RENO, Nev. – San Diego State scored on a punt return and an interception return in the first quarter, and Jayden Denegal threw for two more scores in a 44-10 victory at Nevada on Saturday night.
It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Aztecs (5-1, 2-0 MW), who continued their best start since beginning the 2021 campaign with a 7-0 record en route to a school-record 12 wins.
Jordan Napier returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown less than a minute into the game. It was SDSU's first punt return touchdown since Jordan Byrd had one against Idaho State on Sept. 10, 2022 and the longest since BJ Busbee had a 90-yarder vs. Colorado State on Dec. 5, 2020.
After a second straight three-and-out by the Wolf Pack (1-5, 0-2 MW), Chris Johnson picked off Carter Jackson and returned it 45 yards to put San Diego State up, 14-0. Johnson became the first Aztec since Andrew Aleki in 2021 with multiple interceptions returned for a touchdown in the same season.
It was the first time San Diego State had punt return and interception returns for a touchdown since Nov. 23, 2013 vs. Boise State.
SDSU picked off Jackson again on Nevada’s ensuing drive as Dwayne McDougle came up with it and gave San Diego State the ball on its own 30-yard line. Denegal found Christian Washington with a 2-yard pass into the end zone on the first play of the second quarter to put the Aztecs up three touchdowns at 21-0. SDSU marched 70 yards on eight plays on the drive.
San Diego State got the ball back after a Wolf Pack punt and went 73 yards on seven plays before Denegal found Jacob Bostick running across the field. Bostick ran it 31 yards into the end zone to make it 28-0.
Nevada got all the way to the Aztec 7, but the relentless SDSU defense held on fourth-and-goal, giving the visitors the ball back with 4:22 left in the first half.
San Diego State promptly went 93 yards on six plays, ultimately finishing with a 3-yard tough touchdown run by Lucky Sutton. Two big plays got the Aztecs down inside near the goal line, including a 29-yard run by Denegal and a 41-yard pass from Denegal to Napier.
SDSU’s 35 points in the first half were its most since at least the 2000 season.
San Diego State didn’t score a touchdown in the second half as its starters hardly played in the fourth quarter on both sides of the ball. Gabe Plascencia made field goals on three straight drives for the Aztecs in the third quarter, including a 29-yarder, a 45-yarder and a 49-yarder as SDSU led, 44-0, heading into the fourth.
Nevada got on the scoreboard with 12:50 left in the game on a 34-yard field goal by Joe McFadden. The Wolf Pack closed out the scoring with a 16-yard pass from Carter Jones to Marshaun Brown.
Denegal was 14-of-17 passing for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Napier logged his third 100-yard game over the last four with 110 yards on five catches to go along with his 75-yard punt return touchdown. Sutton ran for 81 yards on 17 carries (4.8 avg.).
It was the second straight game with at least 40 points for San Diego State, the first time that has happened since 2017.
Dalesean Staley and Owen Chambliss had six tackles apiece to lead the Aztec defense.