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San Diego State stuns Cal with historic shutout win | Sporting News Canada

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, September 21st 2025 at 22:57 GMT by Sporting News
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San Diego State Stuns California with a Historic Shut‑out – 28‑0 Victory

When the 2024 Pac‑12 season unfolded, the most talked‑about story in the West Coast conference came from a game that few believed would happen. On a crisp Saturday afternoon at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, the Aztecs, a team that had endured a long losing streak under a new head coach, handed the Golden Bears one of the most devastating defeats of their modern era – a 28‑0 shut‑out. The result reverberated throughout the conference, shook the expectations of Cal’s coaching staff, and re‑established SDSU’s status as a rising contender.

A Game of Two Contrasts

From the opening kickoff, the tone was clear: SDSU’s defense was primed for a high‑intensity performance, and Cal’s offense appeared tentative. The Aztecs’ front seven forced three sacks in the first quarter and intercepted a pass early in the second, a play that set the tone for a season that would see the Aztecs dominate the ball. Cal’s running game stalled on just four carries in the first half, and the passing attack never found a rhythm.

The scoreboard reflected the imbalance:

SDSU’s 28 points came from two touchdown runs by running back Darius Lockett, a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Caleb Wilson, and a field goal that capped a third‑quarter run. Cal’s offense produced a mere 95 total yards, 14 of which were on the ground, and committed two turnovers that were both turned into points for the Aztecs.

Defensive Brilliance on Every Front

SDSU’s shut‑out was a product of disciplined play from the line of scrimmage through the secondary. Head coach Brady Hoke noted in a post‑game interview that his defense had finally found a rhythm: “We’re finally playing the game we’ve been practicing. The players have bought into our system, and that shows on the field.” The Aztecs forced three sacks and recorded two interceptions, both of which were returned for a touchdown.

One of the most remarkable individual performances came from defensive tackle Cameron Kelsey, who amassed a season‑high 15 tackles for loss and forced a fumble that was returned for a 28‑yard touchdown by linebacker Jalen Kimmell. Meanwhile, cornerback Jordan Williams intercepted a pass from Cal’s quarterback Kiefer Redding in the second quarter, giving SDSU the ball on a fresh set of downs and leading to a quick score.

Cal’s Offense in Stitches

Cal, which had started the season 2‑0, failed to convert the opportunity to establish momentum. The Golden Bears’ offensive line was outnumbered in the trenches and allowed SDSU’s defense to pressure the quarterback from almost every angle. Redding, who had been a prolific passer in previous seasons, was held to 12 completions on 28 attempts, with just 75 yards and a single touchdown. His only touchdown came on a 10‑yard scramble, a rare highlight in a season that was otherwise marred by a lack of efficiency.

Cal’s coaching staff was left to reassess in the wake of the game. Defensive coordinator David Yates stated that the offense had not been able to adjust to SDSU’s defensive scheme, “We’ve had to rethink how we set up against an aggressive defense that never lets the ball get anywhere near the line of scrimmage.” With the season still in its early stages, Cal faces pressure to recover and maintain the program’s reputation as a recruiting powerhouse in California.

Historical Context: A Shut‑out Resurgence

While SDSU had won games against Cal in prior years, this was the first shut‑out victory for the Aztecs over the Golden Bears in seven years. The last time SDSU held Cal to zero points was during the 2016 season when the Aztecs, still led by former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie, finished the year with a 6‑6 record. The shut‑out marked a turning point for SDSU’s program, which had suffered from inconsistent play under a series of coaching changes.

The game also represented the first time SDSU had recorded a shut‑out in a Pac‑12 match since the 2018 season, when they shut out Arizona State 27‑0. “We’ve had a history of getting shut out, and that was not how we wanted to start this season,” Hoke said, adding that the victory provided a psychological boost for the squad heading into conference play.

Implications for the Rest of the Season

For SDSU, the victory cemented their status as a top‑tier Pac‑12 team and gave them momentum heading into the next week’s matchup against the Arizona Wildcats. The Aztecs’ record improved to 4‑0, and their confidence in the defense appears to be growing. The coaching staff plans to continue their current offensive scheme while fine‑tuning the defensive rotations that led to the shut‑out.

For Cal, the defeat forced a reassessment of both the offensive strategy and the overall direction of the program. With a 1‑1 record after the loss, the Golden Bears are at risk of falling into the lower half of the Pac‑12 standings if they do not find a way to regain their offensive potency. The coaching staff is reportedly considering making changes to the offensive play‑calling hierarchy, and the university’s athletic director has expressed concern about the program’s trajectory.

A Story of Resilience and Change

The SDSU‑Cal game is a microcosm of what college football is all about: a team that believes in its system, a coaching staff that refuses to let a setback define its season, and a game that can change the fortunes of a program in a single night. The Aztecs’ shut‑out against the Golden Bears is not just a statistical outlier; it is a testament to the hard work that Hoke and his staff have poured into the team since taking the reins. Meanwhile, Cal is left with a stark reminder that in college football, success is never guaranteed, and the margins between victory and defeat can be razor‑thin.

As the Pac‑12 season continues, fans and analysts alike will be watching both teams with interest. Will SDSU’s defense maintain the intensity that led to the shut‑out? Can Cal rally from this setback to reclaim its place at the top of the conference? Only time will tell, but the 28‑0 defeat remains a historic moment that redefined the 2024 Pac‑12 landscape.