3 Thoughts … after San Diego State’s 44-10 victory over Nevada

RENO, Nev. — Three thoughts after San Diego State’s 44-10 Mountain West win over Nevada on Saturday night at Mackay Stadium:

1. All three phases

So this is what it looks like when a team is firing on all cylinders.

A phrase that echoed through the hallways late Saturday night in Reno as SDSU players and coaches headed into a boisterous postgame locker room was “all three phases.”

SDSU’s first touchdown came on special teams. Its second touchdown was provided by the defense. Three straight TDs by the offense followed, two of them from a resurgent passing game. Then it was special teams again, with kicker Gabe Plascencia making three third-quarter field goals that stretched his record streak to 22 straight.

And so the Aztecs find themselves at 5-1, one win away from being bowl-eligible for the first time in three years, and tied atop the Mountain West standings.

“We laid an egg the first time we went out and the defense carried us the second time we went out,” said Lewis, referencing a 36-13 loss at Washington State and a 6-3 win at Northern Illinois. “To take kind of that next step as we talk about this climb and journey that we’re on, to be improving and continue to elevate was having all three phases put together a four-quarter game.”

It’s a remarkable turnaround from last year’s 3-9 finish. An impressive four-game winning streak followed a lopsided loss at Wazzu that had some natives not just restless but greasing skids and sharpening pitchforks.

“The external noise, honestly, doesn’t bother me,” Lewis said. “I don’t give it much heed unless I can use it as motivation. We’re just trying to get better each and every single day. Truly. We took a good, positive step today. …

“I hope our community is really, really proud. I hope the alumni and the past Aztec Warriors are really, really proud. We stand watch over all of this, the past, the present and the future.

“Each and every single day, we stand to uphold the proud tradition that we wanted to re-establish when we started this year, that we did not do a good enough job of last year. I hope that everyone is really, really proud, that everyone is really excited to be at Snapdragon the next opportunity we get, to support these guys that are working really, really hard.”

Those in the fanbase who wanted Lewis gone four weeks ago are now afraid to lose him. Funny how that works.

2. Playmakers making plays

Lewis talks about putting playmakers in positions to make plays.

That began Saturday when he sent wide receiver Jordan Napier back to field a punt after SDSU’s defense forced a three-and-out on the opening possession of the game.

The result was a 75-yard return for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead for the Aztecs.

“He’s one of our most dynamic guys with the ball in his hands,” Lewis said, “so we want to be able to create as many opportunities for him to be able to touch it and impact the game in a positive way.”

The Aztecs continued to get the ball in Napier’s hands on offense as well. He led the team’s receivers again with five receptions for 110 yards. The sophomore from Fontana now has 553 yards for the season, putting him on pace to be SDSU’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Ezell Ruffin in 2013.

SDSU’s second big play came midway through the first quarter when cornerback Chris Johnson intercepted Nevada quarterback Carter Jones and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 advantage.

Lewis called the play “instinctual” and showed Johnson’s ability to read the quarterback.

“And then he’s got tremendous ball skills,” Lewis said. “When he gets his hands on it, he’s, obviously, able to maximize that.”

Getting the ball into the hands of running back Lucky Sutton also is a point of emphasis. In fact, SDSU’s first five plays were handoffs to Sutton (16 carries, 76 yards, TD). Sutton has rushed for 526 yards through six games, meaning he, too, is on pace for a 1,000-yard season.

There was no dropoff when reserve running backs Christian Washington (9-51) or Byron Cardwell (9-41) came into the game. And even quarterback Jayden Denegal (4-41) boosted the running game.

Denegal was on target for the second straight game, completing 14 of 17 passes against Nevada a week after hitting on 13 of 16 throws against Colorado State.

Lewis said the improvement coincides with Denegal’s “familiarity with the scheme, knowing where the answers are.”

“I think early on he was thinking about all things in every call,” Lewis said, “where he’s really been able to narrow his focus within the calls and how it applies to each game plan that we put together relative to the opponent that we’re going to see.

“It speaks to his maturity and level of comfort with the playmakers that are around him.”

3. What’s ahead

The combined record of SDSU’s first six opponents is 14-22. Cal (4-2) is the only team with a winning mark.

The combined record of SDSU’s next six opponents is 22-16. San Jose State (2-4) is the only team with a losing record.

“Now is the time for us to get refreshed and get recharged,” said Lewis, whose team is off this week before returning to the field Oct. 25 at Fresno State. “The back half of the season is no joke. We’ve got to do a great job of attacking that day in and day out.”

Notable: The Aztecs do not play UNLV (6-0, 2-0) in the regular season, so the only possibility of meeting up with the Rebels this season would be in the Mountain West championship game.

SDSU and UNLV currently sit atop the Mountain West with Boise State.

There is intrigue in the Mountain West, especially after this weekend’s games.

UNLV needed a last-minute touchdown for a 51-48 win over struggling Air Force (1-5, 0-4 MW). Colorado State (2-4, 1-1), drubbed by the Aztecs 45-24 last week, turned around and put a 49-21 whipping on Fresno State (5-2, 2-1).

Wyoming (3-3, 1-1) showed some resilience with a 21-point fourth quarter in a 35-28 victory over San Jose State (2-4, 1-1), which may be the most disappointing team given preseason expectations. The Cowboys (Nov. 1) and Spartans (Nov. 22) are both on SDSU’s remaining schedule.

Hawaii (5-2, 2-1) continues to be a challenge at home as its 44-26 win over Utah State (3-3, 1-1) showed. SDSU visits Honolulu on Nov. 8.

Boise State (4-2, 2-0) is holding true to form, though the Broncos needed a 21-point fourth quarter for a 41-25 win over a game New Mexico (3-3, 0-2) team. SDSU also plays both the Broncos (Nov. 15) and Lobos (Nov. 28).

“We have an opportunity day in and day out, really, to continue to cultivate and become something special,” Lewis said. “There is something special that we’ve been talking about since January when this group decided to stay together and the core nucleus of guys pointed to the vision and direction that we were going and wanting to finish the business that we started.

“We’re halfway through that journey, but we’re only halfway through that journey. It’s still very early on in this climb. We’re only two conference games into this, and I like the position that we are in, but, again, not going to relax, not going to feel comfortable, got going to start to coast in any capacity.

“It’s more like put the pedal to the metal and let’s find ways to get better.”