Second half surge propels Aztecs past Texas A&M-Commerce, 45-14

Marquez Cooper rushed for 223 yards and two touchdowns to power San Diego State to a 45-14 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium, giving Sean Lewis a victory in his inaugural game as the Aztecs’ head coach.

In addition, the SDSU defense scored a pair of touchdowns off turnovers in the second half to help erase a 6-3 deficit at intermission and thwart the Lions’ upset bid.

Cooper, who carried 27 times in his SDSU debut after transferring from Ball State, posted the highest rushing total by an Aztec since Rashad Penny gained 253 yards at Hawai’i on Oct. 28, 2017.

Cooper’s 47-yard scoring run on SDSU’s first drive of the third quarter was the first of three touchdowns in a five-minute span, igniting a 42-8 blitz to give the Scarlet and Black its highest point-total since a 48-21 triumph over Towson on Sept. 25, 2021, in Carson, California.

Just two plays later on the ensuing possession, Trey White blitzed and forced a fumble by TAMUC quarterback Eric Rodriguez before Tano Letuli fell on the loose ball in the end zone for six additional points. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, but the Aztecs found themselves suddenly in control at 16-6.

After limiting the Lions to one first down, SDSU flashed its big-play capability once again when freshman quarterback Danny O’Neil threaded a 44-yard touchdown pass to Louis Brown IV on the third play of the subsequent drive, while Michael Harrison swept around right end moments later for a two-point conversion, increasing the Aztecs’ advantage to 24-6.

TAMUC responded with an eight-play, 65-yard scoring march, capped by Rodriguez’s touchdown pass to Drew Allison from six yards out. The Lions benefited from a roughing-the-passer penalty that negated an end zone interception by Dalesean Staley on a pass over the middle from the SDSU 12. JaiSean McMillian hauled in another pass from Rodriguez for a two-point conversion, trimming the margin to 24-14.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Cooper plowed seven yards up the middle for his second touchdown of the night to punctuate a seven-play, 95-yard advance. Pinned at their own five to start the drive, Cooper gave the Aztecs breathing room on the first snap with a 38-yard sweep around right end, while O’Neil found Jordan Napier for a 29-yard gain down to the Lion 10.

It didn’t take long for another round of fireworks to ignite, as JD Coffey III picked off an errant Rodriguez pass on the third play of TAMUC’s ensuing possession and rambled 45 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 38-14 with just 1:12 elapsed in the final period.

Following a punt, O’Neil quickly directed the Aztecs on their final scoring drive of the game, covering 79 yards on seven plays highlighted by an eight-yard touchdown strike to Napier with 6:57 left in the game.

Making his collegiate debut, O’Neil completed 22 of 33 passes for 214 yards and a pair of scores to go with 18 yards on five rushes.

Ja’Shaun Poke led the Aztec receiving corps with six catches for 30 yards, while Brown, Napier, Harrison, Cooper and Jude Wolfe finished with three receptions apiece.

Overall, SDSU rushed for 254 yards in the contest, improving to 57-2 in its last 59 games when gaining 200 yards or more on the ground.

However, the Scarlet and Black started slowly, mustering a lone field goal in the first half, as Gabriel Plascencia split the uprights from 50 yards out with 28 seconds left in the opening period.

Late in the second quarter, the Lions drove 75 yards in 10 plays, with EJ Oakmon barreling in from a yard out to give the visitors their only lead of the game.

SDSU had a chance to knot the score before intermission, but Plascencia’s 48-yard field goal was off target as time expired.

Despite trailing in time of possession (31:28 to 28.32), the Aztec defense holding TAMUC to just 180 yards in total offense in 59 plays.

Letuli and Eric Butler had seven tackles apiece to lead the Scarlet and Black, while Brady Anderson and Ryan Henderson finished with one sack each.

The mistake-riddled game featured a combined 31 penalties for 274 yards.

San Diego State returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 7, when it plays host to Oregon State in a non-conference clash at Snapdragon Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT, with the contest airing on CBS Sports Network.