SDSU’s Statement Win Brings Momentum—But Also the Risk of Overconfidence

Heading into this team’s home game against the Cal Bears last week, SDSU Head Coach Sean Lewis took his share of criticism for the loss at Washington State the week prior. The Aztecs looked overmatched on the field and along the sidelines versus the Cougars in losing 36-13.

Fans questioned Lewis’ game plan and play calling, even though now in this his second season he has brought in an official offensive coordinator Matt Johnson to split those duties with him. Many doubted the men of Montezuma Mesa could turn around their performance during the bye week. I mean even folks here at Sons of Montezuma predicted a Cal victory.

So, what do we say now after a stunning and thoroughly dominating effort last Saturday by the Red & Black? 

GO AZTECS! 

Against Cal, San Diego State played with swagger and a sense of purpose that was often missing in this short tenure of Coach Lewis so far. The defense withstood a long Bears’ opening drive, 19 plays for 75 yards, thwarting a fourth down pass in the end zone. 

From there, the Aztecs played lights out on that side of the ball forcing three turnovers, scoring on two of them, and tossing a shutout. It’s the first one against a current team from a Power 5 conference since San Diego State handled Oregon State, 25-0, on Sept. 13, 1975.

The offense began last week’s contest by getting the ball to its playmakers. It was running back Lucky Sutton for 11 yards over the left side on the first play from scrimmage. Both big-play wide receivers Jacob Bostick and Jordan Napier caught passes on that opening possession signaling to all in attendance that the offense had spent some time in the off week identifying who needed to get more touches.

As the game progressed, both Sutton and Napier asserted themselves. Napier got the Aztecs going with an 80-yard reception on a deep pass thrown by QB Jayden Denegal. Sutton, the junior RB from Cathedral Catholic High School, carried 12 times for 61 yards and one touchdown, a cool 5.1 average per carry. He looked solid from the jump gaining 21 yards on his first two rushes of the game.

But now comes perhaps the most challenging game of the season for SDSU. Does the team continue its newfound momentum on the road against Northen Illinois now that it’s receiving some flowers from the locals?

Or, does overconfidence seep into the locker room leading to a middling performance that once again will have the SDSU fan base fretting over what might have been.

Coach Lewis addressed that concern in his weekly press conference.

The head man likened the positive comments his team is receiving after its 34-0 win over Cal to a “bunch of barracudas in the water” swimming around his team.

“You want to be able to insulate yourself,” he continued. “You want to be able to again know that the opinions in the building matter. That’s what needs to be most valuable.”

“But there’s work that we get to do. And in this, you know, family business that we’re in, you’re only as good as your last latest performance, right? So, that one was good, but we got another one coming. And as good as that last one was, (if) we don’t handle this one the right way I’m going to forget about the last one pretty quickly. And all they’re going to know is the one that we just put down.” 

Here! Here!

If SDSU is going to be competitive week in and week out, it needs to show that performances like the one against Cal can be repeated. Consistency in energy, focus, preparation, and game-day execution makes for winning teams and successful programs.

The Red & Black own a 6-0 record versus this week’s opponent. If they make it 7-0 against the Huskies, and 3-1 on the season, Coach Lewis may need to worry about even more praise coming his and his team’s way.

The Aztecs get the chance to show if they have found the key to delivering solid outings on Saturday at 12:30pm on ESPN+ when they kick off against North Illinois.