Semaj Morgan returned a punt 25 yards to give UCLA a 43-yard field for its first touchdown against San Diego State. Later, Jalen Woods intercepted a pass to set up a 19-yard touchdown drive. The Aztecs lost 28-10, but UCLA also supplied a warning against blaming everything on short fields. After SDSU kicked a field goal, the Bruins answered with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The defense needed help and still had stops of its own to make.
James Madison visits Saturday, September 19, at 7 p.m. Pacific on The CW Network. Fan Watch gives SDSU a 23% chance to win, making a home upset a substantial achievement to chase. The outside slate offers no result consequential enough to add to your watch list. The interactive guide has the forecast, with its basis in the methodology.
JMU makes the punt operation especially worth watching. Against Wagner, Michael Scott returned punts 76 and 69 yards for touchdowns, and Miles Halbert blocked a punt and returned it nine yards for another score. SDSU cannot assume that sending the punt team out will safely end a bad possession. Protection has to give the punter time, and coverage has to finish with a tackle before Scott finds open grass.
The UCLA game gives fans a reason to care about every yard of that exchange. The Bruins scored only seven points on eight possessions beginning in their own territory. SDSU held them scoreless before halftime, then allowed four rushing touchdowns after the break. Making JMU travel farther would give the defense more chances to force a mistake or a punt; it would still have to contain the run throughout the night.
Sean Lewis put part of that responsibility on his offense. After UCLA, he connected repeated three-and-outs, poor field position, turnovers and explosive plays to the defense's strain, and said offensive inefficiency began with his play-calling. Jayden Denegal completed six of 17 passes for 45 yards, while Lucky Sutton and Javion Kinnard rushed for 81 and 48 yards. The backs supplied gains worth building on. More completed passes would give SDSU another way to keep those possessions alive.
Lewis's postgame explanation was specific. SDSU attacked UCLA's single-high coverage because he liked the perimeter matchups, but SDSU missed open receivers and dropped catchable deep balls. He said the staff needed to reconsider quarterback rhythm, route selection and separation. Watch for Denegal finding an available receiver early in a possession, then another completion that moves the chains. A deep shot can help; the passing game also needs gains it can produce repeatedly.
SDSU entered fall camp with seven returning offensive starters, including Denegal and Sutton, compared with only two on defense. That experience gave fans reason to expect the offense to help the reconstructed defense. UCLA left that expectation unfulfilled. In SDSU's first Pac-12 season, JMU and the trip to Toledo come before the conference opener against Texas State. Fan Watch gives SDSU a 25% chance to reach the Pac-12 championship game. Sustaining drives against JMU and Toledo would give fans more reason to believe the Aztecs can contend in their new league, even though neither game counts in the conference standings.
Lewis also criticized the practice week after UCLA and accepted responsibility for preparing the team with greater urgency. Saturday offers a chance to see a response in execution. Keep a possession going with a catch and a first down. When SDSU must punt, get the snap and protection right, then cover the kick. Make JMU's offense take the field with yards still to earn.