday, September 10 at 8pm where we will be joined by Aztec4Life and former QB David Lowery.
Wednesday September 11 at 7:30pm join our newest YouTube Livestream show ‘Aztec Gamers’ as they play the Aztecs weekly matchup against CAL on the new EA College Football video game and talk all things football.
Also this week a new Hijos de Montezuma: SDSU en Español podcast episode for Spanish speakers.
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