San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
AZTECS • Burmeister and Matthews heat up
throughout the event).
The action on the field elicited several loud cheers, though the crowd will not be in full throat until the Sept. 3 opener against Arizona.
SDSU head coach Brady Hoke had planned to play veterans sparingly — the Aztecs have 11 starters returning from last season’s 12-2 team — while youngsters received the most important opportunity of preseason camp to earn starting roles or backup spots.
Avoiding injuries to starters always is in the back of his mind.
“You’re always kind of concerned about it, but you can’t really worry about it. You can cross your fingers and say your prayers, but you never know when that’s going to happen.”
There were no apparent injuries evident, so the coach could uncross his fingers afterwards.
“We’re 13 days away, so it was good to get out to the stadium and get acclimated to different things,” Hoke said. “We had some good energy in the first half. That’s kind of normal when you go to the second half and not quite the same energy . ...
“I thought there were a lot of guys who we needed to get on tape a little bit more, and that’s why some (veteran) guys didn’t play a whole lot of defense.
“We accomplished what we wanted to do.”
Some scrimmage observations:
• Braxton Burmeister, the graduate transfer quarterback from Virginia Tech who, played only the first series, but it was quickly apparent he already has established a connection with senior wide receiver Jesse Matthews.
“They’ve got a really good relationship,” Hoke said. “It will be interesting.”
Burmeister, who was 2for-5 for 47 yards, targeted Matthews on four of his throws.
The other ball was thrown away with no open receivers and defenders closing in on him.
The prettiest play was when Burmeister found Matthews behind the defense along the right hash marks for a 39-yard pass play.
Matthews gave way to the younger receivers after catching four passes for 64 yards.
• True freshman Kyle Crum, the third quarterback in the game, was in sync with junior wide receiver Brionne Penny, who had three catches for 36 yards.
The pair hooked up for a 25-yard second-quarter touchdown in the left corner of the end zone and a 6-yard third-quarter TD in the right corner.
“Brionne right now has been, not a surprise, I think we’ve been waiting for this, and so his maturity has (developed).”
• True freshman Liu Aumavae, the fourth QB, connected with wide receiver Darius De Los Reyes for an 18-yard score during red zone work in the final period.
• It was just one performance — and a scrimmage at that — but redshirt freshman Phillippe Wesley II led all receiver with five catches for 79 yards.
• SDSU’S passing offense has been all but absent in recent years at these workouts during a decade of run-dominant offense for the Aztecs.
Surprise, surprise the passing game showed a strong pulse, with four QBS combining to complete 21 of 39 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns.
The numbers would have been better but for playing 12-minute quarters with a running clock in the second half.
The Aztecs rushed 38 times for 116 yards.
• Super seniors Chance
Bell and Jordan Byrd, the starters coming out of spring practice, were used sparingly in order to get a glimpse of the younger running backs.
Redshirt freshman running back Cam Davis had the longest run from scrimmage, a 32-yard carry that enabled him to lead the backs with 49 yards (on six carries).
• The quarterbacks were flushed from the pocket more than coaches would like to see, perhaps because of the young offensive line that is still developing?
“They are improving every time they get out on the field,” Hoke said, adding. “In my opinion, it’s probably the hardest position to play in football because of what’s asked of you . ...
“I think they’re coming along. It’s what it is when you’re a young football team.”
Full circle
The cheapest seats for the Sept. 3 opener against Arizona are $78.
Wonder how Debello’s dad would react to that?
He would probably wait until Week 2 against Idaho State, when the cheapest seat is $33.
kirk.kenney@sduniontribune.com