Utah State Looks Inward As Aggies Prepare For San Diego State

Nov 3, 2023, 4:54 PM

Three Utah State defenders converge for a tackle in Utah State's 42-21 loss at San Jose State on Saturday, October 21.

Digital Producer

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State expects to be healthier than they’ve been in a while when the Aggies take on the San Diego State Aztecs this weekend. Will it be enough to win its second Mountain West game of the season?

Utah State (3-5, 1-3) travels to San Diego for a matchup against the San Diego State Aztecs (3-5, 1-3) on Saturday, November 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. (MT).

“The focus last week has been really simple,” Utah State head coach Blake Anderson said following the bye week. “Rest, recovery, recharge our batteries a little bit and refocus to make a run down the stretch.”

RELATED: Anderson Undecided On Who Starts At Quarterback For Utah State

We return this week in San Diego, CA ⏳

📰 https://t.co/s1DD59wMS0
📺 FS2 at 5 PM MDT #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/LeUIlpKxXN

— USU Football (@USUFootball) October 30, 2023

SDSU has controlled the all-time series, winning 13 of 16 games. USU is 3-8 on the road against the Aztecs. Utah State has enjoyed success in recent seasons, winning two of the last three games played, including the Aggies’ 46-13 Mountain West Conference Championship Game win in 2021.

RELATED: How To Watch Utah State Aggies At San Diego State Aztecs

Logan Bonner competed 29-of-42 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns against one interception. Calvin Tyler Jr. and Jordan Nathan both scored rushing touchdowns. Brandon Bowling led USU receivers with 154 yards and two TDs on eight grabs. Derek Wright and Justin McGriff also caught touchdown passes.

15 current Aggies played in the MW championship victory. Hale Motu’apuaka and Poukesi Vakauta each registered two tackles. Defensive back Michael Anyanwu finished with one tackle. Utah State’s defense combined for five sacks, nine tackles for a loss, and defended a season-high six passes in the win.

RELATED: Running Back Shift Highlights Utah State’s Week Ten Depth Chart

“We’ve got to play better. They have fresher legs and a bounce in their step that we didn’t have a week or two ago. Hopefully we get out of this what we planned and can be sharper, faster, crisper, and healthier.”

San Diego State is currently eighth in the Mountain West with USU 11th, above only Hawai’i.

San Diego State Aztecs ((3-5, 1-3)

Led by Brady Hoke in his sixth season, SDSU has taken a step back after finishing last season with a 7-6 record and a berth in the EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl against Middle Tennessee State.

The freshmen take on the Homecoming Pep Rally 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/azTMMamUXU

— San Diego State Football (@AztecFB) October 31, 2023

Aztecs To Keep An Eye On

Offense

San Diego State’s offense has been a struggle at times this season, as evidenced by a 6-0 shutout at the hands of formerly winless Nevada last weekend. SDSU averages 19.6 points per game and 317.5 yards of total offense. The Aztecs have scored ten points or fewer in four of eight games this season.

QB Jaylen Mayden

A 2022 all-Mountain West honorable mention recipient, the graduate senior has thrown for 1,332 yards and six touchdowns this season. A dual-threat quarterback, Mayden is also the Aztecs leading rusher with 400 yards and three TDs while averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

Mayden finished the 2022 season with 2,030 yards through the air and 12 passing touchdowns against ten interceptions. As a runner, he picked up 231 yards and three TDs as a senior.

TE Mark Redman

Last year’s all-Mountain West second-team tight end leads all SDSU receivers with 23 catches for a team-high 256 yards and two scores. Both of his touchdowns came in the Aztecs’ season opener against Ohio.

Top 50 Best Tight Ends In College Football pic.twitter.com/yKplKmQYyI

— Big Game Boomer (@BigGameBoomer) November 2, 2023

Listed at 6’6 and 255 pounds, the senior was a preseason first-team all-Mountain West honoree as selected by the media. He finished 2022 with 21 grabs for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

WR Mekhi Shaw

The 5’10 junior wideout leads all Aztec wide receivers with 249 yards on 17 catches. A former walk-on, Shaw was named by Athlon Sports as a preseason fourth-team all-Mountain West selection after catching 29 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore.

Shaw exploded for 126 yards and a touchdown on seven catches against Hawai’i on October 14. He also found the end zone against UCLA in early September.

Defense

SDSU has allowed 28.1 points per game to opposing offenses and has surrendered more than 30 points in half of their games this season. Teams have run for an average of 162.9 yards per game and thrown for 257.1 yards per game. The Aztecs have 12 sacks as a team and 32 tackles for a loss.

𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙤𝙛𝙛 🛫🛫🛫#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/UlYEDwc42k

— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 3, 2023

LB Zyrus Fiaseu

The 6’0, 220-pound sophomore linebacker from Las Vegas leads the Aztecs with 50 tackles this year, nine more than his closest teammate. Fiaseu also leads SDSU with three fumbles forced and a pair of fumble recoveries.

Fiaseu finished with 24 tackles and half a sack as a freshman in 2022.

LB Cody Moon

A junior listed at 6’3 and 210 pounds, Moon was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List for the best defensive player in college football ahead of his first season with San Diego State. He has 41 stops through eight games, including a season-high 12 tackles against Ohio to open the season.

Moon was named 2022 all-Mountain West honorable mention at New Mexico. He finished the year with 105 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

CB Cedarious Barfield

With a team-high three interceptions so far this season, the 5’11 grad senior corner has lived up to his status as a preseason all-Mountain West third-team selection by Phil Steele Magazine.

Barfield played in 12 of 13 games last season, making seven starts for the Aztecs. He finished with 49 tackles, one interception, and two pass breakups as a senior.