SAN DIEGO -- Since head coach Sean Lewis arrived on The Mesa, he has consistently stated that part of the San Diego State football team’s pursuit of excellence in all phases of life will come through the strength in unity and accountability of the team.
Wide receivers Nate Bennett and Mekhi Shaw as well as tight end Michael Harrison provided exactly that, stepping into larger roles as they replaced a pair of starters who did not dress in the Aztecs (3-4, 2-0 Mountain West) 29-26 loss to Washington State on Saturday night.
“It was a coach's decision where we have incredibly high standards and expectations in our program that everyone knows very, very clearly,” Lewis said.
“Each guy that was not dressed this evening, all three separate, completely different situations that are all unique for one another. Each individual knows they've been talked about and it's been handled in house internally with all of it.”
Wide receiver Louis Brown IV and tight end Jude Wolfe were on the sideline but did not dress for the contest, as well as quarterback A.J. Duffy.
So, with the Aztecs top yardage receiver and main tight end target out, the passing game was open for more key contributions to pair with the ever steady Ja'Shaun Poke and emerging Jordan Napier.
Bennett had his most catches in a game for the Scarlet and Black, hauling in five including his first SDSU touchdown on a 27-yard completion from fellow wide receiver Napier. The 73 yards were one off Bennett's season high.
It was also the biggest receiving game of the season from Shaw, who has primarily been used as a punt returner thus far after dealing with an injury.
All three of Shaw catches went for first downs, including a 13-yard grab after the pass interference penalty first down on SDSU’s scoring drive before halftime and another 13 yarder before the Napier-to-Bennett score in the third quarter.
After earning Honorable Mention All-Mountain West last season with 28 catches for 375 yards, being able to incorporate Shaw more into the passing game could give quarterback Danny O’Neil another reliable option.
Harrison’s six grabs and 46 yards were both personal as well as single game Aztec tight end highs for the year.
“When you have those types of guys, you can do a lot to where you don't have to deviate from who you are,” Lewis said.
It’s no surprise that all three were able to meet the moment when called upon, considering the track record of success each has.
What’s perhaps the best sign for the culture of the program is that Bennett, Shaw and Harrison were so impactful in doing so stepping forward for and picking up the team after missteps by teammates.
“A big piece, obviously, is to go win these football games, but a bigger piece for it for us and for the championship culture that we're establishing is to grow great human beings off of it,” Lewis said. “Those guys know what it is, the team knows what it is, embraced it, the team responded (and) obviously played incredibly hard tonight.”
While another wincingly close loss stings for this season, the standards being set and held to — with players stepping up when the situation demands it — will only strengthen a program that is building for much bigger wins in the future.
