Injuries and a mumps outbreak have snakebit San Diego State football this season, as the Aztecs stumbled to a 1-3 start this season under third-year coach Sean Lewis.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, it appeared the Aztecs were on their way to a 1-4 start.
San Diego State trailed Texas State 17-3 at halftime, before rallying in the second half and defeating the Bobcats 31-29 for its first Pac-12 win. The win comes despite San Diego State reporting 13 players as out for the game, with 14 more listed as game-time decisions on the Pac-12's pregame availability report.
San Diego State announced 14 confirmed cases of mumps on Sept. 30, noting the outbreak remains within
"a single athletic team." The team hasn't announced who was affected due to privacy laws.
"Given all things, you're playing with your third-string center, you're playing with your third-string guard, you're playing with your third and fourth running back," Lewis said after the game. "... There ain't going to be a picture on the score card at the end of this one.
"There's no asterisk on it. The asterisk says 1-0 in Pac-12 play and there's a lot of life in that locker room right now and we'll continue to find a way."
"Find a way" is what the Aztecs did, taking advantage of numerous Texas State mistakes in the second half, despite being outgained by 326 total yards. Freshman receiver Jaylon Hawkins returned the second-half kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown to start the third quarter. The Aztecs tied the game 17-17 after Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson threw an interception on the Bobcats' own 17-yard line, setting up a short rushing touchdown.
Texas State then gave up more field position late in the third quarter after going for it on fourth-and-6 from its own 24-yard line. The Bobcats fumbled on the fourth-down try, and the ball was recovered by San Diego State, who again scored a short touchdown shortly after to take a 24-17 lead.
San Diego State's final dagger came late in the fourth quarter after junior linebacker Cameron Cooper's interception was returned for a 32-yard touchdown, making the score 31-22 with less than three minutes left in the game.
Have a Day Mr. Cooper 🤝
— San Diego State Football (@AztecFB) October 4, 2026
📺: @TheCW_Sports #AztecFAST 🍢 x #BeTheA1pha 🐺 x #TheClimb 📈 pic.twitter.com/uQQffo95ut
Freshman running back Josiah Lucas rushed 21 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the win, filling in for the program's leading rushers in Javion Kinnard (312 yards) and Lucky Sutton (150 yards), who were both out.
It wasn't pretty — just like a mumps outbreak — but San Diego State found a way to win against Texas State due to timely plays and the ability to capitalize on mistakes.
"The football gods have not really favored us with the injury luck," Lewis told reporters Sept. 30. "Guys have got to be ready to step into the light when the time comes. … We've been given a nice storm here. But this too shall pass, and we've got to be able to see our way through it."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: San Diego State football overcomes mumps, injuries to upset Texas State
