Aztecs Down Wyoming, 24-7, on Homecoming Night

SAN DIEGO -- Lucky Sutton ran for a career-high 158 yards, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, and the San Diego State defense once again put up a dominating performance in a 24-7 San Diego State victory over Wyoming Saturday night for Homecoming at Snapdragon Stadium.

It was the sixth consecutive victory for the Aztecs (7-1, 4-0 MW), who moved into sole possession of first place in their last season playing in the Mountain West.

Sutton put the game way with a 50-yard run - the longest of his career - on a first-and-15 with 2 minutes, 55 seconds left to play to put SDSU up, 24-7.

The Cowboys (4-5, 2-3 MW), who were coming off a 28-0 shutout over Colorado State, were stuffed on four plays by the stifling San Diego State defense.

The Aztecs then kneeled in victory formation to remain unbeaten at home at 4-0, outscoring the opposition, 145-31, so far with two home games still to be played.

It was the second straight game Sutton set a career high in rushing yards after running for 131 in SDSU’s 23-0 win at Fresno State last Saturday. He now has four 100-yard games this season and 289 and two touchdowns over his last two contests.

UW jumped out on front of San Diego State in its first visit at Snapdragon Stadium, which debuted in 2022, by using an 8-play, 75-yard drive before Landon Sims connected on a 3-yard pass to Sam Scott.

It was the first time the Aztecs trailed in a game since a 3-0 deficit at Northern Illinois on Sept. 27 with 14:56 left in the second quarter. SDSU had one 229 minutes, 26 seconds (229:26) of game time without trailing until the Wyoming touchdown.

That would be the last time the Cowboys would score, however, as San Diego State forced nine three-and-outs (or less) over their 14 drives the rest of the game. After its opening drive, UW was held to just 110 yards the rest of the game, missing a pair of field goals and turning the ball over four times.

The Aztecs tuned two of those turnovers into points, beginning with an interception by Brice Phillips in the first quarter that gave SDSU the ball on the Wyoming 24-yard line. San Diego State wasted no time as Jayden Denegal found Byron Cardwell Jr. for a catch and run touchdown, tying the game up at 7-7 with 3:32 left.

Early in the second quarter, Dwayne McDougle picked off Kaden Anderson on the Cowboy 36. San Diego State got to the 15, but elected to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Gabe Plascencia on fourth-and-1 to give the Aztecs a lead they would never relinquish.

The Cowboys got into SDSU territory when Tegen Seeds intercepted Jayden Denegal. Erik Sandvik, however, was well short on a 50-yard field goal try.

San Diego State then went 67 yards on six plays before Jordan Napier rushed it in the end zone from seven yards out to make it 17-0. It was the first career rushing score for Napier, who now has scored three different ways - rushing, receiving and punt return - while throwing for another score last year.

The Aztecs intercepted for a third time in the first half when Dalesean Staley broke up a pass and Owen Chambliss came up with it, getting to the UW 48. With 1:20 left in the half, Denegal found Cardwell for a 25-yard gain. After a 4-yard rush by Cardwell, Denegal was picked off with an errant pass in the end zone, keeping the score at 17-7 at the half.

Plascencia missed a chip 23-yard field goal try on the opening drive of the second half, snapping a streak of 26 consecutive field goals.

After a scoreless third quarter, Wyoming got all the way to the SDSU 19, but a false start and holding penalty on back-to-back snaps, moved the Cowboys back. One play later and facing a second-and-27, Michael Fitzgerald caught a pass but defensive tackle Malachi Finau forced the ball loose and Eric Butler pounced on it.

San Diego State couldn’t take advantage, but luckily Sandvik was woefully short on another 50-yard try midway through the fourth.

Looking to wind down the clock late in the game, Sutton ran for a first down with an 11-yard carry before getting whistled for a false start. He then took the next snap 50 yards to seal the Aztec win.

Denegal, who was a game-time decision because of an injury, threw for 194 yards and a touchdown, completed 11 of 22 passes.

Chambliss had a career and game-high 13 tackles, including eight solo, to pace the SDSU defense. Trey White added a pair of sacks in another good effort for the MW preseason defensive player of the year.

San Diego State has outscored the opposition, 176-44, over its six-game winning streak for an average score of 29.3-7.3.

The Aztecs improved to 4-0 in MW play for the third time in league history. The other two times SDSU started 4-0 in the MW - 2015 and 2016 - it went onto win the MW championship.