SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego State used a pounding ground game and a swarming defense to capture sole possession of first place in the Mountain West with a 17-7 home win over Boise State on Saturday night.
The Aztecs (8–2, 5–1 MW) rushed for 277 yards — 150 from Lucky Sutton and 98 from Christian Washington — to overcome soggy conditions at Snapdragon Stadium and stifle Boise State (6–4, 4–2).
Quarterback Jayden Denegal scored two second-quarter rushing touchdowns, the first on a 1-yard plunge early in the frame, and the second from eight yards out just before halftime.
Boise State answered in between those scores when Dylan Riley capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a nine-yard TD run, but the Aztecs never relinquished the lead.
In the fourth quarter, Gabriel Plascencia added a 47-yard field goal to seal the win.
SDSU head coach Sean Lewis lauded his team’s discipline in the elements: “Great effort, great enthusiasm, great passion from the boys today … they played with emotion, but they did not get emotional. I’m really pleased with how all three phases played together.”
On the Boise State side, head coach Spencer Danielson expressed disappointment in missed opportunities: “We’ve got to be more efficient running the football … and we missed a couple of those opportunities. We’ve got to find a way to create more points.”
Defensively, San Diego State was punishing. Boise State managed just 104 passing yards, while the Aztecs zeroed in on shutting down their ground game when it mattered most.
The Broncos made one final push late, but a field goal attempt was missed and the Aztecs closed it out with sturdy ball control in the final minute.
With two games left in the regular season, SDSU has the inside track in the Mountain West title picture.
