Spartans fall behind on kickoff, can’t recover
SAN JOSE >> San Jose State has proven to be a resilient bunch this season. Entering Saturday’s game, the Spartans had followed a loss with a win this season every time.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, who celebrated homecoming at CEFCU Stadium in front of 18,285 fans, their luck ran out as they lost for the second week in a row. San Diego State bested the Spartans 27-17.
The Aztecs wasted no time getting on the board as sophomore running back Kaegun Williams returned the game’s opening kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown, silencing a rowdy Spartans fan base, who came close to completely filling the stands for the first time this season.
San Jose State had not allowed a touchdown on a game-opening kickoff since 2009.
Facing an seven-point hole just 14 seconds into the game, the Spartans responded quickly. Marching 66 yards on four plays, San Jose State tied the game 7-7 after quarterback Josh Love connected with freshman running back Kairee Robinson for a 15-yard touchdown.
Stretching out to tap the right pylon, Robinson scored the first touchdown of his career in his first start.
While the focus was on San Diego State’s defense, which came into San Jose allowing the fewest rushing yards per game in the Mountain West (64), the Spartans defensive front stole the show in the first half.
San Jose State’s defense recorded five tackles for loss, including two sacks of quarterback Ryan Agnew, and forced a pair of threeand-outs. Of the Aztecs’ five drives in the first half, three of them ended in punts. On the two occasions that San Diego State was able to put together drives longer than three plays, the Spar- tans held them to field goals from 41 and 28 yards.
For the Spartans’ offense, aside from its opening drive, things bogged down as each of its next four drives ended in punts.
Knowing that its rushing attack, which has struggled all season averaging just over 90 yards per game, would have trouble against the Aztecs, San Jose State looked to air the ball out deep.
Standing in a clean pocket, Love attempted passes long passes to pass catchers Bailey Gaither, Bret Foley and Jaquan Blackwell only to see his passes sail over the heads of his intended targets. Unable to get much else going offensively, the Spartans went into halftime trailing 13-7.
Getting the ball to open the second half, San Jose State orchestrated its second substantial drive. On 14 plays, the Spartans drove 68 yards to set themselves up at the San Diego State 5-yard line.
After a potential touchdown pass to Derrick Deese Jr. was broken up and a goal line strike to Tre Walker fell to the turf, San Jose State was forced to settle for a 25yard field goal from kicker Matt Mercurio.
The kick closed the gap the three points as San Jose State trailed 13-10 midway through the third quarter. Once again killing the Spartans’ momentum, though, San Diego State drove the field on its ensuing possession, gliding 57 yards on 11 plays.
Getting to the red zone for the third time of the night, the Aztecs pushed the ball into the end zone from a yard out as senior running back Juwan Washinton scored his third touchdown of the season.
San Diego State’s second touchdown of the night gave the Aztecs a 20-10 advantage with 4:05 to play in the third quarter.
The Aztecs scored again on its next possession as junior running back Chase Jasmin trotted 50 yards on a toss play, putting them up 27-10 heading into the fourth quarter.
In desperation mode, down three possessions, Love led the Spartans on a 99-yard drive — their longest of the season.
After a 52-yard bomb to Gaither, Love connected with the senior wide receiver again for an eightyard touchdown pass to bring San Jose State within 10 points, still trailing 27-17.
Getting the ball back with 2:17 left in the game, Love’s first pass of the drive was picked off by Aztecs’ linebacker Caden Mcdonald, sealing the victory for San Diego State.
Love finished 19-for-36 passing, with two TDS.