Scene & Heard: Aztecs QB fine after concerning moment; SDSU players get an earful from Bulldogs fans

FRESNO — San Diego State had everything going for it early in the second half against The Team Up North.

And then it didn’t.

It appeared SDSU’s 23-0 win over Fresno State was going to be spoiled when quarterback Jayden Denegal left the game with 9:31 remaining in the third quarter.

Denegal landed on his right shoulder when he was tackled following a 17-yard run. He grimaced and stayed on the turf as a team trainer came out to check on it.

The quarterback held his arm gingerly against his body, indicating a potential collarbone or shoulder injury. After a few minutes, Denegal got up and walked off the field on his own.

His arm dangled at his side as Denegal headed for the treatment tent on the SDSU sideline. Backup quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr. immediately replaced Denegal.

“It’s next man up,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said. “We’ve talked about that a ton. It’s one of those Day 1 traits of our ethos and who we want to be. You don’t know when an opportunity is going to present itself for any of these guys.”

Said SDSU running back Lucky Sutton: “I felt like as an offense we had to get his back and keep on playing our game.”

SDSU fumbled the ball away — its first lost fumble of the season — a few plays after Denegal’s departure.

The Aztecs’ defense prevented the situation from snowballing, stopping Fresno State’s offense with a three-and-out.

Denegal, shaking off what was termed a stinger, returned for the following series. He finished the game 11-for-19 for 124 yards with one interception.

“JD will be good,” Lewis said. “He’s a warrior. He, obviously, bounced back. He will be just fine.”

Welcoming committee

The walk from the Robert E. Duncan Athletic Building, which served as SDSU’s dressing quarters, to the field at Valley Children’s Stadium, is roped off to separate players from fans. It doesn’t stop them from offering “well wishes” as opponents make their way past ticket windows, across an asphalt concourse and then down a ramp onto the playing surface.

The unofficial leader of the Fresno State welcoming committee was a large middle-aged man who gave the Aztecs an earful as they started toward the field a few minutes before kickoff.

“You all ain’t (bleep),” the man said repeatedly, his language was saltier than the pretzels being served at the concession stand. “Take your (bleep) back to San Diego.

“Move your ass. You’re slow as (bleep),” he shouted to an offensive lineman who was among the last players emerging from the locker room. “I can tell just by the way you’re walking what kind of day you’re going to have. … Where’s your flip-flops and (bleep).”

Turns out the man was a former Fresno State offensive tackle, Joe Schey, who played for the Bulldogs from 1998-2002.

“Welcome to Fresno, baby,” he said. “Get ready for a fight.”

Schey didn’t see any knees buckle as he shouted, but getting on opponents “is definitely something fun to do,” he said. “It progressively gets worse as they get closer to the field.”

He said the scene repeats itself when opponents head in and out of the locker before and after halftime, though what could fans say when the Aztecs took a 13-0 lead?

SDSU edge Trey White was looking forward to the interaction heading into the game.

Top-25 worthy?

SDSU has been among those receiving votes in the AP top 25, though not enough to enter the poll.

Is that about to change, and should it, after the Aztecs’ fifth straight win?

“Hell yeah,” Lewis said. “If we’re talking about it as a voter, who are the top 25 teams in the country, we’re one of them. People have been taking notice. We’ve been receiving more and more votes. Hey, 6-1, bowl eligible, big rivalry win, show me 24 other teams that are better than us.”

Black and white

It was a “Black Out” game for Fresno State, which wore all black uniforms with a Bulldog throwback helmet for the the homecoming contest. The threads looked strikingly similar to the look the Aztecs have favored for decades at home games. SDSU went with all-white jerseys and pants, with red shoulder accents, red piping on the pants and, of course, their iconic red Aztec calendar helmets.

Notable

SDSU handed Fresno State its first shutout since 2016 against Colorado State and its first home shutout since in an October 1980 game against Utah State. That was at Ratcliffe Stadium. Bulldog Stadium opened one month later.

• SDSU’s 6-1 record through seven games is the program’s best since starting 7-0 in 2021. That team set a program record with 12 victories (12-2) and finished 25th in the final AP Top 25 Poll.

• SDSU redshirt freshman wide receiver Will Cianfrini (Carlsbad High School) made his first collegiate start. He replaced Jacob Bostick, who suffered a leg injury during practice this week. Cianfrini, slowed throughout fall camp and into the season by a hamstring injury, had played a total of 15 snaps the past two games (one passing play).

Cianfrini did not have a reception, although he was targeted. He had one target officially, though two others were wiped out by penalties.

• SDSU rushed for 208 yards and 46 carries and won its 20th straight game when rushing for at least 200 yards. The Aztecs are 61-2 over their past 63 games with 200-plus yards rushing.

• The Aztecs were 20-for-20 scoring in the red zone this season, but failed on two trips to the red zone against Fresno State.

Next up

The Aztecs return home Saturday at 4 p.m. against Wyoming (4-4, 2-2 MW), which defeated Colorado State 28-0 on Saturday night. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.