Defense, discipline power SDSU past UNLV, 28–10

By Kyle Craig, The Stateline Gazette

SAN DIEGO — San Diego State did not linger on last week’s heartbreak. It responded to it.

One week after a last-play loss to Tulane, the Aztecs leaned into their identity Saturday night, using defensive control, situational execution, and a steady rushing attack to pull away from UNLV for a 28–10 victory.

“We challenged them all week about finishing drives and owning the line of scrimmage,” San Diego State head coach Chad Gruver said. “Tonight, that’s exactly what we did.”

UNLV opened the game with confidence, marching down the field on its first possession and striking quickly when Anthony Colandrea found DeAngelo Irvin Jr. for a 13-yard touchdown and a 7–0 lead. The momentum was brief.

San Diego State answered on its first drive, with Christian Washington plunging in from a yard out to tie the game. Moments later, a UNLV interception gave the Aztecs a short field, and Washington scored again to give SDSU a 14–7 lead by the end of the first quarter.

From there, the game tilted firmly toward the Aztecs.

UNLV repeatedly found itself in manageable down-and-distance situations but failed to convert when it mattered. The Rebels were turned away on fourth down multiple times, including a pivotal stop early in the third quarter when quarterback Alex Orji was stuffed on a sneak on fourth-and-inches at the SDSU 5-yard line

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“That was the play,” Gruver said. “Our guys knew it. You could feel it on the sideline.”

Offensively, San Diego State played with patience rather than flash. Quarterback Jayden Denegal completed 9 of 13 passes for 115 yards, making the most of his opportunities while SDSU leaned heavily on the ground game. A 5-yard bubble screen from Denegal to Jacob Bostick extended the Aztecs’ lead to 21–10 early in the third quarter.

“We didn’t need fireworks,” Denegal said. “We needed execution.”

The decisive moment came in the fourth quarter. Denegal kept the ball on a read-option play, broke through the second level, and sprinted 35 yards for a touchdown that pushed the margin to 28–10.

From there, San Diego State closed the game with a deliberate, clock-draining drive powered by Lucky Sutton, who finished with 21 carries for 135 yards. The Aztecs totaled 223 rushing yards on 30 carries and controlled the tempo throughout the second half.

UNLV finished with nearly identical total yardage — 339 yards to SDSU’s 338 — but struggled to convert opportunities. The Rebels threw three interceptions and came away empty on multiple red-zone trips.

“We moved the ball, but we didn’t finish,” UNLV head coach Matt Glovas said. “You can’t leave that many points on the field and expect to win.”

Alex Orji led UNLV with 103 rushing yards on 14 carries but threw two interceptions, while Colandrea added 46 passing yards and a touchdown before being picked off once. Jai’Den Thomas carried 19 times for 82 yards, and Var’Keyes Gumms led UNLV receivers with 53 yards.

Despite the narrow statistical gap, San Diego State dominated the moments that defined the game.

“We’re close,” Glovas said. “But close doesn’t show up in the standings.”

For Gruver and the Aztecs, the win was less about the score and more about the response.

“This was about identity,” Gruver said. “Physical, disciplined, and relentless. That’s who we are.”

On a night without fireworks, San Diego State made its point with force.