Football Hangs Tough With Cornhuskers

Lincoln, Neb.-----For three quarters, San Jose State University put forth one of the better defensive efforts by a team coming into Memorial Stadium. The Spartans came up with an interception by Duke Ihenacho, a Justin Cole fumble recovery and limited the University of Nebraska to 183 yards of total offense.

    The host Cornhuskers (2-0) took advantage of an 85-yard kickoff return by Niles Paul early in the fourth quarter and a pair of interceptions en route to a 35-12 non-conference win over San Jose State (1-1).

    Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh came up with the first of the two Nebraska interceptions off of a pass by Kyle Reed that was tipped into the air by end Zach Potter. Suh spun around at the line of scrimmage, caught the free ball and rumbled 49 yards, giving the Cornhuskers a 14-6 lead with 3:09 left in the first quarter.

    San Jose State opened the scoring with a five-play, 59-yard drive on its second possession of the game. Reed ran 12 yards into the end zone for a 6-0 lead. Will Johnson, who began the game as the Spartans’ placekicker, missed the extra point hitting the right upright.

    Reed played into the fourth quarter, completing 18-of-26 passes for 161 yards before leaving the game with a concussion after being sacked on the team’s first drive of the period.

    Nebraska took the lead on the possession after the Spartans’ only touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run by tailback Quentin Castille, culminating a 9-play, 86-yard drive.

    A pair of Jared Strubeck field goals of 41 and 27 yards, in the second and fourth quarters, respectively, left San Jose State trailing, 14-12, with 12:17 left in the game.

    The Cornhuskers, playing before their 291st consecutive sellout, then pulled away from the Spartans with 21-unanswered points. Paul took Strubeck’s ensuing kickoff and ran 85 yards, giving Nebraska a 21-12 advantage. Roy Helu, Jr.’s 14-yard run and a 2-yard rush by Marlon Lucky on back-to-back possessions closed out the game’s scoring.

    San Jose State outgained Nebraska, 353-315. The Spartans showed off a much-improved running game with 137 yards, 95 more than in the season-opening win against UC Davis. Yonus Davis ran for 58 yards on just seven attempts to lead the Spartans’ ground attack. 132 yards of the Cornhuskers’ total offense, slightly under half their total, came in the fourth quarter.

    Myles Eden finished up at quarterback for the Spartans. His lone completion, a 55-yard play to Kevin Jurovich, was the 100th career reception by the San Jose State senior.

    The Spartans return to action, Saturday, September 13, hosting San Diego State in a 5:00 p.m. game at Spartan Stadium.