San Diego State Football

San Diego State appears to have found a new head coach.

The Aztecs are hiring Colorado offensive coordinator Sean Lewis to replace Brady Hoke, who announced in November that he would be retiring after the 2023 season, per Action Network's Brett McMurphy.

Lewis joined Deion Sanders' coaching staff as offensive coordinator of the Buffaloes in 2023, leading an offense highlighted by wide receiver Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

The Buffs got out to a hot start to the 2023 campaign with wins over TCU, Nebraska and Colorado State. However, things took a turn for the worse following a 42-6 loss to Oregon on Sept. 23.

Colorado went on to lose to USC and Stanford before Lewis was stripped of his play-calling duties in early November following a 28-16 loss to UCLA on Oct. 28, which marked the team's second straight loss and fourth in five games.

The Buffaloes finished the season with a 4-8 record in Sanders' first season as head coach.

Prior to joining Colorado, Lewis served as head coach at Kent State from 2018-22. He led the Golden Flashes to a 24-31 record and a win in the Frisco Bowl during his five seasons at the helm.

Lewis also had stints as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Syracuse (2016-17) and Bowling Green (2015). Additionally, he served as a wide receivers coach at Bowling Green in 2014 and was a wide receivers and tight ends coach at Eastern Illinois from 2012-13.

Hoke had coached San Diego State since 2020 following an initial stint with the program from 2009-10. The Aztecs went 40-32 in six total seasons under Hoke and 27-20 over the last four years.

San Diego State will be hoping Lewis can help the program rebound from a 4-8 finish to the 2023 season.

HEIGHT: 5'10 1/8"

WEIGHT: 283

HAND: 9"

ARM: 29 1/2"

WINGSPAN: 72 7/8"

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40-YARD DASH: 5.06

3-CONE: 7.65

SHUTTLE: 4.70

VERTICAL: 26.5"

BROAD: 8'9"

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POSITIVES

– Great production over the last two years.

– Quick get-off, very quick to react to the snap and accelerates off the line well.

– Plays with his hands in front of him and is quick to get them up to take on blocks.

– Has some pop in his hands and has natural leverage to help standup offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage. Physical at the point of attack, too.

– Showed a couple of decent pass-rush moves he can win with; arm over/swim move and hand swipe. He's good at playing the offensive lineman's hand as a rusher.

– Hustle player who made a handful of tackles down the field on screens.

– Played up and down the defensive line in college, lining up at nose and as a standup outside linebacker occasionally.

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NEGATIVES

– Significantly undersized for an NFL defensive lineman.

– Lack of size and strength shows up in his ability to anchor versus double teams and down blocks. Also seems to get caught off-guard by doubles and will get washed inside when slanting.

– Sub-30-inch arms limit how much extension he can get and cause him issues when trying to disengage from blocks.

– A little stiff in the hips when trying to turn a tight corner after winning around the edge as a pass rusher.

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2022 STATS

– 13 GM, 59 solo (31 solo), 14 TFL, 10.5 sacks

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NOTES

– Born December 13, 2000

– JUCO transfer

– A 2-star JUCO recruit in the 2019 class, No. 453 overall, No. 51 DT, per 247Sports composite rankings

– No major injuries

– 33 career starts

– 2022 Honors: First-Team All-Mountain West, Second-Team All-American (AP)

– 2021 Honors: First-Team All-American (Action Network), Honorable-Mention All-Mountain West, All-Bowl Team (Bleacher Report)

– 2020 Honors: Honorable-Mention All-Mountain West

– Four brothers played DI college football and two made it to the NFL, uncle played rugby union for New Zealand

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OVERALL

Jonah Tavai will likely go undrafted, mainly due to his size. It's going to be difficult to get NFL talent evaluators to look past him being a 6'0" and sub-300 pound defensive tackle who has very short arms. All of his measurables are in the bottom percentiles for the position and there isn't a track record of someone at his size succeeding in the league, or at least not a long one.

However, Tavai was very disruptive in the Mountain West over the past two years, logging 19 sacks and 24 TFL during that timeframe. That should be good enough to at least earn a training camp invite where he'll have an opportunity to land on the practice squad and prove himself. The Aztecs also used him up and down the defensive line, so he does have some position versatility which could help his cause.

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GRADE: 5.3 (Backup/UDFA with Roster Potential, UDFA)

OVERALL RANK: TBD

POSITION RANK: TBD

PRO COMPARISON: Julis Turner

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

San Diego State signed head football coach Brady Hoke to contract extension with a pay raise after three players on the team allegedly gang raped a 17-year-old girl.

Per USA Today's Josh Peter and Steve Berkowitz, Hoke signed his new deal in March, increasing his total pay by $100,000 more than he was previously scheduled to receive under his previous deal. He is now under contract until March 2027.

"The raise follows a standard, annual review and market comparison that is done at the end of each competitive year," State Diego State said in a statement to USA Today. "Each coach, across the 18 sports that San Diego State University Athletics offers, undergoes the same review process."

School officials did not respond to USA Today when asked if the allegations against Hoke's players factored into the contract decision.

In August, Colleen Shalby and Robert J. Lopez of the Los Angeles Times reported a civil lawsuit filed in San Diego County Superior Court accused three current and former San Diego State football players of raping an underage girl at an off-campus party last year.

Matt Araiza, Zavier Leonard and Nowlin "Pa’a" Ewaliko were the players named in the lawsuit.

According to Shalby and Lopez, the lawsuit alleges the girl, who was a high school senior at the time, "went in and out of consciousness but remembers moments as the men took turns assaulting her."

Araiza, who was a sixth-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills in April, was "accused of having sex with the minor outside the home and then bringing her inside to a room where she was repeatedly raped."

The Bills released Araiza on Aug. 27. Ewaliko was not listed on San Diego State's 2022 roster after being on the team as a freshman in 2021. Leonard was removed from the roster in the wake of the allegations.

San Diego State athletic director John David Wicker told reporters on Aug. 29 the school became aware of a report of an off-campus sexual assault on Oct. 18, 2021, and a San Diego police investigation the following day.

According to Wicker, the school was asked to delay its own investigation by the San Diego Police Department to avoid potentially compromising the police investigation.

"SDPD asked us not to investigate. If we start asking questions you can tip someone off, and we're not going to investigate," Wicker said.

No arrests have been made related to the case.

Lopez and Shalby reported in June the university waited more than seven months to launch its own investigation about the alleged gang rape and did not alert the campus community to the allegations.

Hoke said on Aug. 29 he was "not aware" of a report made by student-athletes to San Diego State officials through the school's anonymous reporting system.

Wicker told reporters it was "absolutely not true" the school attempted to sweep the allegations under the rug.

"We will hold any student, any coach, any staff member to be held responsible for anything that's confirmed and adjudicated. It's absolutely not true that we swept this under the rug because it was football, because we were having a successful season. That is not who we are," Wicker added. "That is not who I am. That calls into question my morals and my ethics and, no, that's not true."

Hoke is in his second stint as San Diego State head football coach. He previously coached the team from 2009 to 2010 and returned to the program as a defensive line coach in 2019. The 63-year-old took over as head coach in January 2020 after Rocky Long retired.

San Diego State's athletic director and head football coach have spoken out about the school's decision not to investigate allegations three football players, including punter Matt Araiza, gang-raped a 17-year-old girl at a party in 2021.

Athletic director John David Wicker told reporters the university delayed looking into the matter at the request of the San Diego Police Department while it was conducting its own investigation.

Aztecs head coach Brady Hoke said in a prepared statement he couldn't provide specific details because the investigation is still ongoing:

"I want to reinforce that we have and continue to support the criminal investigation done by the San Diego Police Department and we also support the district attorney's review of the case. What was reported to have happened should never happen—ever. That shouldn't happen to anyone. And what has been important to us is that anyone who violates or violated the law or university policies, they be held accountable."

Colleen Shalby and Robert J. Lopez of the Los Angeles Times reported Friday that a woman filed a civil lawsuit accusing Araiza, Zavier Leonard and Nowlin "Pa'a" Ewalika of raping her at an off-campus Halloween party in October 2021. The woman was 17 at the time.

Araiza was released by the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. He was a sixth-round pick by the team in the 2022 NFL draft. Leonard is a redshirt freshman on the San Diego State football team. Ewalika is no longer part of the Aztecs roster.

ESPN's Kyle Bonagura noted Wicker and Hoke read from prepared statements in the media room and didn't initially engage with follow-up questions when the floor opened up to reporters.

Both men left the room when reporters didn't ask about San Diego State's season opener, but Wicker eventually returned to answer some questions related to the case.

According to Bonagura, Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor and sexual assault prevention educator, was brought in by San Diego State to speak to the football team and other male athletes that Wicker said was prompted by "an incident that had been reported to us, that SDPD was investigating."

Tracy issued a statement on Twitter saying she was "told by an athletic staff member that there was an incident that had happened" but she wasn't given specifics even though "I obviously know it has to do with sexual assault."

Pls consider this my formal comment on the SDSU sexual assault case. Due to my visit w the football team & now involvement as part of the story, I will not be doing media interviews unless/until I know the victim approves.

This story is not & should not be about me.

Thank you pic.twitter.com/byEwtJksUk

— Brenda Tracy (@brendatracy24) August 29, 2022

Per the Los Angeles Times report, Araiza's name came up in connection with the rape allegation within days of the party from at least one student-athlete via anonymous reporting outlet to the school officials.

Hoke said he was "not aware" of the anonymous report.

Araiza's parents issued a statement to Brandon Stone of KUSI in San Diego in which they claimed their son was being "extorted, discriminated against, harassed and the subject of multiple and continuous threats of violence and death."

They also called the allegations "salacious rumors" and said every member of their family has "been canceled."

Araiza played four seasons at San Diego State from 2018-21. He won the Bills' starting punter job prior to being released amid the rape allegations in the civil lawsuit.

Matt Araiza issued a statement Friday after a woman filed a civil lawsuit Thursday and said he and two San Diego State teammates gang-raped her in October 2021 when the Buffalo Bills punter was still in college.

"The facts of the incident are not what they are portrayed in the lawsuit or in the press," Araiza said. "I look forward to quickly setting the record straight."

Zavier Leonard and Nowlin "Pa'a" Ewaliko are listed as the other two defendants. Leonard remains with the San Diego State football team, but Ewaliko is no longer on the roster.

They were both teammates of Araiza's last season.

Colleen Shalby and Robert J. Lopez of the Los Angeles Times reported the woman said Araiza offered her a drink that "not only contained alcohol, but other intoxicating substances." She said the punter had sex with her after telling her to perform oral sex and then brought her into a room.

According to the lawsuit, the woman said Araiza, Leonard and at least one other man gang-raped her for an hour and a half in that room.

While she underwent a rape exam at a hospital and reported the rape to the San Diego Police Department the next day, no charges have been filed. Shalby and Lopez reported detectives "recently submitted their investigation to the San Diego County District Attorney's office," which will "determine whether charges should be filed."

Araiza's statement echoed similar words from his lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, who called the lawsuit "a shakedown because he's now with the Buffalo Bills."

The Bills, who selected the punter with a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, also released a statement:

Bills statement:
“We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt from October 2021.
Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we conducted a thorough examination of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case, we will have no other comment at this point.” https://t.co/AsLHRNIl5Q

— Heather Prusak (@haprusak) August 25, 2022

Araiza did not play in Friday's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.

Instead, third-string quarterback Matt Barkley assumed the punting duties.

A civil lawsuit accuses three current and former San Diego State football players, including Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza, of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl in October 2021, according to Colleen Shalby and Robert J. Lopez of the Los Angeles Times.

Araiza, Zavier Leonard and Nowlin "Pa'a" Ewaliko are all listed in the complaint, which was filed Thursday in state court.

Ewaliko is part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the incident and is no longer on the San Diego State roster. Leonard remains on the football team as a redshirt freshman.

Araiza was drafted by the Bills with the first pick in the sixth round and has become a viral sensation known as the "Punt God." After an 82-yard punt in a preseason game, Buffalo released fellow punter Matt Haack to secure a roster spot for Araiza.

The Bills released a statement on the lawsuit Thursday:

Bills statement:
“We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt from October 2021.
Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we conducted a thorough examination of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case, we will have no other comment at this point.” https://t.co/AsLHRNIl5Q

— Heather Prusak (@haprusak) August 25, 2022

Per the Times, "In her lawsuit, the woman said she had already been drinking with friends when they arrived at the party on Rockford Drive, and Araiza, who lived at the home, gave her a drink. She believes the drink 'not only contained alcohol, but other intoxicating substances,' the complaint said."

The woman said she was raped for an hour and a half before the party was shut down, with Araiza, Leonard, Ewaliko and at least one other man present in the room.

Araiza's lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, has denied the allegations.

"It's a shakedown because he’s now with the Buffalo Bills," Armstrong said. "There is no doubt in my mind that Matt Araiza ever raped that girl."

The Los Angeles Times initially reported in June there were claims that five football players gang-raped a girl and that San Diego State had "waited more than seven months to launch its own investigation."

San Diego State later announced it had been trying not to interfere with the San Diego Police Department investigation while noting there was a report of an off-campus sexual assault on Oct. 18.

In the lawsuit, the woman said she went to the police one day after the party and underwent a rape exam at a hospital.

He does it not for the fame or the nickname or even the football fortune that is suddenly within his grasp. No, Matt Araiza does what he does—bashing footballs into the stratosphere, defying the laws of gravity—in search of that one indescribable moment.

You see, the most prolific college football punter in recent memory, perhaps ever, doesn't know when he will uncork a punt that will travel more than 80 magnificent yards—a feat he accomplished in consecutive weeks last fall.

He can't really feel it when he does. Not when he catches it just right.

The ball erupts upward and outward, rising above the stadium into the clouds, disappearing into the great beyond. And then…it doesn't stop. In that suspended moment, Araiza simply listens for a particular sound.

"My favorite thing in all of this is when I hear every single person in the stadium gasp at once," Araiza says. "That is why I do what I do. It's the most amazing feeling in the world."

Except, Araiza doesn't just punt. The winner of the Ray Guy Award, the honor given to the nation's top punter, also blasted field goals and kickoffs for San Diego State last fall, all at an incredibly high level.

In college, it's rare for one player to share multiple specialized roles. It's even rarer in the NFL, where few have tried and even fewer have succeeded. But if all goes right, Araiza might just explode that paradigm.

Punt God, a nickname Araiza was given last fall, is coming soon to a Sunday near you. And with the NFL draft barreling down, there is a bubbling curiosity regarding how long he—and we—will have to wait to hear his name called.

"We haven't seen a guy with his ability to consistently change the field in a long time," one NFL scout says.

Whichever team becomes his, it will welcome a specialist who has captivated the sport—one with a cult-like following and a left leg capable of conquering the entire length of a football field in a single blast.

Technically, Araiza isn't done being a college student just yet. In between private workouts and a trip to Indianapolis for the NFL combine, he's still finishing up his degree at San Diego State.

While many soon-to-be-draftees are refining what their new lifestyle will look like in the months ahead, Araiza, who is an interdisciplinary studies major, is taking three econ classes and one statistics class.

"It's not as bad as it sounds," he assures. At the very least, he's found a new rhythm in preparing for the NFL while still attending classes five days a week.

On May 15, a few weeks after his professional destination is made clear, Araiza will graduate and walk before truly entering the next chapter of his life.

That next chapter could have waited. With collegiate eligibility remaining, Araiza could've returned to San Diego State, made decent money with now-legal NIL sponsorships and punted his way to more collegiate records before going pro in 2023.

But after receiving enough positive feedback from the NFL regarding his prospects of being selected, Araiza declared.

"Being drafted as a specialist is so rare," Araiza says. "Plus, I'm getting my degree. What was I going to do? Raise it by a couple of picks?"

Last year, Araiza broke the NCAA record when he averaged 51.19 yards per punt. His 39 punts of 50 yards or greater and 18 punts of 60 yards or more were also NCAA records.

"There were a couple of them that just kept going," San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke says. "You expected them to start coming down, and they just stayed in the air. The one at Air Force really stands out."

It wasn't just Air Force. In late October, the week before the Aztecs played the Falcons, Araiza booted a punt 86 yards against San Jose State.

Standing in his own end zone, Araiza launched the ball over the returner's head. It then ricocheted forward before being downed inside the 5-yard line, covering almost the entirety of the field. Araiza also connected on a 53-yard field goal, steering San Diego State to a double-overtime win.

A week later, Araiza nearly matched his previous effort. Against Air Force, Araiza delivered an 81-yard punt and made both of his field goals—including a 51-yarder. San Diego State grinded out another six-point win.

It was one of six single-digit wins the Aztecs delivered last fall while finishing the year 12-2.

"He had an incredible impact on our football team," Hoke adds. "It wasn't just punting. You look at all the touchbacks he had on kickoffs as well and even the way he'd cover on a punt or the kickoff. He really was our MVP with how much he helped us defensively and changed field position."

Araiza's kickoff average was 65.05 yards, which was third in the nation. Nearly 85 percent of his kickoffs went for touchbacks, which ranked fifth nationally. He added 18 field goals and connected on all 45 of his extra points.

And yes, through it all, that nickname spread like wildfire: Punt God.

It doesn't necessarily suit him, and Araiza will be the first to say that the name feels like a bit much. Still, he's flattered by it and has learned to embrace it. Whether or not the name is a tad overstated, it speaks to the impact he was able to have despite rarely being on the field.

"He's a kicker, and we tend to really take kickers for granted," Hoke says. "I can assure you that I will never take that for granted again."

The perfect punt, according to Araiza, travels just 50 yards. It should have a hang time of no less than five seconds. It must be placed in just the proper direction—to the desired sideline and spot on the field. It should not have a return of any kind.

The nuance of this very particular action—part art, part science—is often easily overlooked by the average eye. In an NFL game, this is normally when the restroom breaks occur and the beer lines grow longer. But its significance on the outcome of a game is indisputable.

By way of example, Araiza is at a rare, natural advantage because he's a lefty. The ball comes off his foot with counterclockwise spin, meaning it moves through the air differently than it would from a right-footed punter.

It's not a movement most punt returners regularly see. That's one of the reasons Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has employed lefty punters for most of his tenure with New England.

Nick Novak knows this science better than most. In his previous life, he was an NFL kicker for well over a decade. He kicked for nearly a half-dozen franchises and connected on 182 field goals during his professional career.

Along the way, he earned a black belt in punting simply by watching all-time greats such as Shane Lechler, Brad Maynard and Mike Scifres master their crafts. During practices, he would ask questions and pick their brains.

He even punted in a couple of games, including one in 2014 when Scifres was out because of injury. "I had a long of 51 and didn't embarrass myself," Novak says.

These days, when he isn't coaching at Maranatha High School in San Diego, Novak is sharing his vast encyclopedia of punting and kicking knowledge with those trying to further their careers.

And over the past few months, he has been tasked with enriching Punt God's powers.

"The kind of punts he was hitting, the 4.4s [seconds] and 4.3s that travel 60 or 70 yards was perfect for the college game," Novak says. "It makes perfect sense to kick the ball as far as you can. Situationally, you can still do that in the NFL. But we wanted a more balanced punt."

Punters chase hang time the way wide receivers chase speed in the 40-yard dash. The only difference, and it's a major one, is a higher time is desired.

They would evaluate Araiza's form by placing 15 cameras around him to ensure his body was hitting the proper "skeletal levels and angles."

His steps have been shortened so the ball will be in his hands for less time. His motion has been compacted to maximize efficiency. He's also dropping the ball higher in his "swing"—a term punters proudly share with golf—for more air and lift.

"He wasn't able to hit above a 4.8 before we started working because he would kick it so far out," Novak says. "He's now hitting 4.8 to 5.3 seconds with ease. He just hit his first 5.5, which he had never done."

The very thought of reworking a motion that led Araiza to the most prolific punting season in NCAA history might sound counterintuitive. In some ways, it is.

But there is risk associated with Araiza's collegiate punting style—a style and genre he refers somewhat proudly as "brute force."

"It's not that an 80-yard punt won't work in the NFL," Araiza says. "It's just a scarier thing because you're punting to Tyreek Hill. You don't want to give him that much space."

A longer punt means more ground for the punt team to cover. It also means more space for the punt returner to gain speed, assuming the punt doesn't travel over his head. In college, of course, that was often the plan.

With some of the world's fastest humans seeking just one opportunity, Araiza, with the help of Novak, has altered his game to eradicate this risk. Well, for the time being.

"I do believe my style—a college style—will eventually be seen in the NFL," Araiza says. "I think I'll find ways to pull it off. But my mentality throughout this process is not to make the NFL conform to me. It's my job to conform to the NFL. I need to get established.

"Then eventually the goal is to go back to the kick-the-crap-out-of-the-ball style. I want to change games."

He knew the negativity was coming. His teammates, current and former, warned him—that someone would attempt to make him squirm. Still, during an interview at the NFL combine in early March, Araiza couldn't help but get swept up in strategic dissatisfaction.

"You're not ready," an NFL team told him.

This team, which Araiza prefers not to name, also questioned his decision to leave school with eligibility remaining. NFL coaches at the combine somewhat famously take on these roles; they want to see how a player responds.

Days later, Araiza responded. He dropped perfectly placed punts that seemed to test the dimensions of the Lucas Oil Stadium roof. He showcased how his left leg would translate on kickoffs, clobbering easy touchbacks deep into the end zone.

At 6'2" and 200 pounds, he even delivered a superb 4.68-second 40-yard dash, showcasing the depths of his athleticism.

"I'm the kind of person who takes stuff like that super personally," Araiza says. "I also love it. I walked around pissed off the rest of that combine week. The first time I crushed a ball, I was excited. I was also hoping that the person who told me that was watching.

"I am a radically better punter than I was three months ago."

Whether teams agree will be revealed when the NFL draft begins April 28. Only 23 punters have been selected in the NFL draft. Bryan Anger, a Pro Bowler in 2021, was selected in the third round—pick No. 70—out of Cal in 2012.

This, of course, is not the status quo. Punters are normally taken much later or signed as undrafted free agents.

"The dream is the third round," Novak says. "I think we're both on the same page. Realistically, we're looking maybe at the fourth round as an ideal place to go. The big thing is that he'll get a chance no matter where he lands."

Araiza is no longer consumed by the mystery of his placement in the draft, and it will remain a mystery until his name is (hopefully) called. His concern, more than anything, is fit. He wants to play early, and he wants to win.

Much like his draft status, his exact role is still to be carved out. It will depend largely on where he lands.

Despite Araiza's ability to fill three potential positions on a roster—punter, kicker and kickoff specialist—Novak says NFL teams are focused on his punting. For both longevity and performance, he's content with less. More, in his eyes, no matter how exciting it was at San Diego State, isn't necessarily ideal. But Araiza hasn't given up on the possibility.

"I haven't had a single team tell me they want me to do both," Araiza says. "I think it's something coordinators are scared of. But that's another thing that I would like to tackle down the road. Once I am an established punter, I would like to compete for that job. Hopefully at some point I get a shot to do what no one has done before."

A better, more refined version of Punt God is being molded. This much we know.

He will bring with him an entire arsenal of punts and abilities to Sundays—proficiencies he will gladly showcase if he's allowed. And just like before, you'll know when they're coming.

Look up and up and up, and wait for the gasp.

Lucas Johnson completed 24-of-36 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns as the No. 24 San Diego State Aztecs football team beat the University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners 38-24 in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl on Tuesday from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

Wide receiver Jesse Matthews caught 11 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns for the Aztecs, who scored 17 unanswered points to turn a 14-7 first-quarter deficit into a 24-14 third-quarter lead.

Running back Greg Bell added 26 carries for 101 rushing yards and one score. Johnson also added 15 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. The final TD was courtesy of wideout Tyrell Shavers.

UTSA quarterback Frank Harris completed 22-of-36 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He found frequent targets in Zakhari Franklin (eight receptions, 89 yards) and De'Corian Clark (six catches, 72 yards), both of whom scored touchdowns. Brenda Brady rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

San Diego State maintained position for nearly 38 minutes as its successful ground game and explosive passing attack led to 489 yards from scrimmage. The Aztecs also managed to get 31 first downs without committing a turnover.

Clark opened the scoring with this leaping grab to put UTSA up 6-0:

A better look at @UTSAFTBL 1st TD in the 2021 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. pic.twitter.com/yu3RiDCKPp

— Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl (@FriscoBowlGame) December 22, 2021

Matthews' first TD helped tie the game at seven, and he earned the 20-yard score after successfully diving for the pylon:

A better angle at @AztecFB 1st TD. pic.twitter.com/dXlKjFmRPP

— Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl (@FriscoBowlGame) December 22, 2021

UTSA countered with a two-yard Brady run:

2nd TD for @UTSAFTBL. pic.twitter.com/2yRkuHxpeX

— Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl (@FriscoBowlGame) December 22, 2021

However, Johnson went right back to Matthews for his second score of the game. Following the PAT, this one was tied up at 14:

2nd TD for @AztecFB in the 2021 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. pic.twitter.com/M1Y3Me9EjC

— Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl (@FriscoBowlGame) December 22, 2021

The Aztecs went up for good when Matt Araiza kicked a 33-yard field goal to end the first half.

SDSU got the ball to start the second half and ended a six-play, 48-yard drive with a one-yard run from Bell.

UTSA answered with a Hunter Duplessis 41-yard field goal, but the relentless SDSU attack responded when Johnson found Shavers for a 24-yard touchdown and a 31-17 lead post-PAT.

Harris found Franklin for a three-yard touchdown to make it a one score game as time expired in the third quarter, but the Aztecs closed the scoring in the fourth when Johnson ran it in from two yards out with 9:51 in regulation remaining.

San Diego State ended its season with a 12-2 mark. It was an excellent year for the Aztecs, whose accolades include a 33-31 triple overtime win over eventual Pac-12 champion Utah.

UTSA capped its tremendous season, which saw the Roadrunners win its first 11 games and earn a Top 25 Associated Press poll ranking for the first time in the program's short history, which runs back to 2011. The Roadrunners finished the season at 12-2.

With its 70,000-seat stadium being destroyed earlier than planned to speed up construction on a new venue, the San Diego State football team will play home games during the upcoming spring and fall seasons at the home of Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy. 

The Aztecs will play at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, about 110 miles north of their current home. Ground broke on a new $310 million stadium last month, with the facility being part of a campus expansion project and scheduled to open in the fall of 2022. 

SDCCU Stadium, which was previously known as Qualcomm Stadium and Jack Murphy Stadium, was the home to the San Diego Chargers before the franchise relocated to Los Angeles, where Dignity Health Sports Park was also its home.

No stadium was available in San Diego to host the team, athletic director John David Wicker said, per USA Today: 

“We are San Diego State University. We are going to be here forever. We're excited that we are building a football stadium in San Diego. ... We are part of this community. We're just going to run up the road for a little bit to play football and then we're going to come back and we're going to open a phenomenal stadium and continue developing a campus that is great for San Diego."

SDCCU Stadium opened in 1967 and has hosted three Super Bowls and two World Series; the San Diego Padres played at the facility until 2004. 

The Aztecs had planned to play two more seasons at the stadium before the Mountain West Conference postponed the fall football season to spring because of COVID-19. With the pandemic ongoing, the decision was made to move up demolition of the stadium to early 2021.

Wicker said concrete from the demolition of SDCCU Stadium will be used as a base for the new Aztec Stadium, which will seat 35,000. 

In 2019, San Diego State went 10-3 and ended the season with a 48-11 defeat of Central Michigan in the New Mexico Bowl.