FROM THE FILM ROOM (through games of Aug. 31)
* Junior Warrior (safety) Tariq Thompson had an outstanding game in the season opener. Thompson ended Weber State final two possessions on Saturday with an interception and a pass breakup on fourth down. According to Pro Football Focus, Thompson recorded a team-high 91.2 overall grade which currently places him second among all defensive backs nationally. Thompson was tested often on Saturday, but that wasn't a problem. He recorded an interception and three pass breakups while allowing five receptions on a whopping 10 targets in coverage. Thompson gave up just 25 total receiving yards in his coverage on those 10 targets, which gave Weber State just a 16.7 NFL passer rating when targeting Thompson in coverage. Aztec fans are familiar with Thompson as he's been one of the team's best defenders over his career. Over his career, Thompson has allowed just two TDs in his coverage to go along with eight interceptions and 15 pass breakups.
* Senior linebacker Troy Cassidy was outstanding against both the run and pass on Saturday. Cassidy, who played all 51 defensive snaps, had a near even split with 16 snaps vs. the run, 17 snaps as a pass rusher and 18 snaps in coverage. Cassidy recorded an career-high five defensive stops in total (three in run defense). His run stop percentage yesterday of 18.8 percent currently has him ranked second in the conference among linebackers. Cassidy was also effective on the rush, recording a quarterback hit and two hurries. In coverage, he allowed just 17 total receiving yards on four receptions (five targets). The longest reception allowed by Cassidy was just six yards.
* The San Diego State defense allowed just 2.2 yards per rush vs Weber State. The Aztecs allowed only 1.2 rushing yards after contact per attempt. That was tops in the Mountain West in week one. Outside of Cassidy's performance, other impressive showings in run defense came from junior Aztec Dwayne Johnson Jr. (82.3 run defense grade while matching Cassidy with five defensive stops and a team-high 12 tackles) and sophomore DE Keshawn Banks (74.4 run defense grade and two defensive stops). Since the beginning of last year, San Diego State has allowed an explosive run (gain of 10+ yards) on just 7.2 percent of opponents attempts. That is the best among all FBS teams nationally.
* The offensive line had a strong performance in the pass game, allowing no sacks and only one quarterback hit on 36 pass plays. This unit was lead by freshman right guard William Dunkle, who in the first action of his career, was PFF highest graded player on offense (76.9). Dunkle allowed no pressures of any kind on 36 pass blocks and also helped lead the way on the ground with a 76.0 run block grade. Dunkle has yet to allow a QB pressure in his career. Senior left guard Daishawn Dixon also was perfect in pass protection, allowing zero pressures on 36 pass blocks.
* Senior running back Juwan Washington gained 50 of his 55 rushing yards after contact (90.9 percent of his total). In his career, Washington has gained over 1,200 rushing yards after contact (1,204) and recorded a eye-popping 73 avoided tackles.
RECAPPING THE WEBER STATE GAME (through games of Aug. 31)
* The Aztecs recorded their first shutout since beating Hawai'i, 55-0, on Nov. 5, 2016.
* San Diego State, Wisconsin, UCF, Maryland and Syracuse are the only teams to not allow a point this season.
* San Diego State allowed just five first downs to Weber State, the fewest allowed in its Division I era (since 1969) (previous low was six, which happened twice; most recently Oct. 3, 2015 vs. Fresno State).
* The six combined points are the fewest in an Aztec game in their Division I era (since 1969) (previous low was seven in a 7-0 win over UNLV on Nov. 8, 2003).
* This was just the third 6-0 score in college football since 2000.
* Out of Weber State's 51 plays, only one was inside SDSU territory, where the Aztecs stopped the Wildcats on fourth-and-1 on the SDSU 43.
* SDSU allowed only 154 total yards, its fewest since allowing 142 at New Mexico on Nov. 3, 2018. It is the sixth time since 2015 that the Aztecs have allowed 154 or less yards.
LOOK AHEAD (through games of Aug. 31)
* San Diego State is 4-1 against members of the Pac-12 Conference since the start of 2016 with three of those games coming against teams that were nationally ranked at the time of the game.
* San Diego State's four victories against Pac-12 teams since the beginning of the 2016 season is the most by and G5 school against any P5 conference during that span and equals the number of conference wins Oregon State has during that period of time (4-23).
Football Sunday Notes and Tidbits
