Huge third quarter not enough for SJSU
SAN JOSE >> You’ve heard of a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance. San Jose State delivered a Jekyll-Hyde-Jekyll performance in its latest loss.
It was a bewildering Saturday night that found the Spartans down 28-0 at halftime, up 30-28 heading into the fourth quarter and 0-5 on the season after a 42-30 loss to Colorado State at CEFCU Stadium.
“I really think that’s 100 percent on me.” Coach Brent Brennan said of the terrible start. “I’ve got to get ’em ready coming out of the blocks, and we didn’t do that today.”
If there’s such a thing of a team playing up to its competition, then playing down to its competition, this was it. The Rams, entering 1-4, represented one of the most winnable games left on the schedule.
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS >> The Spartans scored 30 points in one quarter — and none in the others.
Tyler Nevens returned at running back and went for 73 yards on 20 carries. The bad news was the Spartans were at minus-30 yards rushing in the first half.
Josh Love led four consecutive touchdown drives in the third quarter, putting the Spartans ahead 30-28, but he took a terrible beating the other three quarters. Love was sacked six times and was hit hard many other times.
Of the offensive line, Brennan said: “We’re so far from being good there. We need to fix that now! He’s (Love) a tough kid and it has to be better for him.”
Love finished 17 of 40 for 232 yards with three TDs and two interceptions.
SJSU’s Tre Hartley topped all receivers (2 touchdown catches, 96 yards and 4 receptions). RUN OVER >> Colorado State’s game plan was to run on the Spartans and that’s exactly what happened.
The size and athleticism of the Rams’ offensive line was the difference. They were successful setting the tone of the game from the get-go. The Rams had averaged 93 rushing yards in
their previous four games, but put up 219 yards Saturday night.
LITTLE STAR >> Thai Cottrell, the 5-foot-7 senior, gave the Spartans a consistent spark for the second week in a row.
His 177 return yards (kicks and punts) flipped the field several times for the Spartans and made the Rams avoid kicking to him. With six catches (41 yards), Cottrell staked his claim to the wide receiver job left by Bailey Gaither, who looks to be out for an extended period.
• Colorado State got four touchdown passes from senior quarterback K.J. CartaSamuels, a South Bay native who starred at Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose.
• The announced attendance was 13,802.