College football continues to be in a state of change. Fewer teams are now hosting dedicated spring games, and that was the case Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium when San Diego State University hosted the wrap-up to its spring practice season with the Aztec FAST Showcase.
A seven-on-seven scrimmage capped the event for those seeking a more traditional spring ending. The remainder of the showcase was pure fun for the participants, playing out almost like a multi-event challenge, part serious and part playground antics.
Seven stations comprised Saturday’s course layout with 14 teams boasting between five and six athletes on each squad competing at each station for the right to claim the top prize: a steak dinner. The other six teams earned hot dogs.
It was a laid-back afternoon with a fun focus on the final event of the spring. But being college football, there was a tangible element of competitiveness.
SDSU used its 15th and final practice to conduct the Aztec Games, which pitted the 14 “boat” teams that had been together since January against one another in a round-robin-style tournament.
Each station lasted seven minutes and featured games of dodgeball, tic-tac-toe, quarterback accuracy, relay race, move the mountain and punt/catch, with the other station consisting of the players interacting and signing autographs for fans.
“In everything that we do, you’re going to feel who we are, and you’re going to feel our culture, and you’re going to experience what we’re about, which is that energy, the desire to be around one another, the genuine happiness to do what we get to do,” SDSU head coach Sean Lewis said. “That shines through, whether it’s playing tic-tac-toe wearing pennies or catching punts or guys being dudes, playing a little 7-on-7 and having fun in our beautiful home here in Snapdragon Stadium and in paradise on a beautiful day. I wanted our fans to feel that regardless of what it is, it’s important because we’re doing it, and that’s what our culture looks like.”
Teams were named after assistant coaches/analysts.
No Sutton Movements, led by defensive analyst Tyler Sutton, won the rights to the steak dinner. Team members included edge player Ryan Henderson (Canyon Springs/Las Vegas), cornerback Jelani Whitmore (Rialto), cornderback Xavier Hamlet (Grossmont College), offensive lineman Christian Jones (San Luis Obispo) and defensive lineman Sam Benjamin (Oro Valley, Ariz.).
We Don’t LOSE, led by defensive line coach David Lose, came in second place with five points. The runner-ups included linebacker Tano Letuli (Cathedral Catholic by way of the Otay Ranch Broncos), cornerback Prince Williams (Westlake Village), safety Josiah Cox Lincoln), edge player Malik Gucake (Sacramento) and offensive lineman Dallas Fincher (Grand Rapids. Mich.).
Ten players with local ties to San Diego County participated, including four Metro Conference alumni: cornerback Isaiah Buxton and receiver Jerry McClure, both from Mater Dei Catholic High School, and linebacker Jayden Kendricks and edge player Trey White. both from Eastlake High School.
Letuli keyed SDSU with 70 tackles (38 unassisted tackles, 32 assists) with one interception and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
White tallied 60 tackles (40 first hits and 20 assists), including 19 taclkes for a loss and a team-leading 12.5 sacks.
Hamlet and running back Christian Washington (Helix Charter) both represented East County. Washington returned to his hometown after three seasons at Coastal Carolina where he rushed for 310 yards on 73 carries in 2022 and 537 yards with five touchdowns last season.
Washington rushed for 4,060 yards and 50 touchdowns during four seasons with the Highlanders and tacked on 449 receiving yards and eight scores.
Other county locals included running back Lucky Sutton (Cathedral Catholic), offensive lineman Jett Thomas (Lincoln) and long snapper Tyson Chavez (San Marcos).
“Coach says all the time that our practices are for us and that today is for the community,” said senior quarterback Kyle Crum, who competed for Tres Hermanos under defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Rob Aurich. “It’s for us, too, but it’s really to put on a show, let everybody have a little bit of fun and get excited about the upcoming season. I think we got our work in during our first 14 practices, and it was cool to just come out today and have a little fun.”
“I feel like it signified the work that we put in throughout the spring by making this last day a really fun day for the guys,” added senior cornerback Chris Johnson, who suited up for McGorsick’s League of Chaos under safeties coach C.J. McGorsick. “We’ve probably already had five or six scrimmages during spring ball. Coming here just proved that we came together as a team during those other four or five weeks so that we could just come here and have fun.”
Johnson ranked second on SDSU defensively with 67 tackles (49 unassisted stops and 18 assists) to go with one interception and three forced fumbles.
Following the Aztec Games, there was a 7-on-7 competition with players often switching positions and even different sides of the ball. A couple of interceptions were returned for touchdowns to highlight the contest for fans.
SDSU kicks off the 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 28, against the Stony Brook University Seawolves. Start time is to be determined at Snapdragon Stadium.
The Aztecs (3-9 overall last season, 2-5 in conference) will be playing their final season in the Mountain West Conference before making the jump to Pacific Athletic Conference play in 2026. The eye will be on the prize to winning a final MW championship and bowl berth.
Photos by Phillip Brents
