Spartans’ great year ends with nightmare
San Jose State knocked around by Ball State while playing without key starters, coaches
San Jose State's historic football season was defined by everything breaking right amid a relentless series of unprecedented challenges.
Thursday, the magic ran out in epic fashion.
With five starters and both the defensive and offensive coordinators suddenly “unavailable” for the game — news the school confirmed minutes after kickoff — San Jose State was crushed by Ball State 34-13 in the Arizona Bowl.
The Spartans' bid for their first perfect season in 81 years ended in the first quarter as Ball State, which had never won a bowl game, charged to a 27- 0 lead against its deflated opponent.
It is unclear when San Jose State learned that it would be without six players, including Mountain West defensive player of the year Cade Hall, and offensive coordinator Ryan McGiven and defensive coordinator Derrick Odum.
Their absence was announced on the team's pregame radio show. In addition to Hall, the Spartans were without receiver Bailey Gaither, safety Tre Jenkins and offensive linemen Kyle Hoppe and Tyler Stevens — all starters.
Kick returner Shamar Garret also was unavailable.
A San Jose State spokesman said shortly before kickoff that he could acknowledge who was “unavailable” once the game started and added, “It would be inappropriate to attribute ‘not available' strictly to COVID-19 issues or protocols.”
The Spartans (7-1) lost a sixth starter on the first offensive snap when tight end Derrick Deese Jr. landed on his head after catching a short pass and being upended.
Deese spent time in the medical tent before walking back to the locker room while holding his neck. The tight end was out of uniform when he returned to the sidelines in the second quarter.
Without much of its core, San Jose State looked like an entirely different team. By the end of the first quarter, the Spartans trailed
27- 0.
The mistakes piled up quickly. Nick Starkel threw a pick six to all- conference cornerback Antonio Phillips shortly after Deese went down. Punter Elijah Fischer badly shanked one punt for just 24 yards, then had another attempt blocked. Both times, it led to touchdowns for Ball State (7-1).
Ball State also benefited from luck when receiver Antwan Davis hauled in an 11-yard reception in which his foot appeared to go out of bounds. The catch was not overturned, setting up a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Tye Evans.
SJSU briefly lost Starkel in the second quarter when the quarterback limped off with a knee injury. Before he returned, Nick Nash led the Spartans’ best drive, but then threw an interception in the red zone.