Nov. 22, 2015
Honolulu, Hawaii----- Quarterback Kenny Potter threw three touchdown passes and scored on a pair of 9-yard runs in the first half as San Jose State University defeated the University of Hawaii, 42-23, in a Mountain West football game.
The win kept the Spartans post-season hopes alive. San Jose State (5-6, 4-3 Mountain West) must defeat Boise State next Friday afternoon in Spartan Stadium for a bowl-qualifying sixth victory of the season.
Potter completed 23-of-32 passes for 312 yards and rushed nine times for 54 yards and two touchdowns. The junior from San Pedro was especially sharp in the first half finding seven different receivers completing 16-of-21 passes for 222 yards in the first half as San Jose State built a 35-0 halftime lead.
The variety in the Spartans offense also was evident with seven different players starting with Potter accounting for first downs. San Jose State was 7-for-7 on 3rd-down conversions in the first half and 10-for-15 for the game.
The San Jose State defense did its job building the lead with the help of defensive back Andre Chachere. The San Jose sophomore forced a fumble to stop the Rainbow Warriors' second offensive possession of the game and came up with his first interception of the season in the Spartans' end zone ending Hawaii's best chance to score late in the first half.
San Jose State outgained Hawaii, 509 to 415. Hawaii halfback Paul Harris led all rushers with 179 yards on 28 carries and scored the Rainbow Warriors' first touchdown on a 27-yard run in the third quarter.
Tyler Ervin used a 36-yard run in the fourth quarter to cross the 100-yard mark for the sixth time this season and first since the New Mexico win on October 24. Ervin finished with 114 yards on 20 carries and scored the Spartans' final touchdown on a 1-yard plunge.