SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State spotted James Madison a 19-point first-half deficit and couldn’t come back in a 26-13 loss Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium.
The loss snapped a seven-game home winning streak for the Aztecs (1-2), which was the 14th-longest active streak in the country entering the weekend.
The Dukes (3-0), who advanced to the 2025 College Football Playoff, improved to 15-2 over their last 17 games dating back to last season.
Camden Coleman threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns for JMU, which led, 19-0, at the half.
Coleman led James Madison to a six-play, 75-yard drive to start the game, ending when he ran it in from the 4. Coleman found Braeden Wisloski for a 54-yard strike on the second play of the game, before Coleman punched it in four plays later.
SDSU got into Duke territory on its opening drive, highlighted by a 27-yard pass and catch from quarterback Jayden Denegal to running back Javion Kinnard to get to the 10. On the next play, however, Denegal’s floater was picked off by DJ Kelly.
JMU then went 55 yards on 14 plays, settling for a 46-yard field goal by Morgan Suarez to take a 10-0 lead. Suarez added a 32-yarder on James Madison’s next possession as the visitors went 60 yards on 10 plays to take a 13-0 lead with 14:13 left in the first half.
The teams traded punts until San Diego State’s Josh Hunter stripped the ball out of George Pettaway’s hand, which was recovered by Jelani McLaughlin at the Aztec 44. SDSU went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Duke 36, but Bert Emanuel Jr.’s sneak was stopped at the line of scrimmage.
After San Diego State forced a punt and got the ball back, Denegal’s second-and-10 pass was deflected by Kevin Roberts and picked off by JT Hooten, who returned it 14 yards to the Aztec 9. Two plays later, Coleman found Cole Keller for a 7-yard touchdown pass and it was 19-0 at the half after the two-point conversion was rooted out by the SDSU defense.
At the half, JMU held a 281-163 advantage in total yards.
The teams exchanged punts out of intermission, before SDSU finally got on the scoreboard on its second possession of the half. San Diego State marched 82 yards on 11 plays, before Kinnard scored from the 3 with 6:47 left in the third quarter. Denegal was 4 of 5 on the drive for 62 yards, including a 34-yard pass to Bert Emanuel Jr.
Holding a 19-7 lead through three quarters, James Madison was threatening early in the fourth. Facing a fourth-and-1 on the Duke 47, Coleman bobbled the snap. SDSU linebacker Tano Letuli rushed Coleman but, somehow, Coleman was able to pick up the ball and chuck it downfield to an uncovered Corey Scott for a 20-yard gain. Three plays later, Coleman found a wide-open Keller streaking down the right side of the field for a 20-yard touchdown pass.
Down, 26-7, San Diego State responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive, capped with a 14-yard pass from Denegal to Nathan Acevedo. Despite being held and pass interfered with, Acevedo made the catch around the defender’s helmet. Denegal was 6-for-7 on the drive for 63 yards on the drive, but the Aztecs’ two-point try was stopped, keeping it a 26-13 JMU lead.
SDSU forced a three-and-out and got into the red zone. Facing a fourth-and-10 from the James Madison 19, Denegal’s pass to the end zone was just off the fingertips of Jordan Napier.
The Dukes punted again but San Diego State was stopped on a fourth-and-8 play, setting up victory formation for JMU.
Kinnard logged his first career 100-yard rushing game with 181 yards and a touchdown on 33 attempts (5.5 avg.). The 181 rushing yards were the most by an Aztec since Marquez Cooper had 223 vs. Texas A&M - Commerce in the 2024 opener as he became the 88th differ player in program history with a 100-yard rushing game.
Kinnard also added four catches for 70 yards, giving him 251 all-purpose yards on the night, the most by a SDSU player since Rashaad Penny had 283 in the 2017 Armed Forces Bowl against Army West Point.
Denegal was 18-for-33 for 209 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
San Diego State outgained James Madison, 238-136, in the second half.
Letuli and Sione Hala had 10 tackles apiece to pace the Aztec defense, while Djibril Rahman made a pair of sacks.
Aztecs Fall to James Madison at Snapdragon Stadium
San Diego State Football was defeated at home by the visiting Dukes of James Madison by a final score of 13-26. Aztec's running back Javion Kinnard posted 251 yards of total offense including a rushing touchdown.
