San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
MISCUES PLENTIFUL, SHOCKING AND RARE Three turnovers spelled doom for San Diego State’s chances against a resurgent San Jose State squad
Ball security has been among San Diego State’s trademarks during a fiveyear stretch of unprecedented success. That’s what made developments so shocking in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s game against San Jose State. Three turnovers.
In one quarter.
In 13 plays.
It spelled disaster in a 28-17 loss to the Spartans (3-0), who ended a seven-game losing streak against the Aztecs (2-1).
Here’s how out of character the turnovers were for SDSU:
• Going into the fourth quarter Friday, the Aztecs had run 214 plays this season without a single turnover (their only one had come from a muffed punt on special teams).
• In the 15 games from the start of the 2019 season until the contest against the Spartans, SDSU had committed only nine turnovers (two on special teams). Only Oregon
State (6) had fewer turnovers in that span.
• In 14 of the past 15 games, SDSU had one or zero turnovers.
• The Aztecs had only four games with three turnovers over the past five-plus seasons (69 games), most recently losing three fumbles in a 2018 game at New Mexico (SDSU still managed a 3123 win).
SDSU does not keep a historical breakdown of turnovers by quarter.
Suffice it to say that three turnovers in one quarter is an extremely rare occurrence.
And certainly not within 13 plays.
Here are three things we learned — turnover edition — from SDSU’S loss to San Jose State at Carson’s Dignity Health Sports Park:
1. The backward pass
SDSU took a 17-14 lead 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, forced San Jose State to punt away its next possession and had the ball back with an opportunity to expand its lead.
On second-and-11 from the SDSU 38, quarterback Carson Baker dropped back, couldn’t find
an open receiver and safety valve Greg Bell wasn't in the clear, either.
With San Jose State safety Tre Jenkins bearing down on him, Baker tried to dump the ball. His mistake was not making sure to throw it forward, ensuring a harmless incompletion.
The ball was thrown about two yards behind the quarterback, making it a lateral, and a fumble.
Complicating matters is that Bell did not immediately run after the loose ball — as players are coached to do — reacting slowly and holding up briefly.
That enabled San Jose State defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko to beat Bell to the ball and make the recovery.
The Spartans took possession at the SDSU 17-yard line. Two rushes later, both by running back Tyler Nevens, and they had a 21-17 lead.
2. The interception
SDSU got the ball back with 11:05 remaining in the game and moved it down the field for a potential go-ahead touchdown — or at least a field goal that would have made it a one-point game.
Facing third-and-14 from the San Jose State 15, Baker dropped back and fired to the end zone in a spot where three San Jose State defenders were gathering.
SDSU tight end Daniel Bellinger was headed toward that spot, but Jenkins had position on him and Bellinger veered toward an opening in the middle of the end zone.
Miscommunication? Maybe. Interception? Definitely. Jenkins tipped a ball thrown to a spot rather than a man, juggled it and then secured it to deny the Aztecs.
SDSU coaches have talked about Baker's development as a quarterback. This is the chapter on adversity.
At this point, SDSU'S defense stepped up and stopped San Jose State at its 35-yard line, forcing a punt.
The Aztecs used a timeout to stop the clock with 3:47 remaining. Plenty of time for a potential gamewinning drive. Except ...
3. The fumble
Elijah Fischer's 42-yard punt had enough hang time that his teammates were able to get downfield to provide good coverage.
And that led to some indecision on the part of SDSU returner Jordan Byrd.
Intent on fielding the ball and improving the Aztecs' field position, Byrd did not signal for a fair catch.
That is, Byrd didn't signal anything until at the last moment kind of alligatorarming a wave with his right hand (a fair catch needs to be demonstrative, with the arm extended above the head and the hand waving side to side) when he saw San Jose State's Tre Walker bearing down on him.
Byrd, perhaps distracted by Walker, actually had the ball hit him first in the helmet, then in the right hand.
Walker timed his arrival perfectly, jarring Byrd before the ball could be tucked away. The Spartans' Rico Tolefree fell on the loose ball at the SDSU 27.
Four plays later, San Jose State backup quarterback Nick Nash ran up the middle for a 14-yard touchdown that put the game away.
Byrd had returned four kickoffs in the game, but the last one went to teammate B.J. Busbee.
Byrd also had a muffed punt in the season opener against UNLV.
Coaches often look elsewhere when it appears it is becoming a habit.
Byrd was among three players who muffed punts in 2018, when the Aztecs spent half the season trying to get a handle on the punt return game. He has elite speed and the potential to be a gamebreaker in the return game.
It remains to be seen how long SDSU head coach Brady Hoke stays with him.
Don't be surprised if sure-handed wide receiver Jesse Matthews is back there the next time SDSU returns a punt.