RENO, Nev. — Patrick McMorris returned a fumble for a touchdown in the game's opening minute, Jalen Mayden passed for 156 yards and added a 32-yard rushing touchdown and San Diego State beat Nevada, 23-7, Saturday night at Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nevada.
On the second play from scrimmage, Aztec linebacker Michael Shawcroft hit Cross Patton and McMorris scooped and scored to give SDSU (3-3, 2-1 Mountain West) the lead for good at 7-0 with 14 minutes, 16 seconds left in the first quarter.
Jack Browning made his first of three field goals about five minutes later from 30 yards out to make it a 10-0 San Diego State lead.
Browning added a 27-yarder midway through the second quarter to punctuate a 14-play, 79-yard drive that consumed seven minutes of gametime. Mayden completed two third-and-7 situations for first downs on the drive, including a 11-yard pass to Tyrell Shavers and a 19-yard pass to former starting quarterback Braxton Burmeister.
The Wolf Pack (2-6, 0-4 MW) finally got on the scoreboard with 48 seconds left in the first half on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Shane Illingsworth to Spencer Curtis. Nevada converted a third-and-1, third-and-16 and third-and-8 on the drive. Facing a fourth-and-3 from the Aztec 29-yard line, SDSU cornerback Noah Tumblin was called for a pass interference to extend the Wolf Pack drive. Two plays later, Illingsworth connected on a 20-yard TD pass to Curtis.
Like Nevada's opening drive in the first half, it took only two plays for San Diego State to get the ball back in the second half as Justus Tavai tipped an Illingsworth throw and grabbed the ball for his first career interception.
The interception led to a 23-yard Browning field goal, putting the Aztecs on top, 16-7.
Following a three-and-out and starting on its own 49, SDSU quickly got into Wolf Pack territory. Facing a third-and-5, Mayden scrambled out of the pocket, juking a few Nevada defenders before rumbling down the left sideline for the 32-yard score. It was Mayden's first career rushing touchdown as San Diego State led, 23-7, with 5:29 left in the third quarter.
Nevada later twice punted in Aztec territory and eventually failed to convert on fourth-and-5 from the SDSU 10 with under two minutes, setting up three rushes by San Diego State until the time ran out in the 23-7 victory.
Mayden, who moved back to quarterback from safety on Oct. 3, completed 12 of 25 passes for 156 yards, a game after throwing for 322 in his starting debut against Hawai'i on Oct. 8. Mayden also ran for a career-high 50 yards, while Chance Bell had a game-high 55 yards on 12 carries (4.6 avg.).
The Aztec defense combined for 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced turnovers, five pass breakups and forced seven Nevada three-and-outs.
Shawcroft had a team-high seven tackles (one sack, two TFLs), while defensive linemen Keshawn Banks (five tackles, 3.5 TFLs), Jonah Tavai (four tackles, two sacks, two TFLs) and Justus Tavai (one interception) arguably had SDSU's best game up front.
The San Diego State defense limited the Wolf Pack to its fewest yards (227) and points (7) in a home game since Sept. 28, 2019 against Hawai'i.
The Aztecs won their 30th straight game when leading at the end of the third quarter.