Spartans didn’t let schedule havoc interfere with game
San Jose State has had one constant during this roller coaster of a season: winning.
Despite having two games canceled, despite its schedule constantly changing, despite being unable to practice or play at home because of county coronavirus restrictions, San Jose State keeps doing what it does.
Saturday in Honolulu, the Spartans defeated Hawaii 35-24, improving to 5- 0 for the first time since 1939.
With one regular-season game left, Friday against Nevada, San Jose State is in a prime position to qualify for the Mountain West championship game for the first time in program history.
Friday’s game with the Wolf Pack will be played at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
The Spartans moved up but not into the AP Top 25. San Jose State received 66 points to land in the also receiving votes category. They are behind only NC State (100) and tied with Marshall for what essentially is 27th place. Spartans are highest ranked of Mountain West teams, ahead of Boise State and this week’s opponent, Nevada.
Here are five takeaways from the latest win:
HOT START >> No one would’ve been surprised if San Jose State came out slow. In addition to having their previous two games canceled and declared a no- contest because of COVID-19 issues within the Fresno State and Boise State programs, the Spartans had their itinerary shredded when Santa Clara County banned contact sports last week through at least Dec. 21. Plus, an unexpected trip to Hawaii also meant dealing with humidity and heat.
Instead, San Jose State, which was supposed to host the Rainbow Warriors before the new restrictions, started the game about as perfect as possible.
On the Spartans’ first three offensive possessions, they scored touchdowns. Nick Starkel hit Isaiah Holiness in the flat for a twoyard TD to get the scoring started, then Tyler Nevens had scored on the ground from 72 and 10 yards.
San Jose State was just as good on defense, holding Hawaii to three consecutive three-andouts to start the game. The Spartans held the Rainbow Warriors to 14 total yards in those drives, and quarterback Chevan Cordeiro didn’t complete a single pass.
“We came in at halftime, and I was just talking to the guys and I said, ‘How good does this feel? We’re playing football again,’” Starkel said.
ROBINSON & NEVENS >> With every subsequent game, San Jose State has run the ball just a little bit better. The improvement came to a crescendo on Saturday as the Spartans logged 288 rushing yards, the most the team has gained in a single game in coach Brent Brennan’s four seasons.
“It was just awesome to see that O-line come together and Tyler Nevens have a great day and Kairee have a great day and score touchdowns and run for over 100 yards and just our O-line to feel that, pretty special,” Brennan said.
Nevens and Kairee Robinson, each of whom had career games, were the catalysts. Nevens had 152 rushing yards and two TDs, including a 72-yard run in the first quarter. Robinson had a career-high 143 all-purpose yards (111 rushing) and a touchdown of his own.
For San Jose State, it was quite the flip in offensive philosophy. Entering Saturday, the Spartans averaged 33.8 passing attempts to 28.0 rushing attempts per game. Against Hawaii, they attempted
46 runs, their most of the season, to 25 passes, their fewest of the season.
“We’ve just been trying to get this run game going this whole year,” Robinson said. “We’re just excited to have a big game rushing.” GUTSY PLAY CALLS >> Though San Jose State ended up winning by double digits, there was a moment when it seemed as if the game might be getting away from the Spartans.
After San Jose State scored the first 21 points, the Rainbow Warriors responded with 17 unanswered points of their own.
With its advantage down to four points In the third quarter,
San Jose State put together an eight-minute, 18-play touchdown drive that gave itself some breathing room.
The marathon series included several clutch play calls.
The first came early in the drive. On fourth-and- one from their 39-yard line, the Spartans went for it. They handed the ball to Nevens, who ran for three yards to move the chains.
A short time later, San Jose State found itself in a similar situation — fourth-and- one at the Hawaii 25-yard line. Again, they handed the ball to Nevens. Again, he converted, this time with a 2-yard run.
Along with those conversions, Starkel completed a 12-yard pass to Isaiah Hamilton on third-andeight, keeping the drive alive and setting up Robinson’s touchdown. KENYON REED’S FIRST START >> Entering play, the Spartans were allowing 15.3 points per game, the fewest in the Mountain West. Instead of sticking with the status quo, Brennan pulled a wild card, inserting cornerback Kenyon Reed into the starting lineup.
Reed, a redshirt freshman who transferred from Kansas State, had only appeared in one game this season, a cameo against UNLV. Despite the limited ingame reps with San Jose State, Reed made an impact.
On defense, he had five tackles and helped break up several passes. In the first quarter, Reed blew up Hawaii’s Jared Smart as he attempted to make a catch, knocking the ball out of the receiver’s hands.
Reed also had two punt returns for 29 yards, including a 21-yard return in the first quarter that he might have taken all the way to the end zone if he didn’t trip. WHAT NOW? >> With San Jose State’s penultimate game in the books, the team now turns its sights to Nevada (6-1).
Under normal circumstances, San Jose State would fly back to San Jose after a road game. But because of Santa Clara County’s ban on contact sports and 14- day quarantine restrictions for anyone who travels outside a 150-mile county radius, returning home won’t be possible if San Jose State wants to continue its season.
So the Spartans flew to Las Vegas after the win and will set up its temporary home base at a hotel and prepare for the Wolf Pack.
San Jose State has finals this week.
“We have this incredible faculty at San Jose State and they’re all working their butts off,” Brennan said. “But you’ve got freshmen in college that have never even taken their general ed classes. So we’ve got to dive into that this week also.”