San Diego State coach Sean Lewis is big on rivalry games in college football.
Maybe it’s his Big Ten roots — Lewis played at Wisconsin — where seemingly every game the teams are playing for an axe or a bell or a bucket.
The SDSU-Fresno State rivalry dates to 1923, when the Aztecs, then known as the Wampus Cats, beat the Bulldogs 12-2. SDSU holds a 32-27-4 edge against the opponent it has played more than any other.
“You’ll never hear me say that this is just another week,” Lewis said. “This is not just another week. Rivalry games are special. It makes it important.”
This game is so big that Aztecs players and coaches are not allowed to utter the F-word. Instead, they refer to Fresno State as The Team Up North.
There are those who think that’s silly. So be it, but it helped motivate SDSU to a 23-0 win last year in Fresno. The Aztecs can take any additional incentive they can get coming off last week’s 66-14 loss at Oregon State.
SDSU (2-4, 1-1 Pac-12) is a 7 1/2-point underdog against Fresno State (4-2, 1-1). Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network) at Snapdragon Stadium. Here are five things to watch:
San Diego State quarterback Jayden Denegal has struggled this season for the Aztecs. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
1. SDSU QB
SDSU quarterback Jayden Denegal is coming off a 5-for-19 performance for 78 yards at Oregon State. It dropped the senior to a 53.9% completion percentage, which ranks 122nd in the nation. The Aztecs rank 130th in passing offense (143.7 ypg) and 135th in total offense (277.7 ypg).
“We’ve got to assess every single position … including the quarterback spot,” Lewis said after losing to the Beavers.
Something needs to be done to spark an offense that can best be summed up by twisting a saying: the sum is less than the parts.
While there has been much discussion of backup quarterback Stone Saunders returning this week from a broken collarbone, Saunders still had not been cleared to play as of Friday afternoon. He was listed as questionable on Friday night’s availability report.
So expect Denegal to start against the Bulldogs. He remains the Aztecs’ best option given his in-game experience with the offense.
The only other quarterbacks on SDSU’s roster are redshirt freshman Draiden Trudeau and true freshman Brady Campbell. Both are walk-ons.
Trudeau got an opportunity early in the second half against Oregon State. He was 4-for-8 for 13 yards with an interception.
A boost from the running game could take some of the load off the quarterback. Starting running back Lucky Sutton could return after missing the past two games with a high ankle sprain. Sutton is listed as questionable and expected to be a game-time decision. Backup running back Javion Kinnard, who returned last week from a knee injury, also is listed as questionable and a game-time decision.
2. Fresno State QB
Fresno State did not have any returning snaps at quarterback from last season, and it looked that way in the Bulldogs’ 39-0 season-opening loss to then-No. 14 USC.
Starting quarterback Jayden Mandal was 7-for-15 for 77 yards and an interception while getting sacked five times.
Mandal, a 6-foot junior from Clovis, has found his footing since then. He guided the Bulldogs to four straight wins, completing 69% of his passes for 957 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions.
The winning streak ended last week in a 38-31 loss to Boise State. But Mandal was solid, going 19-for-33 passing for 218 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a score.
“We definitely have to affect him and his quick throws,” said SDSU linebacker Sione Hala, who leads the Pac-12 with 61 tackles.
Mandal benefits from a pair of standout receivers, Josiah Freeman (28 receptions, 375 yards, 2 TDs) and Ezekiel Avit (19-330, 4 TDs), and two solid running backs, Rayshon Luke (42 carries, 286 yards, TD) and Bryson Donelson (52-237, 4 TDs). Luke, nicknamed “Speedy,” missed the Boise State game while in concussion protocol; his status remains in question against the Aztecs.
San Diego State could be without linebacker Tano Letuli (21) against Fresno State. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
3. SDSU defense
Here’s a number: 36.
That’s how many minutes SDSU’s defense has averaged on the field this season. It’s more than any of the NCAA’s 137 other FBS teams.
As if facing five of the nation’s top teams in total offense — Texas State (1), Oregon State (5), UCLA (26), Toledo (31) and James Madison (33) — wasn’t enough of a challenge, the Aztecs had to do it for a longer stretch than anyone else.
SDSU also ranks 135th in the nation now in total defense (477.8 ypg).
“We just let up 66 points,” Hala said. “You think of yourself as a leader, one of the guys on defense, it’s unacceptable on my part, it’s unacceptable as a whole. … What’s done is done. We’ve got to move forward.”
SDSU linebacker Tano Letuli, a team captain and heart of the defense, was listed as questionable on the availability report. Linebackers Cam Cooper and Dean Harrington and safety Josh Hunter also have been listed as questionable, so the defense has its challenges against the Bulldogs.
The biggest help would be for the offense to stay on the field longer than 24 minutes a game.
4. If it comes down to kicking …
Both teams have been adequately served in the kicking game, with SDSU having an advantage in punting and Fresno State an advantage in field goals.
Fresno State punter Nick Verdugo is averaging 42.5 yards per punt. Two of his 20 punts have gone for more than 50 yards, with a long of 55 yards.
SDSU punter Tashi Dorje ranks 12th in the nation with a 45.9-yard punting average. Ten of his 33 punts have gone for at least 50 yards, with a long of 77 yards.
Fresno State kicker Manaki Watanabe is tied for third in the nation with 12 field goals (in 14 attempts). He’s 3-for-3 beyond 50 yards, with a long of 52 yards.
SDSU kicker Cooper DiLeva is 4-for-4 on field goals, with a long of 47 yards.
The Old Oil Can trophy has become a big deal in SDSU-Fresno State rivalry. (Kirk Kenney / San Diego Union-Tribune)
5. The Old Oil Can
This is the 13th meeting in the battle for The Old Oil Can trophy, which has become a striking symbol of this rivalry.
Why an oil can?
The SDSU and Fresno State alumni associations held a contest in 2011 to create a trophy that would represent the rivalry. Among the 65 submissions was one that detailed the discovery of a 1930s-era oil can from Fresno that was supposedly uncovered at SDSU during an on-campus building project.
“The oil can likely came from a time when Aztec and Bulldog fans traveled to football games between the two schools via the old, twisting, precipitous Grapevine section of Highway 99 over Tejon Pass,” Fresno State Alumni Association executive director Jacquelyn K. Glasener explained at the time.
An antique oil can was purchased to create the trophy.
It sits in SDSU’s locker room day to day as a constant reminder of Fresno State, er, The Team Up North.
The Aztecs avoid saying Fresno State to the point that they put TTUN with last year’s score. (Kirk Kenney / San Diego Union-Tribune)
Lewis is so adamant about not using the F-word that the little plate on the trophy with the score from last year’s game reads: SDSU 23, TTUN 0.
“There’s got to be a burning desire to keep that old can here the way that it has been ever since we arrived,” Lewis said.
The Old Oil Can trophy will be on a table at the southwest corner of the end zone during the game. If tradition holds, players from the winning team will run to the table as soon as the clock hits 0:00, scoop up the trophy and parade it in front of their fans.
Hala and SDSU wide receiver Jaylon Hawkins were asked this week if they knew what an oil can was for in the first place.
“Uh, put oil in a bus,” Hawkins said.
Have you ever had to use one?
“No, sir,” Hawkins said.
That doesn’t mean they don’t covet the chance to keep this one.
“We can’t wait for this game,” Hala said, “and we can’t wait to keep the oil can where it belongs.”