San Diego, CA
Aztecs football notebook: SDSU running back Kenan Christon out 6-8 weeks following surgery
San Diego State running back Kenan Christon’s ankle injury is more severe than originally believed.
Christon will not only miss the Aug. 31 season opener against Texas A&M-Commerce but could be sidelined until midseason.
Christon had surgery this week on the ankle and is expected to be out 6-8 weeks, according to sources.
A six-week recovery would put Christon back on the field in time for SDSU’s fifth game of the season, an Oct. 5 home game against Hawaii.
If he needs eight weeks to recover, Christon would return during the Aztecs’ second bye week and wouldn’t play until the seventh game, at home Oct. 26 against Washington State.
Christon was originally diagnosed with a high ankle sprain after being injured Aug. 10 when a defensive player rolled on his left foot in the first half of SDSU’s intrasquad scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium. He left the field that day wearing a boot and on crutches.
Two days later, Christon was spotted at practice wearing a boot and using a scooter to keep his ankle elevated. He has not been seen since during the portions of practice open to the media, including Monday’s workout.
Practice is closed the remainder of the week. SDSU coach Sean Lewis will not be available for comment until Monday of next week.
Christon, who starred in football and track and field at Madison High School, was second on the Aztecs in rushing last season with 378 yards.
He is SDSU’s top returning pass catcher after totaling 29 receptions for an additional 201 yards and also returned kicks for the Aztecs.
Injuries to Christon, junior Cam Davis and true freshman Cincere Rhaney means SDSU’s robust running backs room is down to three scholarship players.
Davis has been slowed by a leg injury. Rhaney is out for the season after having surgery for a torn ACL suffered during a summer workout.
The Aztecs remain solid at the position, however, led by graduate transfer Marquez Cooper, senior Jaylon Armstead and sophomore Lucky Sutton.
Cooper is the NCAA’s active career rushing leader after back-to-back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Armstead and Sutton combined for more than 600 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago.
Christon’s absence could open the door for Cooper to get more carries, although SDSU running backs coach Darian Hagan said during training camp two weeks ago that “you roll with the hot hand and sub accordingly.”
“Right now, it’s all by committee,” Hagan said. “Everybody gets a chance to go in there and show what you can do. … As long as you’re consistent. Consistency will outplay competition any day of the week.”
Watch lists
All of the preseason national watch lists have been announced and the Aztecs have nine players mentioned across seven lists.
Cooper appeared on both the Maxwell Award (best overall player) and Doak Walker Award (top running back) lists and Christen was included on the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player) list.
Wide receiver Mekhi Shaw is a Wuerffel Trophy (community service combined with athletic and academic achievement) nominee.
Long snapper Ryan Wintermeyer is among those considered for the Patrick Mannelly Award (top long snapper).
Cornerback Bryce Phillips and defensive end Marlem Louis both were included on the East-West Shrine Bowl list.
The Polynesian Play of the Year list includes three Aztecs, defensive tackle Tupu Alualu, and offensive linemen Myles Murao and Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli.
Season ticket update
Just more than 9,600 season tickets have been sold with 10 days remaining before the 2024 season opener. That is fewer than 100 more than last week, when the Aztecs reported 9,535 in season ticket sales.
SDSU had surpassed its goal of 9,300 season-ticket sales, but it appears the Aztecs will fall short of matching last season’s total of 10,307.
Game week mode
SDSU moves into game week mode on Sunday, when the countdown begins to the program’s 102nd season opener. The Aztecs will have Mondays off, then follow a morning practice routine during the week, just as they did during training camp. Practice time will move from mid-morning to early morning, concluding by 11 a.m.
When camp opened, Lewis said: “I think it brings a really good continuity and consistency to the kids’ schedules. We’re able to get them up, get them fed, go through the majority of all of our mandatory football activities.
“Then make sure that they’re pointed in the right direction to go be great citizens and achieve great things on campus.”
Originally Published:
San Diego, CA
UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance
UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)
San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.
The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.
The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.
San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.
Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Diego, CA
Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.
The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.
Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.
Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.
The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.
Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
San Diego, CA
SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.
The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.
The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.
Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.
The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.
Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.
Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.
“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.
The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.
Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.
“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.
Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.
“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.
Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.
Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.
“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”
Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.
“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.
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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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