Air Force’s ground attack runs around, over Spartans

The San Jose State Spartans knew what was coming Friday night, yet they were unable to stop it.

Air Force, the seventhbest rushing team in the nation heading into the game, ran over San Jose State (2-2, 0-1 Mountain West) on the way to a 4124 win over the Spartans in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Falcons (3-1) operated their option offense to perfection, ripping through the San Jose State defense for 382 yards on the ground, deflating the Spartans after last week’s big win at Arkansas.

“I thought our kids played hard,” head coach Brent Brennan said. “I’m hopeful that we gained something from this. Credit to Air Force. They played better than us.”

Here are takeaways from San Jose State’s deflating loss:

AIR FORCE RUNS WILD >> San Jose State has seen this before. In 2016, the Spartans were embarrassed when Air Force trampled them with 458 rushing yards in a 4138 loss at CEFCU Stadium. On Friday night, the Falcons picked up right where they left off, finishing the game with 382 rushing yards to go along with five rushing touchdowns. Brennan acknowledged the defense faced a severe run threat several days before the game, stating that it would take detail-oriented execution to stop Air Force’s triple option. But even though the Spartans knew what they were up against, their defense, which had allowed 165.6 rushing yards per game in their first three games, couldn’t contain the Air Force charge.

“They did a great job of running the ball,” Brennan said. “Whenever you play a team like this, you know that’s going to be part of it. What they do is so different than what you ever see.”

Part of the issue was San Jose State’s formations, which routinely put two safeties up high, away from the line of scrimmage. Facing sixand seven-man fronts, Air Force ran wild.

Air Force used nine ball carriers in running its triple option. Senior fullback Taven Birdow led the way with 124 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.

The run also opened up the passing game for the Falcons, who threw the ball just 10 times for 131 yards. This included a 64-yard strike from quarterback Donald Hammond III to Geraud Sanders for the longest touchdown of the game. FOURTH-DOWN STRUGGLES >> The Spartans came out firing, similar to how they did in the first half against Arkansas last week. On a 10play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the game, San Jose State looked smooth, methodical and calculated. But after that drive, the offense found itself unable to sustain drives, turning the ball over on downs four times.

On back-to-back drives in the first half, both of 11 plays or more, San Jose State found itself in fourth-down situations inside of the Falcons’ 30 yard. And in each situation, the Spartans didn’t convert, giving the ball to Air Force without any payoff.

In the third quarter, the Spartans were snuffed on fourth down on each of their first two possessions, bringing them to 0 for 4 in the game.

“All of those plays were huge drive stoppers,” Brennan said. “Those are those moments where your playmakers have to make a play, and we didn’t do that.”

NICK NASH SHINES IN RELIEF >> San Jose State only put 10 points on the scoreboard by the time the fourth quarter rolled around. Enter freshman backup quarterback Nick Nash. In the final 7:48 of the game, Nash led two touchdown drives, completing five of his seven passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Nash was the Spartans’ leading rusher with 62 yards on 11 carries. He came into the game with 141 yards rushing on 17 carries in relief duty of Josh Love.

While the San Jose State is confident in Love, who finished the night with 198 yards on 19-of-35 passing, Nash should be an early front runner for the starting job in 2020 after Love graduates.

“We’re all excited about Nick,” Brennan said. “He’s done a nice job with what we’ve asked him to do during the games that are being played.”

NO BACK-TO-BACK WINS FOR SJSU >> The last time the Spartans scored back-to-back wins in 2014 when San Jose State beat the University of Nevada Las Vegas and Wyoming in consecutive weeks. Since then, the Spartans have had 12 chances to stack back-toback wins and have lost on each occasion.

After beating Arkansas last week, Brennan said that he wants to build a culture in San Jose that revolves around winning and winning consistently. For that to happen, the Spartans have to take advantage of opportunities to stack wins.

On average, the Spartans have been outscored by 24 points in games after wins while Brennan has been at the helm.

The Spartans return home Friday to take on New Mexico.