James Madison beats San Diego State 26-13 behind Camden Coleman

James Madison beat San Diego State 26-13 on the road, pairing Camden Coleman’s efficient passing with a defense that turned two San Diego State interceptions into control of a late game. The Aztecs had a 181-yard rushing performance from Javion Kinnard, but James Madison limited the rest of the offense and protected its lead.

Coleman completed 19 of 27 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a score, while Braeden Wisloski led the Dukes with five catches for 90 yards. James Madison built its margin through a mix of field goals, Coleman’s rushing touchdown and two touchdown passes to Cole Keller.

San Diego State’s Kinnard carried 33 times for 181 yards and a touchdown, a line that kept the Aztecs within reach. But quarterback Jayden Denegal completed 18 of 33 passes for 209 yards, threw one touchdown and was intercepted twice. Those turnovers prevented San Diego State from converting its best rushing work into a complete comeback.

The turning point came when James Madison converted its defensive pressure into a two-score cushion. The Dukes did not need to stop Kinnard on every carry; they needed to deny the explosive pass and avoid giving San Diego State short fields. Coleman’s passing kept the Aztecs from stacking the box, and the two interceptions closed the most promising San Diego State possessions.

James Madison built its 26 points in layers. Camden Coleman's 4-yard run opened the scoring, and Morgan Suarez added field goals from 46 and 32 yards as the Dukes took control without needing a single long drive to carry the night. Coleman then found Cole Keller for a 7-yard touchdown with 30 seconds left in the half, although the two-point try failed. San Diego State answered through Javion Kinnard's 3-yard run, cutting into the margin, but James Madison came back with Coleman's 20-yard touchdown pass to Keller.

The Aztecs' last scoring answer came on Jayden Denegal's 14-yard pass to Nathan Acevedo. James Madison kept the lead from becoming fragile because Coleman completed 19 of 27 for 246 yards and two touchdown passes, while Kinnard's 33 carries produced 181 yards and one score. Denegal threw two interceptions, and those empty possessions mattered more than the Aztecs' rushing total. The Dukes' defense gave up Kinnard's steady gains, then closed the passing lanes that San Diego State needed to turn those gains into a comeback. That is why the road win held at 26-13.