Bryant Thursby
Contributing Writer
This Saturday, October 12th San Diego State faces off against the Wyoming Cowboys in Laramie, Wyoming at War Memorial Stadium’s 7,215 ft. elevation. The game’s kickoff is schedule for 1:30 PM MT and 12:30 PM PT.
For the Aztecs it will be their second game in Mountain West league play. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network, with local radio coverage being on San Diego Sports 760.
Last week Sean Lewis and Co won its second game of the year vs Mountain West opponent Hawai’i in what was a thrilling matchup that showcased a little bit of everything. This Saturday the Aztecs face off against a struggling 1-4 Cowboys team who won there first game of the year two weeks ago at home against Air Force.
For those that are familiar with Wyoming and its elevation, it makes it a very tough place due to something you cannot prepare against in practice.
Now its been a while since the Aztecs and Cowboys faced off in College Football, last time they played was five years ago to the date of this weeks matchup in 2019. SDSU won 26-22, thanks too a nine-play, 76-yard drive capped off by a TD pass by QB Ryan Agnew to now New York Giant, Daniel Bellinger.
The last time the Aztecs played in Laramie, was in 2016. That SDSU Championship season the Aztecs actually played at War Memorial twice. The first was in season, a one point loss to end the year—the second a Championship game victory for Donnel Pumphrey, Rashaad Penny, and of course Noble Hall.
Fast forward to this year, the Cowboys team is more of a run first, second, third and pass as a last resort team as compared to the Josh Allen days. But through their first five games, neither run nor passing games have been successful.
The Pokes average 141.4 Passing YPG and 100.6 Rushing YPG. For the Aztecs defense this really should not frighten you too much, especially when you watch them on film.
The Wyoming defense on the flip side has struggled a good amount this season with getting stops. Teams average just over 380 yards of offense per game with 28.5 PPG against the Cowboys defense, which after a solid offensive game last week from the Aztecs, Sean Lewis and his AztecFast offense are poised for another good showing.
Here are my three keys to the Aztecs getting a big win on the road this week.
1. Be Disciplined.
Wyoming is a team who does not have many yellow flags thrown on the field on them. They are a disciplined bunch who plays a clean game. Now our Aztecs on the other hand, are a group who happen to be quite the opposite.
The Aztecs did a great job against Central Michigan two weeks ago in not letting the referees slow down the offense, or put the defense in bad positions. However last week vs Hawai’i they went back to having over 100 penalty yards.
In order for the Aztecs to not have any hitches in their giddy-up they must stay below 50 yards in penalties to keep this game close and come out with their second conference win.
2. Don’t Be Average.
The AztecFast offense averages 322 Yards PG in total offense. A massive key for a win this week is taking advantage of a poor Cowboys defense who struggles to stop the run and does not force many turnovers.
The NCAA’s active rushing leader Marquez Cooper ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns last week vs Hawai’i. It was his second straight 100-yard performance and 20th of his career. He continues to be the bell cow of the offense.
Cooper has shown great instincts and patience when opportunities are there. But in this game at elevation, handing the ball off to just one back may not be the wisest of choices for a run game that is averaging below production levels they are known for in years past.
When questioned about when to give Cooper a breather in-game, Lewis comfortably replied that he’ll let him know when that time comes. But it was Lewis’ statement earlier than really underlined his communication style with his team.
“I’ve got a couple of non-negotiables in our culture and what we’re about and its always to speak truth to one another he and I have been speaking truth to each other since 2020.“
The Aztecs aiming point on offense should be to run for over 150 rushing yards. However for passing it should be for over 200 yards.
True Freshman Danny O’Neil coming off Mountain West freshman of the week honors threw for 224 yards and a touchdown last week. His 113 pass attempts this season, is the third most in the country without an interception. Only two quarterbacks fair better, Eastern Michigan’s Cole Snyder (145) and USF’s Byrum Brown (132).
“He’s coachable. He does a great job with his process,” Coach Lewis remarked on his young QB. “He does a great job knowing and understanding what is open at this level and with his film study and the actual application testing himself against our defense.“
O’Neil is 71-113 this year with 791 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions. To start against Hawaii, O’Neil completed his first 10 passes of the game and his 24 completions were his career high.
3. Turnover them Cow Pokes.
Wyoming does a very poor job of turning people over, which has led to them being 1-4. The Aztecs have a positive turnover margin this season despite being 2-3.
Wyoming QB Evan Svoboda is no stranger to throwing completions to the other team with three interceptions on the year up to this point. Coach Eric Schmidt’s defense and the hundreds of different formations, blitzes, and coverages should force Evan and the Wyoming offense into multiple turnovers.
Trey White having ANOTHER multi-sack performance and getting pressure on the QB should force the Aztecs into winning the turnover battle. But the young defensive phenom is not alone. Multiple pressures by #30 Dom Oliver and #32 Marlem Louis should also come into play as players get a breather.
The Aztecs have been very opportunistic on the back end as well. Though linebackers Tano Letuli, Owen Chambliss, and Brady Anderson are all out with injuries, look for Cody Moon, Kyle Moretti, and DJ Herman to step-up.
As for the secondary Coach Lewis has all confidence in his strength of the defense he spoke of at the start of the season. His group has a mentality that no player is a backup, but that they can all withstand being out on an island and still make a big play.
“It’s something that our corners in particularly, but all DBs need to embrace, with our aggressive style of play we’re gonna put them in those situations.” Lewis said in a recent presser. “It’s something that they lean into … they want to be the one that we can count on.“
It may sound like a broken record, but the team who wins the turnover battle, wins over 60% of the time.
The Extra Point
Coach Lewis showed and said last week a few things to Aztec Nation. In the loss to Central Michigan much heat was brought to the coach on his decision to kick field goals rather than be aggressive and go for touchdowns down the stretch. The two potential game winning misses raised the question was there a better option in the kicking game.
Lewis responded by starting Gabriel Plascencia back into that starting role for field goals and extra points. The result was perfection across the board.
“Everything that Gabe did .. because of his training his preparation, through all the adversity that he’s gone though this year, all the competition…he clearly separated himself this week and he’ll be our guy going forward,” noted Lewis on the switch up at kicker. “And obviously he took a big step tonight (vs Hawai’i) in doing his part in helping us win in a big time fashion.“
In such high altitude for this game, keep an eye on how that decision plays into the results. Plascencia’s big leg may play a factor into the final results of a game decided between two very desperate teams.
In the end Coach Lewis is all about focus and commitment—something that he is banking on his team following his lead on as the conference season continues. “We need to be committed to our process. We need to have conviction with how we’re gonna do it … our guys have pulled together through all the adversity. Putting the blinders on and leaning to rely on one another in all 3 phases.“
My prediction is San Diego State starts off Mountain West league play 2-0 and giving Wyoming its first loss in conference play. Its going to be a battle, but I believe the Aztecs have turned a corner, and could possible run the table in the Mountain West this season.
Score Prediction
San Diego State 24 Wyoming 14
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
