San Diego State is coming off its most lopsided loss of the season.

Falling 56-24 to now-No. 12 Boise State had SDSU’s coaching staff and players review and reflect on what happened before looking ahead to this week’s Mountain West game against New Mexico.

“Sometimes some of this learning process, developing skills and building the culture, can be quite messy,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said, “and sometimes that means getting a slap in the face and an old-fashioned American slap gets. ”

Lewis believes that “sometimes that will drive growth, and the guys will respond to that in the right way.”

The answer is at hand when SDSU (3-5, 2-1 MW) takes the field against New Mexico (3-6, 2-3). The Aztecs are 2 1/2 point favorites coming into the match at Snapdragon Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 PM for a match broadcast on Fox Sports 1.

Here are five things to look for:

1. Possible gunfight

New Mexico ranks 26th in the country in scoring at 34.8 points per game. The Lobos have scored more than 30 points six times. It includes 50 points or more during a three-game winning streak against New Mexico State, Air Force and Utah State.

SDSU hasn’t scored at least 30 points since its season-opening 45-14 win over Texas A&M-Commerce. If there was ever a game where the “AztecFAST” attack lit up the scoreboard, this is it.

As good as New Mexico’s offense has been, the Lobos’ defense has been just as bad — and even worse. The Lobos are allowing 40.8 points per game (131st in the nation) and 492.3 yards in total offense (130th).

“It certainly has the potential to be a shootout, with the explosive play on both sides of the ball,” said Lewis. “They’ve been through quite a few, but as things evolve, each individual game and play is a little bit unique.”

Lewis said he’s been doing this long enough to know that you can anticipate and prepare as much as you want, only to see things unfold in unexpected ways.

“When the lights come on and things start to line up for you,” Lewis said, “the pieces on the chessboard start moving, then you have to do a great job managing the situation you’re in. .”

2. Retarding damper

The explosiveness in New Mexico’s offense is directly tied to 6-foot-10 sophomore quarterback Devon Dampier.

The dual-threat Phoenix native is coming off a game against Wyoming in which he passed for one touchdown and rushed for three others. Dampier’s third rushing TD went 85 yards and was the second-longest run from scrimmage in school history. He gained 207 yards on 12 carries against the Cowboys.

For the season, Dampier has rushed for 13 touchdowns and passed for 10 TDs (with 12 interceptions).

“It’s amazing on some of these long runs where he can maintain full speed, or even reach full speed while changing direction,” Lewis said. ‘Sometimes it looks like he’s rolling down a water slide, doesn’t it? …

“You’ve got to do a great job of making sure he stays where he’s going to be and keeping a cage around him. Otherwise, he’s dynamic when he notices a crease.”

New Mexico has other highlights.

Running back Eli Sanders, the team’s second-leading rusher, had 205 yards on 17 carries against Wyoming. That made New Mexico just the ninth school in NCAA history with a pair of 200-yard rushers in the same game.

Wide receivers Luke Wysong (50 catches, 663 yards, TD) and Ryan Davis (41 catches, 587 yards, 2 TDs) have combined for more receptions than anyone else on the roster.

Remarkable numbers, but stopping No. 4 – Dampier – will be the priority.

3. SDSU linebackers

Linebacker is one of the deepest positions on the Aztecs roster, but that depth has been tested in recent weeks.

Starting linebackers Tano Letuli and Owen Chambliss both suffered injuries to their right hands last month, requiring surgery and heavy padding to return to the field.

Letuli hasn’t missed a beat, with 10 tackles in back-to-back games. Chambliss missed last week’s game at Boise State and did not practice the first two days this week, making his participation against the Lobos questionable.

Chambliss’ backups at the weak spot are senior Cody Moon and Brady Anderson, both of whom have dealt with leg injuries.

Moon limited himself to non-contact exercises on Monday, but was back at it on Tuesday. He added the motivation to take on New Mexico after playing three seasons for the Lobos — he was their leading tackler in 2022 — before transferring to SDSU last year.

4. Snapdragon grass

SDSU’s home game against Washington State two weeks ago was notable for all the sand that kicked up with each play.

That’s when conversations about field conditions at Snapdragon Stadium began to take root. A few days later, that conversation started when the San Diego Wave FC game was moved to Louisville.

Lewis pressed matters on Monday, saying: “I’m not worried about safety at all. We had a good conversation about what caused it.”

SDSU senior cornerback Bryce Phillips literally expects home field advantage.

“It has to be an advantage for us at this point,” Phillips said. “We know what we are getting into. We know what we have to do. If you plant one foot, you know it will be slippery, so you have to plant that (correct) foot.

“As an offense, they’re not going to be ready for it.”

One would hope that two weeks for the field to be rested and prepared would be more than enough to improve conditions.

5. What a win means

Both teams need three wins to qualify for bowling and progress with their programs.

SDSU was bowl eligible 13 straight seasons before finishing 4-8 in Brady Hoke’s senior year last year.

The Aztecs are expected to be double-digit underdogs at UNLV next week. They should be given preference over the state of Utah and the Air Force.

That means SDSU must beat New Mexico or the Aztecs will have to run the table if they want to go bowling.

New Mexico has already played nine games, so the Lobos need to get into the lead to get six wins. Their task is greater. They will face Washington State and Hawaii to end the season.

The Lobos have only made bowl appearances four times in the past two decades, most recently in 2016. Eight consecutive losing seasons followed.

Originally published: November 7, 2024 at 6:03 PM PST