San Diego State secured a 27-24 victory over Hawaii in a Mountain West Conference opener on Saturday night, with Marquez Cooper standing out by rushing for 109 yards and scoring two touchdowns. A highlight of the game was Cooper’s 2-yard scoring run during an 87-yard drive that finalized the scoring with just 7:05 left on the clock.
The game witnessed a tense moment when Hawaii, trailing by three points, faced a fourth-and-2 situation from the Aztec 31. Quarterback Brayden Schager attempted a pass to Pofele Ashlock, resulting in a 2-yard loss with only 1:12 remaining which ultimately dashed their hopes of turning the game around. Despite forcing a three-and-out in the following series, Hawaii found themselves deep in their own territory with merely 4 seconds left.
San Diego State’s quarterback, Danny O’Neil, showcased a stellar performance by completing 24 of 34 passes for 224 yards and tossing a touchdown. Cooper, on the other hand, carried the ball 30 times, leading the ground game with O’Neil being the only other rusher who carried four times for a loss of ten yards. Nate Bennett was instrumental in the receiving game with 74 yards on four catches, thus contributing significantly to the Aztecs’ offensive efforts.
On the opposing side, Hawaii’s Schager completed 26 of 44 passes for 272 yards, executing three touchdown passes along with an interception. Ashlock emerged as a key player with eight receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Nick Cenacle also made a notable contribution by securing a touchdown catch during the hard-fought game.
The matchup between San Diego State and Hawaii not only marked an exciting start to the Mountain West Conference season but also showcased the talent and competitive spirit of both teams on the field.
