SAN DIEGO – Forty-two points in the second half gave the San Diego Aztecs a 45-14 win over the Texas A&M University-Commerce football team, who led 6-3 at the halftime, on Saturday evening at Snapdragon Stadium.
 
The three points allowed in the first half by the Lions are the least allowed in game since the win over McNeese last season. A&M-Commerce has faced two Football Subdivision (FBS) opponents in the Division I era, and have old three points total in the first half of the two games. Old Dominion was held scoreless in the first half a year ago, while the Aztecs scored just three points on Saturday.
 
The Aztecs outgained the Lions 468-180 in the game, including 321-57 in the second half. San Diego State scored the first points of the game with 28 seconds left in the first quarter on a 50-yard field goal by Gabriel Plascencia.
 
The first points of the season for the Lions came with 59 seconds left in the first half on a one-yard touchdown run from EJ Oakmon (Pflugerville), but the extra point attempt was no good.
 
San Diego State attempted to tie the game going into halftime, but the 48-yard kick from Plascencia was wide right. Coming out of halftime, SDSU re-took the lead with a 47-yard touchdown run from Marquez Cooper.
 
On the ensuing drive, a botched snap at the 27-yard line ended up in the end zone and was recovered by Tano Letuli for a touchdown. The point-after attempt was also no good for the Aztecs.
 
Danny O'Neil connected with Louis Brown IV for a 44-yard touchdown catch, but Eric Rodriguez (Fort Bend Travis) found Drew Allison (Dahlonega, Ga.) in the end zone for a six-yard touchdown and JaiSean McMillian (Mobile, Ala.) caught a pass from Rodriguez for the touchdown to make it 24-14 after three quarters.  
 
The Aztecs scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter as well. Cooper scored a seven-yard rushing touchdown, JD Coffey III caught an interception and returned it back for a 45-yard touchdown, and Jordan Napier caught a eight-yard pass from O'Neil.
 
For the Lions, Rodriguez started the game at quarterback for the first time since November 5, 2022, and went 14 for 20, with a touchdown pass and 105 passing yards. Ron Peace (Malakoff) quarterbacked the final drive of the first half, resulting in a touchdown, and played most of the fourth quarter. He rushed for 21 yards and threw for 12.
 
In his return to the squad for the first time since 2022, Brandon Tucker (DeSoto) was credited with 15 tackles and Lavon Williams (San Antonio – Roosevelt) posted 10 tackles, which included two tackles for loss. Both Williams and Leon Young (Cedar Hill) recorded a sack each in the game.
 
The Lions have dropped the season opener for the second year in a row after having won the previous eight season openers.

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Next week, the Lions are back in California to face UC Davis next Saturday at 7 p.m. pacific, 9 p.m. central.