5 Things to Watch: Ground game biggest issue for Aztecs at Washington State

San Diego State looked right at home in last week’s season-opening 42-0 victory over Stony Brook.

SDSU gets out of its comfort zone this week, hitting the road for the first time for Saturday night’s game at Washington State.

It’s a step up in class for both programs. Washington State also opened the season last week with a Division I FCS opponent, needing a field goal with three seconds remaining for a 13-10 victory.

“I think it’s always a good barometer of just where your team is culturally,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said. “You go on the road, there’s more things that are going to be variables to it that make it unique.”

The Aztecs are lodging in Lewiston, Idaho, some 40 miles from the Cougars’ Pullman, Wash., campus. The players will be occupied much of the time at the hotel with team and group meetings and meals, though there will be plenty of downtime as they rest up for a nighttime kickoff.

SDSU had its struggles on the road last season. A 27-24 win at Wyoming was the only victory in six games away from home.

“We believe we have a pretty strong culture that we’ve cultivated since we’ve gotten here and especially with this group,” Lewis said. “We get to go on the road for the first time. We get to tighten the ranks. We get to go into hostile territory. We get to be us and see exactly where we are and test it.”

The Aztecs (1-0) are 2 1/2-point underdogs coming into the game against Washington State (1-0) at Martin Stadium.

Here are five things to watch:

1. The run game

WSU struggled to run the ball in its opener against Idaho while also struggling to stop the run.

The Cougars netted just 3 yards on 22 carries, while Idaho gained 188 yards on 45 attempts. Vandals quarterback Joshua Wood did most of the damage, carrying 12 times for 101 yards off the option.

Might SDSU exploit the Cougars’ deficiencies when it comes to the ground game?

“I think it’s something that they clean up,” Lewis said. “It’s something that in all the years that staff and a majority of those players that were at South Dakota State, they did an elite job of running the football and stopping the run.

“I think that’s going to be a major point of emphasis for them.”

Washington State running backs Kirby Vorhees (6 carries, 19 yards) and Angel Johnson (10 carries, 2 yards) did most of the rushing for the Cougars. The pair played for first-year Washington State coach Jimmy Rogers at South Dakota State and followed him to Pullman.

The Aztecs rushed for 228 yards against Stony Brook, boosting their record to 58-2 in the past 60 games when they rushed for at least 200 yards.

Lucky Sutton (23 carries, 100 yards, 2 TDs) led the Aztecs’ rushing attack, with Christian Washington (7-38) and Byron Cardwell (7-29) sharing the load.

“We have to meet and exceed the physicality at the line of scrimmage,” Lewis said. “That’s where this game, like a lot of them, is going to be won. It’s going to be a major focal point for who they want to be and, as we continue to develop, who we’re becoming.”

2. Opening the playbook?

SDSU showed few wrinkles on offense against Stony Brook, though it did try a double reverse late in the game.

Do the Aztecs have a few more things up their sleeve for Washington State? Especially interesting is how backup quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr., one of the most athletic players on the roster, could be deployed.

So will the Aztecs expand the playbook this week?

“We’re always going to carry enough to make sure we have enough bullets in the chamber,” Lewis said. “But it’s always that fine line like we talked about after the Stony Brook game. Whatever it is that you’re carrying, you have to be able to execute it at a high level.

“You’re always trying to balance the scales in that regard. Do we have enough complexity of scheme? Do we have enough options? Do we have enough ways that we’re utilizing the playmakers, without overburdening the guys to now they’re thinking about all these different things that we’re doing as opposed to playing and reacting?”

3. Cougars QBs

Jaxon Potter started at quarterback in Washington State’s opener, though Pitt transfer Julian Dugger played a couple of series. Potter is listed as Wazzu’s starter and Dugger the backup on this week’s depth chart.

Potter (23-for-30, 208 yards, TD) guided an early touchdown drive, but he was largely ineffective against Idaho before leading a game-winning field goal drive in the game’s final minutes.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see dual-threat Dugger if Potter struggles again.

“We are prepared for both,” Lewis said. “We’ll see and we’ll be ready.”

4. Strong finish

SDSU held a 26-14 lead against Washington State early in the fourth quarter of last year’s game at Snapdragon Stadium only to watch the Cougars score 15 unanswered points for a 29-26 victory.

Finishing strong in the fourth quarter is a point of emphasis this season for the Aztecs, who have started playing the “Top Gun” theme, Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone,” entering the final period at home games.

It’s doubtful Washington State will cue up “Danger Zone” on Spotify for SDSU, so inspiration will have to come elsewhere.

5. Men in White

For the first time in 12 years, the Aztecs will wear white jerseys and white pants. They’re even sporting white cleats.

“Look good, feel good, play good, right?” Lewis said. “We wanted to be able to go all white from head to toe.”

Well, from neck to toe, anyway. The Aztecs will, of course, still be wearing their iconic red Aztec calendar helmets.

“The boys are excited about it,” Lewis said. “It means absolutely nothing, unless we play really, really well.”

The Aztecs last wore white on white (albeit with black cleats) in a 2013 game at New Mexico State.

New Mexico State jumped out to a 16-0 lead in that game before SDSU scored 26 unanswered points on the way to a 26-16 victory. Running back DJ Pumphrey led the way, rushing 19 times for 167 yards and three touchdowns.

San Diego State (1-0) at Washington State (1-0)

When: 7:15 p.m. Saturday

TV: The CW (Ch. 6)

Radio: 760-AM