3 Thoughts … on the Aztecs’ 36-13 loss at Washington State

Three thoughts after San Diego State’s 36-13 loss to Washington State on Saturday night at Martin Stadium:

1. Denegal’s challenges

The Aztecs have this week off before resuming the season Sept. 20 against Cal at Snapdragon Stadium.

One of the most interesting things will be seeing how quarterback Jayden Denegal responds after struggling in his second start.

Denegal was 4-for-4 on SDSU’s second drive of the game. It was capped by a touchdown pass to wide receiver Jacob Bostick to convert on fourth-and-5 from WSU’s 35-yard line.

It bode well early in the game, but Denegal managed only four completions on seven other first-half possessions. That included three-and-outs on the Aztecs’ four possessions that followed the touchdown drive as the quarterback struggled to find a rhythm throughout the game.

Denegal also couldn’t get a break when he needed one. Like when he was sacked for a safety late in the second quarter with SDSU trailing only 10-7. Perhaps he should have shown more situational awareness after left tackle Christian Jones was beaten on the play by Washington State’s Isaac Terrell.

But Denegal wouldn’t even have been in that situation had the sure-handed Bostick held onto a first-down pass that would have given the Aztecs some breathing room after starting the drive from their own 8-yard line.

One notable thing during the game was when Denegal had a couple of balls sail out of bounds as he rolled out to his right. Is that a matter of simply setting up better for the throw, or something more concerning?

The most frustrating moment came on a fourth-and-3 from midfield when Denegal scrambled to his right and had 10 yards of open field in front of him. Denegal chose to pass rather than run for an easy first down. He threw incomplete on a ball intended for tight end Jackson Ford.

It was the first of three drives in the second half in which the Aztecs turned the ball over on downs.

Side note: SDSU brought backup quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr. in on a couple of occasions. He ran the ball twice for 2- and 1-yard gains. The Aztecs want to tap into Emanuel’s athleticism, but his appearances seemed more disruptive than helpful against the Cougars.

2. Defensive lapses

The curious case of SDSU’s defense has some people scratching their heads.

The Aztecs forced Washington State to punt four times in the first half. They also made the Cougars turn the ball over on downs midway through the second quarter when SDSU edge Trey White stopped WSU running back Kirby Vorhees for no gain on a fourth-and-2.

The defense inexplicably broke down right before and right after halftime in situations characterized by poor tackling and suspect coverage.

Washington State took a 19-7 lead into halftime when it required only four plays and 32 seconds to score, using a 34-yard pass and a 20-yard run to set up a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jaxon Potter to tight end Trey Leckner.

The Cougars made it 26-7 four minutes into the second half on a seven-play, 75-yard drive. WSU running back Angel Johnson somehow got free 15 yards downfield for a reception that he turned into a 31-yard gain. Two plays later, Potter found wide receiver Leon Neal Jr. for an 18-yard touchdown.

SDSU limited Washington State to 48 yards in total offense over the last 1 1/2 quarters, but the damage was done.

3. Testing depth

Twice in the third quarter, SDSU watched one of its team captains require assistance to get off the field.

A trainer came out and tested the stability of senior center Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli’s right knee five minutes into the third quarter. Ulugalu-Maseuli left the game at the time, but he was able to return. He has a history of knee issues that have required surgery and staying in the lineup could be a challenge.

Freshman transfer Michael Watkins subbed at center when Ulugalu-Maseuli was out.

SDSU’s starting lineup from tackle to tackle is stronger than last year’s depleted unit, but its depth was already tested with the season-ending injury to transfer Dallas Fincher (hip) during fall camp. It can ill afford another loss this early in the season.

The Aztecs also watched junior linebacker Tano Letuli leave the game in the final minute of the third quarter with a left shoulder issue.

Letuli led the Aztecs with 10 tackles (seven solo) against Washington State. That’s not surprising. The Cathedral Catholic High School graduate was the team’s leading tackler last season with 70.

He was poised to team with linebacker Owen Chambliss, who had eight tackles against the Cougars, to give the Aztecs arguably the best linebacker tandem in the conference.

The seriousness of Letuli’s injury is not yet known. If he is sidelined, SDSU has some depth at the position with senior Mister Williams and graduates Brady Anderson and DJ Herman, among others.