Aztecs Defeated by Rockets in Toledo

TOLEDO, OHIO -- In a battle between two of the top-30 teams in FBS play since 2015, San Diego State jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Toledo scored 34 unanswered points en route to a 41-16 victory over the Aztecs (1-3) at the Glass Bowl in Toledo.

Coming into the game, the Rockets (3-1) had the 18th-best record since 2015 (92-48, .657), while SDSU had the 26th best at 89-53 (.627).

San Diego State scored in its opening drive for the first time of the season, marching 68 yards on 10 plays before settling for a 25-yard field goal by Cooper DiLeva.

On its second drive, Toledo took the lead when John Alan Richter threw his first of three touchdown passes, this time to Adjatay Dabbs for a 19-yard strike. The Rockets took advantage of good starting field position after an errant Aztec punt, going 45 yards on just three plays before the TD pass.

On their second drive of the second quarter, the Rockets made it 10-3 with a 38-yard field goal by Reice Griffith.

It appeared it was going to be 10-3 at the half when Toledo started its ensuing drive on its own 12-yard line with 2:38 left. On the third play of the drive, however, Richter found a wide-open Bryson Hammer over the middle for a 78-yard touchdown.

SDSU got into Rocket territory, but quarterback Jayden Denegal was sacked for a 15-yard loss to keep it 17-3 at the half.

San Diego State tried, and failed, an on-side kick to start the second half. On the next play, Hammer scored on a 38-yard pass from Richter.

After a three and out by the Aztecs, the Rockets were held to a 49-yard field goal by Griffith for a 27-3 advantage with 9:55 left in the third quarter.

Later in the quarter, SDSU got into Toledo territory by Denegal’s pass was intercepted by Issac Zay and returned 67 yards for a touchdown.

San Diego State finally got into the end zone, using a 15-play, 78-yard drive at the end of the third quarter. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the 11, Denegal found tight end Ryan Wolfer in the left corner of the end zone for the touchdown, the first of Wolfer’s career. The Aztecs were unable to convert the 2-point conversion and faced a 34-9 deficit heading into the final quarter.

The Rockets responded with a 7-play, 73-yard drive, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run by Connor Walendzak to make it a 41-9 lead.

Late in the fourth quarter with substitutes in the game, SDSU completed the scoring on a 9-play, 65-yard drive orchestrated by backup quarterback Draiden Trudeau. A walk-on, Trudeau was 4-for-5 for 53 yards on the drive, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Hawkins. It was Trudeau’s first career touchdown pass and the first receiving TD for Hawkins.

Toledo ran out the clock to clinch the 41-16 victory, its ninth straight win at the Glass Bowl.

Richter was 16 for 22 for 284 yards and three touchdowns for the Rockets, with Hammer making six catches for 133 yards and two scores.

Denegal completed 19 of 31 passes for 206 yards, a touchdown and an interception for San Diego State.

Jackson Ford caught a career-high five passes for 35 yards and was one of 12 different Aztecs with a catch.

Josh Hunter and Sione Hala led the SDSU defense with eight tackles apiece.

San Diego State felt to 3-14 all-time in its Division I era (since 1969) when playing in the Eastern Time Zone.

The Aztecs also dropped to 11-3-1 against current members of the Mid-American Conference and 12-3-1 against teams that were members of the MAC at the time of the game.