San Jose State powers into title game
Spartans’ comeback for win latest chapter in remarkable season
A season that began with typically low outside expectations for San Jose State’s football team has nearly reached the mountaintop.
Picked 10th in a poll by the website Mountain West Wire just before the rebooted season began in late October, San Jose Stare has earned a date with the team chosen first.
The Spartans will play Boise State in the Mountain West championship
game next Saturday because they found a way to keep their magical season going Friday night after an un- Spartan-like — at least in 2020 — first half against Nevada.
Through 30 minutes at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas — San Jose State’s temporary home because of Santa Clara County coronavirus restrictions — the undefeated Spartans looked as if the grueling nature of a season filled with endless challenges had finally set in.
What followed in their 30-20 victory was a testament to the team’s identity.
San Jose State (6- 0) outscored Nevada 23- 0 in the second half. The Spartans erased a 13-point deficit, their largest of the season, with sudden recharges to their running attack and pass rush.
“We broke it down really simple at halftime,” coach Brent Brennan said. “We need to fix two things. We need to fix our physicality, and we need to play for each other.”
The Spartans’ victory was all the more remarkable given the context
of the entire season, from the two canceled games to the malleable schedule to their nomadic status that — because of county orders — included a 10- day stay at Humboldt State before the opener in October and now a week-plus relocation to Las Vegas.
“We’re doing things that other teams have never done before,” running back Tyler Nevens said after he ran for 184 yards and a touchdown in 12 carries against Nevada. “Our struggles that we’ve gone (through) throughout the season shaped us.”
Here are some takeaways from the latest win:
1. FIRST-HALF BLUES >> San Jose State’s start was far from last week’s dominant 21-point first-quarter eruption against Hawaii.
There were some nice plays Friday — Nick Starkel found Jermaine Braddock for a 33-yard touchdown — but the Spartans were not crisp.
Matt Mercurio badly shanked a 34-yard fieldgoal attempt to the left.
Starkel threw a rare interception.
Nick Nash couldn’t convert a third-and- one and a fourth-and- one on consecutive quarterback keeps.
The pass rush kept hitting an impenetrable wall.
The running game was worse than all of that. The Spartans had four yards in nine attempts in the first half, including minus-11 in the second quarter.
San Jose State’s saving grace came on the final play before the break. Brandon Talton, who made field goals from 43 and 42 yards, missed a 25-yard chip shot that would’ve given Nevada a 23-7 halftime lead.
2. A FRESHMAN’S SPARK >> Talton’s missed field foal could technically be considered the start of San Jose State’s run, a morale boost right after the Spartans stopped the Wolf Pack
in the red zone.
But the real spark came from Shamar Garrett, who one year ago this weekend was leading powerhouse De La Salle High School of Concord into a state championship game.
Garrett began the second half with a 98-yard kickoff return for his first college touchdown, darting through the middle before finding an opening on the left side to slice the deficit to 20-14.
“That was the f lame that sparked it all,” Nevens said.
Starkel, who sits in on special teams meetings, knew Nevada’s schemes on kickoffs and had a feeling Garrett might break one. The coaches knew, too. “This is a look,” they said to one another through their headsets.
After Garrett sped to the end zone, Starkel and quarterbacks coach Ryan Gunderson turned toward each other and said, “That was the look.”
3. NEVENS’ DOMINANCE >> Brennan wanted physical play in the second half. Nevens answered the call.
The 6-foot, 225-pound senior exploded for two 69yard runs, the first went for a touchdown, the second brought back 15 yards after a sideline interference call.
Let’s rewind to the first one. Nevens lowered his shoulder and flattened a defender near the line of scrimmage, a bone-rattling collision that sprung the running back into the open field.
The rest was all wheels. “He’s obviously added a dimension to us in terms of his power running, but then you see some speed — right? — when he’s housing 80-yard runs,” Brennan said. “Everyone’s like, ‘ Woah, Tyler’s got jets.’”
Nevens’ 184 rushing yards Friday followed a 152-yard game against Hawaii last week.
“When we run the ball, we stay core to what we do and our assignments,” Nevens said. “Eventually, one’s gonna pop.”