SAN JOSE, Calif. – Josh Love threw for a career-high 451 yards and three touchdowns, however San Jose State fell to Hawai'i in their Mountain West opener 44-41 in a thriller that spanned five overtimes, the most in SJSU history.
Love's 451 yards are the most thrown in a game since David Fales threw for 547 against Fresno State in 2013. It is the 11th highest single-game total ever thrown in SJSU history.
The offenses combined for 965 yards with SJSU finishing with 490 and Hawai'i with 475. Rainbow Warriors' quarterback Cole McDonald was held in check for the majority of the game, but finished with 341 yards and four touchdowns on 34-of-57 passing with just his second interception of the season by Spartan safety Jonathan Lenard, Jr., in the second half.
The game was the 10th OT game in program history and the third against Hawai'i. The Spartans' previous record for OT periods was a 3-OT loss to Navy in 2013.
Tied at 24-24 with 10:07 to play in the fourth quarter, Love hit Malike Roberson for a four yard score, his third touchdown pass of the game, to give the Spartans a 31-24 lead. Hawai'i would answer, however, with 4:34 on the clock to tie the game at 31-31 as McDonald found John Ursua for his third touchdown catch of the game.
The Rainbow Warriors nearly drove into SJSU territory in the final minute of regulation to set up a game-winning field goal attempt, however Cade Hall sacked McDonald for an 11-yard loss and forced a fumble that was recovered by Boogie Roberts to end the threat and send the game to OT.
Both teams scored touchdowns in the opening OT period as Dayton Furuta rumbled in from a yard out for Hawai'i and Roberson skated in from 13 yards out for the Spartans to re-tie the game at 38-38. The game went into a second OT, however neither team came away with points as they exchanged missed field goals.
After Hawai'i's Ryan Meskell missed again from 49 yards out, the Spartans had a chance to win the game in the third OT. Bryce Crawford's 30-yard attempt initially looked good and the SJSU sideline exploded in celebration, however it was ruled that the kick sailed wide.
Crawford, who finished the night 2-for-6, redeemed himself on the next possession in OT No. 4 as he buried a 20-yard chip shot. The Rainbow Warriors answered however as Meskell's 35-yard sailed through the uprights.
Meskell also nailed a 35-yarder to open the fifth and final OT. The Spartans looked to answer, but after a false start penalty, Love was sacked on second down and threw an incompletion on third down to set up a long try for Crawford from 47 yards out. The kick sailed wide right and the game came to an end just over four hours after it kicked off.
With the loss, San Jose State drops to 0-4 while Hawai'i improved to 5-1 (2-0 MW).
SJSU senior tight end Josh Oliver had a monster game finishing with a career-high 158 yards on eight receptions and one touchdown. He hauled in a career-long 70 yard pass in the second quarter to spark the Spartans' third scoring drive.
Roberson finished with 48 yards and a touchdown on the ground to go with his fourth quarter touchdown reception.
SJSU held a 17-10 lead at halftime behind Love's 273 first half yards. Boogie Roberts got things started for the Spartans as he rumbled in from two yards out. With the score, Roberts became the first defensive player to carry the ball on offense since November 15, 2008, against Nevada when Coye Francies carried the ball for a five-yard loss.
The early 7-3 lead was the first lead for the Spartans since the first quarter of the UC Davis game on August 30. Love connected with Bailey Gaither for a 55-yard score to increase and Crawford hit a field goal from 24-yards out to increase the lead to 17-3. The Rainbow Warriors answered with back-to-back touchdown passes from McDonald, and after a missed extra point, brought the score to 17-16.
Love then found Oliver from 14 yards out to regain control before Ursua, who finished with a career-best 13 receptions for 148 yards and three touchdowns for Hawai'i, caught a three-yard touchdown with 12:45 to play in the fourth quarter. The Rainbow Warriors were successful on their two-point conversion to tie the game at 24-24.
San Jose State returns to action next Friday, October 6, against Colorado State in CEFCU Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT.