CARSON, Calif. – San Diego State traveled up the freeway on Sunday to conduct a closed scrimmage at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. The Aztecs ran 75 plays in the lively 87-minute scrimmage, which also included situational drills in preparation for their 2021 season opener on Sept. 4 vs. New Mexico State.
"Getting (our players) up here, getting used to the locker rooms, training rooms, where we tape, it was good to get up here," said SDSU head coach Brady Hoke. "We had about 75 to 80 plays. There was some good physicalness. I was impressed with both sides to some degree. That's a good thing. I'd rather be impressed with both sides. In the kicking game we got a lot of work done. We've got some dynamic guys who can return kicks for us, and I was happy to see the effort that they all put in … We (also) didn't turn the ball over today (with 1s and 2s) and that's a good thing."
The Aztec offense put up 10 points on the first three drives, initiated by a 27-yard field goal by junior Matt Araiza. Moments later, on the first play of the third series, redshirt freshman Jaylon Armstead burst through a gaping hole on the left side and darted 62 yards for a touchdown.
Two additional drives resulted in 50-yard field goals – one by Araiza and another by sophomore transfer Jack Browning.
Late in the scrimmage, freshman quarterback Will Haskell connected with fellow classmate Josh Nicholson on an apparent 10-yard touchdown pass; however, the score was nullified by a motion penalty. On the ensuing play, freshman safety Jatavious Magee intercepted Haskell at the 5-yard line to extinguish the threat.
Armstead was the leading rusher for the day, gaining 78 yards on six attempts, while freshman Cam Davis finished with 39 yards on six carries of his own.
Senior Elijah Kothe led the receiving corps with four catches for 36 yards, while fellow senior BJ Busbee had two receptions for 50 yards, including a 45-yarder from senior Jordon Brookshire on a third-down situation during the second drive of the day.
Brookshire and Haskell were one of four signal-callers utilized by the Aztecs on Sunday, along with senior Lucas Johnson and sophomore transfer Jalen Mayden. Brookshire was 7-for-12 passing for 109 yards and no interceptions, while Mayden (4-7-0, 56 yds) displayed his mobility, scrambling six times for 34 yards.
Sophomore lineman Dylan Taylor and freshman safety CJ Baskerville paced SDSU's defensive efforts with five tackles apiece. Baskerville led all players with four solo stops, while Taylor combined with sophomore Wyatt Draeger on a sack. In addition, senior Andrew Aleki and freshman Pa'a Ewailiko each recorded a sack, with the latter resulting in a loss of 18 yards. A pair of cornerbacks, sophomore Noah Tumblin and freshman Noah Avinger, got into the act as well with three solo tackles apiece.
In all, the Aztec defense registered nine tackles for loss and tallied four pass breakups.
San Diego State will play seven of its 12 games during 2021 campaign at Dignity Health Sports Park and will have only one road contest over the first six weeks of the season. The Aztecs' home slate features high-profile games against Utah, Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada. Five of the six FBS opponents that SDSU will face at home this year season finished the 2020 season with a .500 record or better.
San Diego State football single-game tickets, season tickets and three-game mini plans are all on sale. For more information, visit GoAztecs.com/tickets. For additional questions, please contact the Aztec Athletic Ticket Office, either by email at aztix@sdsu.edu, or by phone at 619-283-7378.
Aztecs Hold Closed Scrimmage in Carson
