SAN DIEGO -- In San Diego State's annual spring football game, with the team split in to two squads, Team Aztec defeated the Team Warrior, 10-3, at the program's on-campus practice facility on Friday afternoon.
The game was played in four 12-minute quarters with the first half using normal timing rules while the second half was played with a running clock. A limited number of parents and family who live in California also were able to watch the Aztecs play in person in a home setting for the first time since the fall 2019.
"It was nice to have our parents, at least some of them, out there watching us," head coach Brady Hoke said. "It was great to see them. We can't wait until the fall when we'll be able to have fans.
"The other thing is when you reflect on last spring, we only had the opportunity to have six practices. This year we were able to get all 15 in with most guys out there. We're just thankful to get through the whole 15 this year."
The Team Aztec squad used two quarterbacks. Lucas Johnson played the entire first half and the first two possessions of the third quarter, and was relieved by Marshall Eucker for the final three possessions of the game. Johnson finished the day 5-of-14 for 88 yards and a touchdown, while Eucker went 2-of-2 for 22 yards.
Team Warrior's starting quarterback was Jordan Brookshire, who played the four first period possessions before giving way to Jalen Mayden, who was in for the entire second quarter. The pair split time in the third period before Baylor Horning went under center for the final two times Team Warrior had the ball. Brookshire was 4-of-11 for 55 yards, Mayden went 5-of-12 for 83 yards and Horning was 4-of-8 for 45 yards and an interception.
After each team went three and out in its first possession, Team Warrior picked up the game's initial first down on a 5-yard scamper from Chance Bell, who led his squad with six rushes for 18 yards. But the drive stalled, and Team Warrior was forced to punt.
Team Aztec took over on their own 24 and on the third play of the drive, Johnson hooked up with Ethan Dedeaux on a 72-yard touchdown pass with 5:52 to play in the first to notch the game's first and only touchdown.
Four possessions later, Johnson took Team Aztec on a seven-play drive which ended in a 57-yard field goal from Matt Araiza to push the lead to 10-0.
Team Warrior got the ball right back and marched 72 yards in six plays. The big strike was a 47-yard pass from Mayden to Jesse Mathews, who totaled 58 yards on two catches, to set the team up with a first-and-goal on the 2. But after a rush for no gain, Lucky Avinger was hit behind the line by Sefo Mailangi, who knocked the ball loose where it was recovered in the red zone by Segun Olubi.
With just under two minutes left in the half and Team Aztec with the ball on their own 13, Johnson fumbled, and Team Warrior's Kahi Neves recovered it. Team Warrior got the ball down to the six, but the drive stalled, and they had to settle for a 23-yard field goal from Jack Browning to make the score, 10-3, at the half.
On Team Warrior's first possession of the third quarter, they went from their own 40 down to the Aztec 20 on six plays. The big play came from the arm of Brookshire who connected with Isaiah Richardson for 33 yards. It was one of Richardson's two catches on the day. Collyn Hopkins attempted a 37-yard field goal, but pushed it left.
Four of the next five possessions ended with the ball being turned over on downs. Then, on what was effectively the final possession of the game, Patrick McMorris made a red zone interception on a Horning pass with 27.7 seconds left to secure the win for Team Aztec.
With the win Team Aztec will enjoy a steak dinner with all the trimmings on Monday, while Team Warrior will be dining on hot dogs.
San Diego State is set to open its season at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 4, although game times and television arrangements, including moves to non-Saturdays will be announced at a later date.
The Aztecs will play seven of their 12 games in 2021 in Carson while a new stadium is under construction and will have only one road contest over the first six weeks of the season.
San Diego State Spring Game
April 30, 2021
SDSU Practice Fields
Final Statistics
Team Aztec
RUSHING (attempts-yards)
Jaylon Armstead 12-50, Kaegun Williams 3-10, Lucas Johnson 6-9, Jordan Byrd 3-0, Cliffton Styles 4-(minus 5), Marshall Eucker 2-(minus 7). Totals: 30-57.
PASSING (completions-attempts-yards, TD, INT)
Lucas Johnson 5-14-88, 1, 0; Marshall Eucker 2-2-22, 0, 0. TOTALS: 7-16-110, 1, 0.
RECEIVING (numbers-yards-TD)
Ethan Dedeaux 2-76-1, Jay Rudolph 1-14, Ronald Gilliam 1-8, Dan Bellinger 1-7, Kobe Smith 1-5, Kaegun Williams 1-0. TOTALS: 7-110-1.
TACKLES (UA-A-Total)
Garret Fountain 2-6-8, Dylan Taylor 5-1-6, Patrick McMorris 2-3-5, Adonis Brown 2-2-4, Cameron Thomas 2-2-4, Andrew Aleki 3-0-0, Segun Olubi 0-3-0, Cedorious Barfield 2-0-2, Isaiah McElvane 2-0-2, Sefo Mailangi 1-1-2, Andrew Alves 1-0-1, Wyatt Draeger 1-0-1, Cassius Savage 1-0-1, Nassir Sims 1-0-1, Jonah Tavai 1-0-1, Tayler Hawkins 0-1-1, Allan Mwata 0-1-1, Mekhi Shaw 0-1-1, Kaegun Williams 0-1-1.
TACKLES FOR LOSS
Dylan Taylor 2-11, Garret Fountain 1-3, Segun Olubi 1-2. TOTALS: 4-16
SACKS
Dylan Taylor 2-11. TOTALS: 2-11
PASSES BROKEN UP
Isaiah McElvane 2, Andrew Aleki 1, Adonis Brown 1, Garret Fountain 1. TOTALS: 5
FORCED FUMBLES
Sefo Mailangi 1. TOTALS: 1
FUMBLES RECOVERED
Segun Olubi 1-7. TOTALS: 1-7
INTERCEPTIONS (no.-yards-TD)
Patrick McMorris 1-14-0. TOTALS 1-14-0.
PUNTING (Punts-Yards, Average)
Matt Araiza 5-241, 48.2, Jack Browning 1-59, 59.0. TOTALS: 6-300, 30.0.
KICKOFF RETURNS (Returns-Yards)
Mekhi Shaw 1-23. TOTALS: 1-23.
KICKING (FGM-FGA, Yds., PATM-PAT)
Matt Araiza 1-1, 57g, 1-1.
Team Warrior
RUSHING (attempts-yards)
Greg Bell 6-18, Chance Bell 7-14, Jalen Mayden 2-13, Lucky Avinger 6-12, Baylor Horning 3-(minus 6). Totals: 24-51.
PASSING (completions-attempts-yards, TD, INT)
Jalen Mayden 5-12-83, 0, 0; Jordon Brookshire 4-11-55, 0, 0; Baylor Horning 4-8-45, 0, 1. TOTALS: 13-31-183, 0, 1.
RECEIVING (numbers-yards-TD)
Jesse Matthews 2-58, Isaiah Richardson 2-44, Darius De Los Reyes 3-35, TJ Sullivan 1-14, Koby Duru 1-10, Aaron Greene 1-7, BJ Busbee 1-6, Chance Bell 1-5, Lucky Avinger 1-4. TOTALS: 13-183.
PUNT RETURNS (Returns-Yards)
Jesse Matthews 1-13. TOTALS: 1-13.
PUNTING (Punts-Yard, Averages)
Jack Browning 5-227, 45.4, Collyn Hopkins 3-106, 35.3. TOTALS: 8-333, 41.6.
KICKING (FGM-FGA, Yds., PATM-PAT)
Jack Browning 1-2 (23g, 36wl), 0-0.
TACKLES (UA-A-Total)
Vai Kaho 5-2-7, Davaughn Celestine 4-1-5, Hunter Kaupiko 4-1-5, Noah Tumblin 4-1-5, Kyron White 3-1-4, Dezjohn Malone 2-1-3, Michael Shawcroft 2-1-3, Sam Whipple 1-2-3, Kahi Neves 2-0-2, Jelani Whitmore 2-0-2, Caden McDonald 1-1-2, Daniel Okpoko 1-1-0, Seyddrick Lakalaka 0-1-1, Trenton Thompson 0-1-1.
TACKLES FOR LOSS
Vai Kaho 3-9, Hunter Kaupiko 3-7, Kyron White 2-4, Kahi Neves 1-4, Daniel Okpoko 1-3, Noah Tumblin 1-1. TOTALS: 11-28
SACKS
Vai Kaho 3-9, Daniel Okpoko 1-3. TOTALS: 4-12
PASSES BROKEN UP
Liam Boersma 1, Dejohn Malone 1. TOTALS: 2
FORCED FUMBLES
None. TOTALS: 0
FUMBLES RECOVERED
Kahi Neves 1-0. TOTALS: 1-0
INTERCEPTIONS (no.-yards-TD)
None. TOTALS 0-0-0.
Team Aztec Defeats Team Warrior 10-3 in Spring Game
