Some quick hits following San Diego State\u2019s FanFest scrimmage Thursday night at Snapdragon Stadium:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Starting quarterback Jayden Denegal<\/strong> and backup Bert Emanuel Jr.<\/strong> both were 6-for-13 in the scrimmage. Denegal passed for 55 yards. Emanuel passed for 134 yards, most of it on an 86-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Myles Kitt-Denton in the second quarter.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the call came in I had a feeling I\u2019d be able to do something with it,\u201d Kitt-Denton said. \u201cBert made a great pass, the line held up, I just did what I was trained to do, took the ball and tried not to hit my head on the goal post.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Junior quarterback Kyle Crum<\/strong> had the other touchdown pass of the workout, pulling back a handoff and tossing a 12-yard pass to freshman tight end Jack Lua<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u2022 Kicker Gabe Plascencia<\/strong> made a 57-yard field goal on the game\u2019s opening drive, but missed a 39-yard attempt to the right later in the period. Backup kicker Nick Clegg<\/strong> made a 41-yard in the first quarter.<\/p>\n \u2022 There was no tackling and plays were whistled dead when a defender brushed (or breathed hard) on a ball carrier. That made it impossible to assess what a running back could have done with a second or third effort on a carry or whether a quarterback could escape a sack.<\/p>\n \u2022 SDSU lost two players \u2014 senior transfer offensive lineman Dallas Fincher<\/strong> (hip) and senior cornerback Jelani Whitmore<\/strong> (knee) \u2014 to season-ending injuries in recent days in practice, which coach Sean Lewis said played a part in the decision not to tackle.<\/p>\n \u201cThose were two guys that were going to be very, very crucial contributors for us,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cThat all led into, obviously, the decision to do what we did tonight and make sure that we\u2019re doing right by the team. \u2026 These guys (on defense), as Deshawn alluded to, they want to go hit. And the offensive guys want to answer that bell as well. Sometimes as they head coach you\u2019ve got to say, \u2018Hey, we\u2019ve got to do what\u2019s best and keep the long-term focus in mind as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 McCuin on playing touch instead of tackle: \u201cWe\u2019ve established ourselves in terms of being able to tackle and being able to be physical. I think (having) that competitive maturity, just stay within the game. Being on defense, I would love to tackle. But we\u2019re getting close to Game 1, so I\u2019m not mad at it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Kitt-Denton on whether he would have been tackled on his touchdown if tackling was allowed: \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 It was last year\u2019s scrimmage when running back Kenan Christon<\/strong> suffered a foot injury that ended up sidelining him for the season. So no surprise that junior running back Lucky Sutton<\/strong>, the projected starter, played only briefly in the first quarter.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s really good, and I don\u2019t want anything to happen to him,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cI need him to be good in 14 days (for the Aug. 28 season opener against Stony Brook).\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Senior cornerback Deshawn McCuin<\/strong> picked off a tipped pass during Emanuel\u2019s first series. McCuin returned it 40 yards to the end zone, though a quick whistle sounded when he was at the 10-yard line.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was most definitely a Pick Six,\u201d McCuin said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time coming for me. It was so good to get out and be back with the guys and play the game I love.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 The scrimmage ended after redshirt freshman transfer safety Hunter Haines<\/strong> intercepted a pass by freshman quarterback Draiden Trudeau<\/strong>.<\/p>\n SCHOLARSHIP EARNED!!!<\/p>\n Congrats, @MikeyWelsh16<\/a>, you\u2019re on scholarship! #AztecFAST<\/a> \ud83c\udf62 x #BeTheA1pha<\/a> \ud83d\udc3a x #TheClimb<\/a> \ud83d\udcc8 pic.twitter.com\/zMW9e2bMKA<\/a><\/p>\n\n