Game Preview: SDSU vs. Cal Berkley

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, September 14
Location: California Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 PM PT
TV: ESPN2
Aztecs Radio Network: San Diego Sports 760

Photo byDon De Mars/ EVT Sports

Sean Lewis and San Diego State fell to 1-1 on the season after a 21-0 loss to Oregon State.

The Aztecs will make their first road trip of the year to face the University of California, Berkeley. The Golden Bears are 2-0 on the season and coming off an impressive road trip into SEC territory, where they defeated Auburn 21-14.

“Got a chance to review the tape and look at it with the guys and there's a lot to be positive about,” Lewis said at Monday’s press conference. “We need to continue to prepare at a really high level and continue to put these kids in the best position to have success with our process as we go through so that in all three phases, we can be on the right side of the ledger against a really talented Cal team that’s coming off a big win and playing confident.”

The two teams are facing off for the ninth time. The overall series record is an even 4-4. The home team has won each of the prior eight contests.

The last matchup was in San Diego on November 10, 2016. The Aztecs, led by last week's honor warrior Christian Chapman, won 45-40. Donnel Pumphrey, the FBS all-time rushing leader, had a career-high 281 yards in the contest. He also scored three touchdowns.

SDSU ended the day with 463 total yards of offense and only two turnovers compared to the four for the Golden Bears. Interceptions by Ronley Lakalaka, Kameron Kelly, and Damontae Kazee allowed the Aztecs to win the turnover differential.

Cal has been led this season by a ball-hawking defense that leads the NCAA across all divisions with seven total interceptions. While the defense does a great job rushing the quarterback and forcing errant throws, the offense does a good job of capitalizing on the opportunities and field position the defense gives them.

The Red and Black have struggled with slow starts on the offense, penalties, and a carousel of substitutes on the left side of the offensive line since Joe Borjon went down with a knee injury. Through two games, the Aztec defense has held up enough to keep the team close in both games until the fourth quarter.

The offense had a great second-half finish in the first win to open the season but fizzled out in the second. SDSU’s rushing attack, led by Marquez Cooper, has been the bright spot of the offense so far, as he averages 138 YPG. Cooper ranks seventh nationally in that category.

“A big part of it is his confidence and the chip he carries on his shoulder as well as the natural skillset he has worked on his whole career,” Lewis rattled off when asked what makes Cooper so special. “His quickness and ability to make people miss, he has unbelievable contact balance, and he’s a mentally and physically strong kid.”

Key to the game: Offensive line play

Against an opponent this week that does an impressive job forcing turnovers, the key for the Aztec Fast offense will be protecting its signal-caller, Danny O’Neil.

Cal has four sacks on the year for a total loss of 26 yards and nine quarterback hits. Half of those sacks are by senior linebacker Teddye Buchanan. Buchanan and DB Nohl Williams are the stars on the defensive side of the ball. Williams accounted for two of the team's four interceptions in last week's win over Auburn.

The Aztecs' left side of the O-Line has been in flux since they lost Joe Borjon for the season after he went down in the first game against Texas A&M Commerce. Christian Jones started the year at left guard but is now Borjon’s replacement at left tackle. Myles Murao is listed first on the depth chart at left guard this week. Murao started the last game against Oregon State, but after halftime, Ryan Silver and Dean Abdullah took reps at the position. After the game, when asked about the multiple changes, Lewis said it was an area they were still evaluating.

Cal’s depth and ability on the defensive front is a force to be reckoned with.

“It’s going to be huge; it’s going to be imperative; we talked all along that the game is won in the trenches,” Lewis explained when emphasizing the importance of protecting O’Neil. “They are seven to eight deep up front with really talented players that have great length, great size…we’re going to have our hands full, and we have to rise to the challenge.”

O’Neil was banged up last game after taking multiple hits. Lewis said the team hopes he can still start this week. With the physicality of the last game, it makes it all more important to protect and preserve him going forward.

Player to watch: Fernando Mendoza

The Red and Black will be facing another efficient quarterback on Saturday. Mendoza is 40-58 for 391 yards and three touchdowns on the season. He can throw well from within the pocket but is also accurate when flushed out of it.

“He’s really efficient, he’s completing around 70% accuracy, values the football,” Lewis said. “He hasn't thrown an interception, really feels comfortable in their system, knows how to operate it at a high level, and distributes the ball really well to the playmakers around him.”

His best weapon out wide is freshman Nyziah Hunter. Hunter is a deep threat because of his speed. He used that to score two touchdowns against Auburn. Ten different players have caught the ball in this offense so far through the first two games.

The Aztec defensive line will be put to the test this week. It will be key to put pressure on Mendoza. SDSU’s defense has done well so far at getting to the opposing quarterback. The team has five sacks, five quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles in the first two games. Auburn’s defense managed seven QB hurries and two sacks last week against Cal’s offensive line.

If the Red and Black can get to Mendoza and throw off his rhythm, they have an opportunity to force his first interception of the season. Turnovers can change the tide of the game and will be very important in this matchup.

SDSU has won 24 of its last 28 games when forcing at least two turnovers and 34 straight games when forcing at least three turnovers.

FUN FACTS

• Marquez Cooper ranks 115th all-time in FBS history with 4,132 yards, which is tied with Lamar Jackson
• Since the start of the 2015 season, SDSU has thrown 60 interceptions, tied with Army West Point for the third-fewest picks in the nation over that span
• This is the first road game for Sean Lewis as the Aztec Football Head Coach.
• Last week, SDSU was shut out by a Pac-12 school for the first time since Sept. 18, 1982, when Cal defeated them 28-0.