Aztecs: Stone Saunders Starts Again as SDSU Eyes Defensive Fix

San Diego State quarterback Stone Saunders starts his second consecutive game for the Aztecs on Friday. The redshirt freshman takes the field at Snapdragon Stadium as Jayden Denegal continues to heal an ankle injury. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. against Washington State on the CBS Sports Network.

SDSU enters the game with a 3-5 record, including a 2-2 mark in the Pac-12. The Aztecs face a tight race for bowl eligibility. They must win three of their final four games to reach six total victories. Their recent 56-49 loss to Colorado State complicates that timeline. Washington State enters with a 1-7 record and is looking to end a five-game losing streak.

Saunders threw for 369 yards and two touchdowns in his debut last week. He completed 23 of 33 passes, a 70 percent rate. That passing total stands as the highest ever for an SDSU quarterback in a road debut. However, he threw two interceptions. One of those throws was returned 38 yards for a touchdown. Coach Sean Lewis praised the freshman's decision-making despite the errors.

"He was making good decisions," Lewis said. "Two decisions that were critical errors .. Him explaining why he did what he did, there was sound logic behind it, and he will learn from that as we go."

Wide receiver Jaylon Hawkins leads the receiving corps with 18 catches for 322 yards and three touchdowns. Nate Acevedo and Jordan Napier also contributed in the previous game. The Aztecs converted on third down more than 50 percent of the time, a first for the team this season with Saunders starting.

The defense faces a chance to improve after allowing 549 total yards and 49 points to Colorado State. Tackling was a primary focus in practice this week. Injury concerns loom over the unit. Starting strong safety Jelani McLaughlin and backup nickelback Jalen Thomeson are listed as out. Starting safety Josiah Cox, cornerback Mike Lindsay, and linebacker Tano Letuli are questionable.

Washington State has turned the ball over 13 times this season. The Cougars replaced their starting quarterback two weeks ago. Owen Eshelman has thrown for 480 yards and two touchdowns since taking over. SDSU has committed 12 turnovers, though half occurred in the first three games. The Aztecs have generated 10 defensive takeaways compared to Washington State's five.

Kicking units present a mixed bag. Washington State's Jack Stevens has made eight straight field goals after missing five of his first six attempts. SDSU's Cooper DiLeva is 10-for-11 this season, including a 53-yarder that secured a win over Fresno State. Punters Tashi Dorje for SDSU and Max Dean for Washington State have been consistent. Dorje averages 46.1 yards per punt.

Rain is in the forecast for the weekend. SDSU practiced with wet balls this week to prepare. Lewis described the method as simple, using buckets of water to soak the football during drills. Rain has affected only one of the last 30 games at Snapdragon Stadium. The previous occurrence was last year during a win over Boise State.