Three thoughts after San Diego State’s 17-7 Mountain West win over Boise State on Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium:
1. About the Aztecs
When SDSU and Boise State got together last season and the Aztecs were beaten 56-24 on the Broncos’ blue field, it spoke to how far apart the two programs were at that moment in time.
SDSU was in the midst of a 3-9 year, its worst season going back nearly two decades. Boise State was on the way to making the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff as a No. 3 seed, its finest season dating back two decades as well.
“It’s funny,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said. “A year ago, a lot of people talked about the gap between our two programs. The gap doesn’t seem too significant (now), does it?”
It’s one game in the Mountain West standings, with SDSU (8-2, 5-1 MW) actually leading Boise State (6-4, 4-2), and the rest of the conference. The Broncos find themselves in a five-way tie for second place.
“We bullied the hell out of them,” said Lewis, responding to a question about SDSU’s defensive effort up front. “Did damn good. It’s a physical game, right? Especially on a night like this, where you know you’re going to get rolled up. Tighten up the chin strap a little bit. … We’re a physical outfit.
Added Lewis: “We may live in a great area that doesn’t get a whole lot of bad weather, but we’ve got a blue-collar nastiness about us that if you want to go fight in a phone booth, let’s go get it on.”
Boise State has been the Mountain West standard-bearer for a decade, playing in seven of the past eight conference championship games and winning four titles.
But, asked what a win over Boise State meant for the program, Lewis made an emphatic point: “It’s got nothing to do with them. This win was really important because the Aztecs were doing it tonight. We’ve got to stop talking about who we’re playing. These games are important because the Aztecs are playing.”
2. Recruiting pitch
About an hour before kickoff at the southwest corner of Snapdragon, a steady stream of people could be seen walking down the stairs to the field. It was dozens of recruits and their families.
There were some high school and junior-college players for the Class of 2026, which SDSU is trying to complete with the early signing period two weeks and two days away. The majority of players were from the 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes that the Aztecs already have their eye on.
SDSU picked the right time to make a good first impression.
“A damn good one,” Lewis said. “And as we continue to elevate this program, it’s a program that they want to be part of. There were over 150 prospects here, and a majority of these guys hold offers from other FBS institutions.
“Being able to get on them early, especially the Southern California kids that are a priority to us, to keep them here to help us continue to elevate as we go into the Pac-12.”
Lewis said the “humility and hunger” displayed by the current Aztecs is the best example they could provide to prospective Aztecs.
“It really speaks to these prospects, and their families, about what’s important to us,” said Lewis. “The best thing we can do to tell our story is to put a great product on the field.
“All of these young men want to be part of a winner. … To come on a night like this and experience our culture, feel our culture, it goes a really, really long way, more so than any sort of FaceTime or text could ever do.”
3. Sutton joins exclusive company
SDSU running back Lucky Sutton showed patience and perseverance while serving in a reserve role last season. He worked hard in practice, out of the spotlight, to get better and be ready when his opportunity arrived.
Sutton has made the most of it. He reached a milestone on an 11-yard carry in the third quarter, surpassing 1,000 yards for the season. It is the 28th 1,000-yard performance (by 20 different players) in SDSU history.
Add the word humility to the list of Sutton’s traits. That’s what he displayed when discussing the milestone after the game.
“It feels great to pass 1,000 rushing yards,” the Cathedral Catholic High School graduate said, “but I’ll say that I’m just really grateful and thankful for the offensive line. I wouldn’t have gotten there without them, and they’ve done an incredible job turning around since last year.
“I’m really thankful for them. I can’t do anything without them, so it’s also their achievement. I’m really proud of that. I know (blocking tight end) Seth Adams also had that as a goal, and I’m proud of him for getting it as well.”
For the season, Sutton has 197 carries for 1,048 yards (5.3 ypc) with eight touchdowns. He ranks sixth in the nation in rushing yards, behind Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy (1,346), Jacksonville State’s Cam Cook (1,313), Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacey (1,136), Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love (1,135) and Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson (1,131).
With at least three and potentially four games remaining on the schedule, Sutton is on pace to approach 1,500 yards for the season. That would be the highest total since Rashaad Penny rushed for a school-record 2,248 yards eight years ago.
SDSU’s 1,000-yard rushers
2,248 — Rashaad Penny (2017)
2,133 — DJ Pumphrey (2016)
1,867 — DJ Pumphrey (2014)
1,842 — George Jones (1995)
1,711 — Ronnie Hillman (2011)
1,653 — DJ Pumphrey (2015)
1,630 — Marshall Faulk (1992)
1,586 — Marshall Faulk (1991)
1,549 — Larry Ned (2001)
1,532 — Ronnie Hillman (2010)
1,530 — Marshall Faulk (1993)
1,458 — Adam Muema (2012)
1,274 — Marquez Cooper (2024)
1,252 — David Turner (1977)
1,244 — Adam Muema (2013)
1,186 — Jim Allison (1964)
1,150 — Chris Hardy (1985)
1,136 — Wayne Pittman (1994)
1,094 — Tony Allen (1979)
1,091 — Greg Bell (2021)
1,087 — Lynell Hamilton (2003)
1,055 — Paul Hewitt (1988)
1,048 — Lucky Sutton (2025)
1,021 — Jonas Lewis (1997)
1,018 — Rashaad Penny (2016)
1,016 — Norm Nygaard (1952)
1,008 — Chase Price (2015)
1,001 — Paul Hewitt (1987)
Honorable mention
999 — Juwan Washington (2018)