The Aztecs look to hammer FCS Stony Brook in their first ever meeting, when they host the Seawolves in their season opener at Snapdragon Stadium. Here’s the path to victory and how to tune in.
WEEK 1: Stony Brook Seawolves vs. San Diego State Aztecs
WHEN: Thursday, August 28th, 2025, 7:00 PM PST | 10:00 PM EST
WHERE: Snapdragon Stadium; San Diego, California (35,000)
TV: KUSI-TV FOX 5 San Diego
STREAM: Mountain West Network (www.themw.com)
SERIES RECORD: 0-0.
ODDS: San Diego State -12.5
San Diego, CA– The SDSU Aztecs (0-0, 0-0 Mountain West) host the Stony Brook Seawolves (0-0, 0-0 Coastal Athletic Association) in their 2025 season opener at Snapdragon Stadium. Last year, SDSU ended the 2024 season dazed and confused posting a dismal 3-9 record. Their worst result in sixteen seasons was managed by first-year head coach Sean Lewis, who bet big on freshman quarterback Danny O’Neil, as he introduced fans to “AztecFast” offense. Fans bought into the sizzle, but instead of steak they were served spam. AztecFast wasn’t so fast; SDSU frequently led the NCAA in penalties, Snapdragon Stadium ticket sales suffered, and O’Neil, dove headfirst into the transfer portal at season’s end.
August 28th sets the stage for game one of Sean Lewis’s critical redemption season. The FCS Seawolves are an offering, and fans will be seeking a slaughter, for reassurance that Season 2 of the Lewis era exhibits progress and the Aztecs’ ability to play quality football. A loss would be catastrophic, and a toughly contested, close win would be concerning. Aztec fans are anticipating a pronounced beatdown, to re-establish faith in the program. Let’s take a closer look at the competition.
GET TO KNOW THE SEAWOLVES
The Stony Brook Seawolves hail from the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY, on the north shore.
The Seawolves have won just one FBS game ever, against Army in 2012. They come to San Diego to play their only FBS match of the season. They know the Aztecs are 7-17 over the past two seasons, and they will have a plan to punch SDSU in the mouth to pick up FBS win number two. Technically, beating SDSU should not even be a consideration.
On Seawolves offense, 6’ 225-lb star running back Roland Dempster rushed 268 times for 1332 yards (avg. 5 y.p.c.) and 18 touchdowns last season. Dempster is 2025 FCS Preseason All-America First Team. He was also a finalist for the 2024 Walter Payton Award. Dempster will do everything possible to show he can compete with SDSU.
Grad transfer starting quarterback Chris Zellous started all 12 games last year at Hampton, throwing for 1,030 yards and six touchdowns before transferring to Stony Brook. Zellous succeeds Tyler Knoop who threw for 2,021 yards and 17 touchdowns at Stony Brook in 2024.
Wide receiver Jayce Freeman caught 23 passes for 506 yards and six touchdowns while appearing in 11 of 12 games last season. He ranked third in FCS and first in program history with 22 yards per catch. Freeman caught a touchdown pass in five straight games.
The Seawolves’ line is anchored by Niko Papic, who contributed to the Seawolves boosting total yardage by 90 per game and was named Third Team All-CAA.
The defensive leader of the Seawolves is linebacker AJ Roberts, who earned Second Team All-CAA honors after a dominant performance. The former Pitt transfer led the Seawolves with 86 total tackles, including 32 solo and 4 ½ for loss. One of the most productive linebackers in FCS, he had one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and recovery.
The Seawolves’ second-leading tackler from last year is linebacker Anthony Ferrelli, who played at Carlsbad High. Ferrelli was named Fourth Team All-CAA after a career-best 84 tackles, including 38 and 5 ½ for loss, as well as 1 ½ sacks, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
The Seawolves’ head coach Billy Cosh is marching his team to FCS best-in-class status, and his squad will show up convinced they could defeat SDSU.
YOUR 2025 SDSU AZTECS
The Aztecs have a rebooted, upgraded a formidable team for 2025 including over 40 new players combined, by way of recruiting and the transfer portal.
On offense, the Aztecs are more experienced and powerful in 2025, with a blend of returning talent and strong additions. Coach Lewis smartly selected 6’5” 235 lb. Michigan transfer Jayden Denegal as QB1 after competing for the starting role with Bert Emanuel Jr. Denegal was part of Michigan’s national championship team in 2023 and his confidence in leadership has been a key feature the rest of the team has quickly latched onto.
This season the offensive line is led by Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli. The O-line is expected to be very strong, as Christian Jones and Big Joe Borjon add depth. Wide receivers Jordan Napier and Myles Kitt-Denton will be looking to complete the air assault circuit.
San Diego State is Running Back University, and this season Lucky Sutton, Byron Cardwell and Christian Washington will carry the baton held by so many Aztec greats.
On defense SDSU appears to have re-established its patented smash mouth D. Aztec superstar Trey White was named the Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and is undoubtedly one of the best defensemen in NCAA football. White is also named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watchlist (most outstanding defenseman) and the Bronco Nagurski Trophy watchlist (national defensive player of the year).
Last year White totaled 60 tackles (40 solo), 18.5 tackles for loss (No. 1 in MW, No. 7 (tied) in FBS), 12.5 sacks (No. 1 in MW, No. 5 (tied) in FBS), two pass breakups and a forced fumble. White’s 12.5 sacks were tied for the third most in SDSU single-season history.
The Aztecs will need to have made progress on the defensive line. Brady Nassar, who started last year, returns along with Krishna Clay, Sam Benjamin and Ryan Henderson now has a ton of snaps under his belt. Niles King, a Division II Grand Valley State transfer, made consecutive first-team all-GLIAC selections and totaled 70 tackles including 27 tackles for loss and 20 sacks in 34 career games.
Tano Letuli returns as linebacker. In 2024, he led the Aztecs with 70 tackles. Eric Butler, Chris Johnson and Deshaun McCuin all return on secondary. They will work on boosting turnovers from last season to help Aztecs re-establish its traditional scoring defense.
All signs point to a vastly improved 2025 Aztec squad, capable of living up to fan expectations.
KEYS TO A SAN DIEGO STATE VICTORY
1. Defensive Dominance
In the mind of Trey White, this FCS game will be a chance to boost his stats, and generate national attention. He will be hungry to ratchet up tackles for loss, sacks, and forced fumbles. If the Aztec D-line is as fierce as it appears, it will be hard for Seawolves QB Chris Zellous to execute plays by air or on the ground. Now, if extreme pressure is applied there will be a greater chance for turnovers. The Aztec secondary is long overdue for a pick-six, and if defense starts scoring: watch out.
2. Denegal Delivery
Jayden Denegal’s 6’5” stature is a huge advantage as he looks for receivers to open up, or chooses to run the ball. Aztec Nation doesn’t know exactly what to expect from Denegal, but he has the pedigree and the physicality to dazzle if his play calling and throwing come together. Whether or not his focus is AztecFast, he can definitely be the play caller the Aztec Nation needs.
3. Dump Dempster
Seawolves running back Roland Dempster has a lot to prove in this match. SDSU’s job is to shut him down, which is easier said than done. The Aztecs run defense at times in 2024 uncharacteristically allowed teams to hammer them down the middle. If Stony Brook feeds him the ball and he fails to produce anywhere near his average five yards per carry, it will demoralize not just him, but the whole Seawolves squad. But in turn, if Dempster and the Sea Wolves offense can gain ground on the Aztecs it will increase their confidence in this emotional season opener. The Aztec defense must keep him in check and stymie the Seawolves’ offensive plan before they get started.
PREDICTION
This game will be a seasonal bell-weather. The Seawolves are becoming a top-shelf FCS program. The Aztecs will have the upper hand in size, venue, and talent. The Aztecs will finally have a chance to excite fans with a stellar non-conference play which fans were unable to fully witness during spring and summer scrimmages and events.
If defense halts the Seawolves from igniting offensively, and if Denegal uses his commanding height to connect with SDSU’s cadre of receivers to make productive plays, then the Aztecs will catch fire and produce the decisive victory fans have been waiting for.
Even if they have to grind it out: the Aztecs will register the W.
FINAL SCORE
San Diego State 34, Stony Brook 20
Stay tuned this week as all new Sons of Montezuma Podcast episodes will feature a preview to this game and all that’s going on in Aztec Nation to start the 2025 season.
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One Response
Nice work Ted