San Diego State Dominates Nevada 44-10 in Mountain West Showdown

In a commanding performance, the San Diego State Aztecs defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack 44-10 on October 7, 2023, marking their fourth consecutive win. Quarterback Jayden Denegal led the Aztecs with a stellar 14-of-17 passing for 205 yards and two touchdowns, showcasing a potent offensive strategy from the start.

The game began on a challenging note for Nevada, which went three-and-out on its opening drive. Following that, Jordan Napier electrified the crowd with a remarkable 75-yard punt return for a touchdown just 59 seconds into the game, setting the tone for the Aztecs. With a 14-0 lead after Chris Johnson returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown, San Diego State quickly demonstrated its dominance.

Offensive Prowess and Key Performers

As the game progressed, Denegal continued to shine. He threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Christian Washington on the first play of the second quarter, followed by a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Bostick with 9:05 remaining in the first half. Lucky Sutton capped off a dominant first half with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, extending the lead to 35-0 just before halftime.

Senior kicker Gabriel Plascencia maintained his impressive streak, hitting field goals from 21, 45, and 49 yards in the third quarter. Plascencia is now a perfect 10-for-10 this season and has made 22 consecutive field goals, setting a new conference record and the longest active streak in NCAA Division I.

Head coach Sean Lewis expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “We put together a complete one for the first time, which is good to see.” He praised the offensive line and the depth of the running back room, which he believes are key to the team’s success during this winning streak.

Nevada Struggles Continue

On the other side, Nevada faced continued challenges. The Wolf Pack, now with a record of 1-5 (0-2 in the Mountain West Conference), has lost 13 consecutive games in conference play and 11 straight against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents. Nevada finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter with a 34-yard field goal from Joe McFadden and a 16-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Carter Jones to Marshaun Brown with 2:32 left in the game, after several Aztec starters had exited.

Jones, making his first career start, completed 16 of 32 passes for 177 yards but struggled with two interceptions. The disappointing outing continued a rough season for the Wolf Pack.

Despite the victory, the Aztecs faced a slight setback when Brady Anderson was ejected for targeting with just over four minutes remaining in the game. This incident marked a rare blemish on an otherwise dominant performance.

With a bye week approaching, San Diego State (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West) will prepare for a critical road matchup against rival Fresno State on October 25, 2023. As the season progresses, the Aztecs will look to build on their momentum and continue their successful run in conference play.