San José, Calif. - An offseason that was filled with enthusiasm and positivity for San José State made a natural transition into Thursday night's season opener against Northern Colorado.
Kicking off the 2019 campaign with their best foot forward, the Spartans (1-0) eased past the Bears (0-1) for a 35-18 victory.
"This was a great and exciting win for us," said head coach Brent Brennan after the victory. "I thought there were a lot of moments in that game that we can get excited about. All offseason we talked about finishing and we made enough big plays late to do that tonight."
Senior signal-caller Josh Love threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for one more to lead SJSU. Running backs DeJon Packer and Tyler Nevens added scoring scampers of their own in the winning effort while freshman Jermaine Braddock and junior Derrick Deese, Jr. each pulled down touchdown receptions.
It was freshman Isaiah Hamilton who Love loved to target consistently in this one. After not making a catch in three games a year ago, Hamilton pulled down five receptions for 91 yards in the season opener.
"Isaiah really got his feet wet tonight," Love said. "He put the work in this offseason so we've been getting that connection down. He is a hell of a player and now he's out there making plays."
Consistency in the clutch keyed the team early as San José State converted on three consecutive third-down conversions on its opening drive. The possession culminated in a 1-yard touchdown jaunt by Packer and the Spartans would soon be back for more, stretching their lead to 14-3 with back-to-back successful drives as Love hit Braddock for an easy 7-yard score.
Love attacked the Bears with precision early on, completing his first eight passes of the night to kick off his senior season in style. He also knew when to call his own number, earning his team's third touchdown of the night with a 3-yard touchdown run midway through the second stanza.
Holding a 21-6 advantage at the halftime break, Deese, Jr., got the Spartan second half scoring started with the highlight of the night. High-pointing an inside fade thrown perfectly to the corner of the end zone by Love, the tight end made sure his first reception was a memorable one. The catch and ensuing extra point off the foot of freshman Matt Mercurio was able to push the SJSU lead back to two possessions at 28-13.
Mercurio shined bright in his first collegiate contest, converting all five of his extra point attempts successfully.
The team's final touchdown of the night sealed the deal on the victory with just over five minutes remaining. Taking over in prime field position after a Bobby Brown II interception, Nevens capped a quick two-play, 13-yard drive by crossing the goal line with an eight-yard touchdown trot.
Nevens finished the evening with 42 yards on eight carries, while freshman quarterback Nick Nash ended up leading the team in rushing with 67 yards on five rushes.
While the Spartan offense cruised, its counterparts on the defensive side of the ball held things down as well. The defense finished with four sacks and nine tackles for loss while turning the Bears over twice.
San José State finished the night with a 382-287 advantage in total yards despite running 21 fewer plays than its opponent.
For Brennan and his staff, the happy totals reflect a worthwhile payoff after an offseason focused on hard work and maturation.
"I think it's huge to get a win like that, especially for these kids who have been through a couple of tough seasons," said Brennan. "Everything we do here is all about the young men and helping them develop and grow. When you finally get that validation with a victory it just feels amazing."
The Spartans will be back in action on Saturday, September 7 when they host Tulsa at CEFCU Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.