San Diego State, usually in the thick of the Mountain West race, finds itself in the unusual role of spoiler in the season’s final two games against San Jose State and Fresno State.
SDSU (3-7, 1-5 Mountain West) meets San Jose State (5-5, 4-2) on Saturday night at 7:30 at CEFCU Stadium. The Aztecs are 14 1/2-point underdogs in the game.
Here are five things to watch:
1. Show of emotion
When it was announced Monday morning that SDSU coach Brady Hoke would not be returning next season, there was an outpouring of gratitude from dozens and dozens of current and former players about what Hoke means to them.
Two players who spoke with the media this week were SDSU defensive end Garret Fountain and running back Martin Blake.
“He’s helped me become a better man, really, and a better person in society,” Fountain said. “He is a phenomenal leader of men. He’s an even better father and husband. … He’s a great role model for anybody.”
Blake, a walk-on who was awarded a scholarship by Hoke this season, appreciated the encouragement to be himself.
“He just taught me it’s OK to be a person and to be a football player,” said Blake, adding, “It’s not just being an Aztec, but to be you as an Aztec. That’s what I loved about him the most. He just taught me it’s two sides of football, and you have to incorporate it both in the game. …”
“I’m forever grateful for him giving me the scholarship (earlier this season) and all that, but just him as a coach, just an amazing person.”
The sentiments are certainly shared by many, if not most, of their teammates.
What will be interesting is how the emotion of the moment translates on the field this week and in next week’s finale against the Bulldogs.
2. Slowing the Spartans’ roll
San Jose State has turned around a 1-5 season with four straight wins, scoring 52, 42, 35 and 42 points in those victories.
Keeping the Spartans out of the end zone will be a significant challenge for an Aztecs defense that has not been as strong as usual.
The first order of business will be getting to San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, who is 383 yards away from becoming the Mountain West’s career offensive yardage leader.
Cordeiro (173-for-286, 2,135 yards, 16 TDs/3 INTs) ranks fourth in the MW in passing with 213.5 yards a game. What sets him apart is limiting turnovers. He has only three interceptions this season, with two streaks of more than 100 throws without a pick.
The Aztecs have had one interception each of the past three seasons against Cordeiro, who transferred from Hawaii to San Jose State last year.
More of the same would be good for an SDSU defense that totaled six interceptions in the season’s first two games and four interceptions in the eight games that followed.
3. In a rush
While the Aztecs keep an eye on Cordeiro, they also must be mindful of San Jose State senior running back Kairee Robinson, who is 81 yards away from a 1,000-yard season.
Robinson is coming off a 200-yard performance against Fresno State that included two touchdowns, earning him Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week.
Robinson has at least one rushing touchdown in each of the nine games he has played this season. His 15 touchdowns lead the Mountain West and are second in the nation.
4. In a rush, too
Jalen Mayden is two games away from becoming only the second quarterback in school history (at least in records dating to 1947) to lead SDSU in rushing.
In 2007, QB Kevin O’Connell rushed for 408 yards to lead the Aztecs.
Mayden has rushed for 411 yards on 102 carries with four touchdowns. Senior Kenan Christon (84 carries, 336 yards) and junior Jaylen Armstead (67 carries, 273 yards, 6 TDs) are the closest running backs to Mayden in yardage.
5. Who’s kicking?
SDSU punter/kicker Jack Browning suffered what Hoke labeled a knee contusion last week at Colorado State, and Browning’s availability is in question coming into the game.
Junior kicker Gabriel Plascencia acquitted himself well in place of Browning against the Rams, making his first two Division I field goals on 22- and 38-yard attempts in the third quarter.
If Browning can’t punt, then backup punter Zechariah Ramirez, a redshirt freshman walk-on from Upland, will get his first opportunity.
Browning ranks 14th in the nation with a 45.7-yard punting averaging, so it is a big shoe to fill.
