It is difficult to predict when a players time will come to impact the game for his team.

“At some point in time your time is going to come,” San Diego State coach Sean Lewis said.

And when it does?

“Be ready,” Lewis said.

Several SDSU players with little or no playing time had to be ready over the weekend against Washington State.

That’s because more than half a dozen starters went out at some point with injuries or were missing altogether after violating team rules earlier in the week.

Backup quarterback Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson came on with five minutes remaining in the first quarter when starter Danny O’Neil was injured. Tupou’ata-Johnson guided the Aztecs to their first score, holding things down until O’Neil returned with two minutes remaining in the first half.

Tupou’ata-Johnson was among the biggest examples of perseverance this year, moving from fourth on the depth chart to second. He got a start at Cal when O’Neil was sidelined for a game.

Lewis said Tupouata-Johnsons mindset was: Hey, I’m going to position myself and I’m going to train myself and every time I move through the building and interact with my teammate, when I’m in the community, I’m going to act like I’m QB1.”

Tight end Mikey Harrison stepped up at a position down three players from the start of the season and was targeted a season-high eight times with six receptions.

“It’s not like rising to the occasion,” Lewis said. “He’s trained and ready for that moment, and he seizes it.

Lewis said running back Cam Davis is the same way. Davis spelled starter Marquez Cooper briefly in the first quarter and busted off a 38-yard run.

“Theres a seriousness, there’s a competitive maturity in the way he goes about his business,” Lewis said. “Obviously, he has a great skill set with some explosive playmaking ability. …

“He jumps in and he’s good to go.”

Offensive lineman Saipale Fuimaono was a candidate to redshirt and develop, but was called upon when a depleted offensive line was hit with more injuries — to starters Tyler McMahon and Nate Williams on the right side of the O-line.

“When we talk about execute with purpose together, it’s not about best for me, its best for we,” Lewis said, “And he’s jumping and he does a great job anchoring the right guard position and does an exceptional job with that.

Defensive backs Jelani Whitmore and Josh Hunter were prepared to step in against the Cougars when starters Chris Johnson and Deshawn McCuin left for a time with injuries.

“It’s really cool to see that growth amongst everyone within the organization as we move forward,” Lewis said. “It happens to be showing up in a big-time way, which is really cool.”

What will be even more cool for the coach, he said, is when players take habits and practices they’ve learned in football and apply them to life.

“When these guys graduate, when they go off in the real world,” Lewis said, “they don’t know who they’re going to be interacting with in this beautiful community that is going to be the next relationship, the next connection. …

“Those things are going to happen and because of the mindset and the culture (in the program), its going to help them be great players right here and now, but it’s going to help them be great men in the future. And that’s really, really exciting.”

Field issues

Fans took to social media during and after the Washington State game to comment about the poor condition of the Snapdragon Stadium field.

Field quality has been an issue throughout the fall (and before) for football games and soccer matches.

Photos from Saturday nights game pictured some plays in which sand was kicking up like players were running on the beach.

One media member watching the game on TV said it “looked horrific” before asking Lewis for his thoughts on the field conditions.

Lewis began by saying he wants everything the players experience to be on a “championship level.”

“From the people, the facilities, the processes, the support that they have in all areas, which they experience on a day-to-day basis,” he said.

While asking the players to measure up to a standard of behavior and discipline, Lewis said, “I think it’s critically important that we as the leaders of the university and the leaders of the community and those in all areas that impact our kids, that that’s at a championship level as well. Well make sure that it’s that as we go forward.”

Lewis was then asked, if he would call the field on Saturday night at a championship level?

“Were all looking to get better,” he said

Notable

• SDSU edge Trey White was credited with a half sack against Washington State, giving him 11 1/2 sacks for the season.

White, a sophomore from Eastlake High School, continues to lead the nation in the category. Virginia Tech’s Antwaun Powell-Ryland is second with 11 and South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard is third with 8 1/2.

• SDSU slipped to 7-8 against Pac-12 teams since 2016. The Aztecs were a sparkling 7-2 through the 2021 season before losing six straight. It would be seven straight had Cal not moved to the ACC this season.

• The Aztecs have outscored opponents 45-14 off turnovers this season.