San Diego, CA- Javion Kinnard gave San Diego State the offensive spark it needed Saturday night, but the Aztecs spent too much of the game trying to recover from a difficult first half.
Kinnard rushed for a career-high 181 yards and a touchdown and added 70 receiving yards, but San Diego State fell 26-13 to unbeaten James Madison at Snapdragon Stadium.
The loss dropped the Aztecs to 1-2 and snapped their seven-game home winning streak. Playing without three offensive starters, including running back Lucky Sutton, SDSU fell behind 19-0 at halftime after two interceptions and a James Madison offense that scored on its first three possessions.
James Madison quarterback Camden Coleman opened the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run. Morgan Suarez followed with field goals of 46 and 32 yards before Coleman connected with Cole Keller for a 7-yard touchdown with 30 seconds remaining in the half.
San Diego State regrouped after halftime, and Kinnard became the centerpiece of the comeback attempt.
The sophomore capped an Aztecs drive with a 3-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 19-7. SDSU outgained James Madison 238-136 in the second half after being outgained 281-163 before halftime.
Kinnard finished with 251 yards from scrimmage in his first start for San Diego State, providing a bright spot for an offense still searching for consistency.
The Aztecs’ momentum was slowed early in the fourth when Coleman found Keller for a 20-yard touchdown, extending James Madison’s advantage to 26-7.
Quarterback Jayden Denegal answered with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Acevedo, but SDSU could get no closer. Denegal finished with 209 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
“There’s no need to make the superhero play,” coach Sean Lewis said afterward while discussing one of Denegal’s early mistakes.
Lewis said the responsibility for improving the offense goes beyond his quarterback.
“I think it’s everyone’s opportunity to rally around him, do something for him and be better around him,” Lewis said.
For San Diego State, Kinnard’s emergence and a stronger second half provided something to build on, but the Aztecs will need cleaner starts as they move forward.
SDSU travels to Toledo on Saturday for its final nonconference game before beginning its first Pac-12 schedule.