Reno, Nev. - San Jose State University battled back from a pair of 21-point deficits to tie the University of Nevada its Mountain West football game at 38-38 with 2:36 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Wolf Pack pulled out the victory on the final play of the game on a 40-yard field goal by freshman Brandon Talton for a 41-38 conference win.
For the first time this season, San Jose State struggled offensively at the start with a miss-timed center snap on the first play of the game and Nevada defensive back Austin Arnold intercepting a Josh Love pass and returning it 40 yards for a touchdown. It appeared two Spartan receivers collided on the play prior to Love releasing the ball. Within the first six minutes of the game, the Spartans were behind, 14-0.
Only a Matt Mercurio 44-yard field with 7:10 to go in the first quarter was sandwiched in between Devonte Lee's second short touchdown run and Talton's first field goal of 25 yards as the Wolf Pack (4-2, 1-1 Mountain West) built a 24-3 lead.
The Spartans closed out the half with a quick three-play, 61-yard drive capped by a nifty Love to Isaiah Hamilton 37-yard touchdown play that closed the deficit to 24-10 at halftime.
The teams exchanged big strikes in the first minute of the second half. After Malik Henry and Romeo Doubs teamed up for a 75-yard Nevada touchdown on the first play of the third quarter, Love and Bailey Gaither answered two plays later with a 60-yard strike, but San Jose State still trailed, 31-17.
Eventually, the Spartan defense got its bearings and did what it does best - take away the football. Nehemiah Shelton forced a Wolf Pack fumble at the goal line to prevent one potential touchdown. Brandon Ezell and Rico Tolefree intercepted passes by first-time starter Malik Henry that energized the San Jose State sideline.
The Spartans would take advantage of those opportunities and tie the game at 38-38 with 2:36 remaining on a Love-to-Walker 20-yard slant pass and DeJon Packer's second touchdown run of the second half on a 2-yard delay off the right side.
After tying the score for the first time in the game, Nevada drove 46 yards to the San Jose State 23-yard line, called timeout with 0:05 to go setting the stage for Talton to deliver the game-winner.
Nevada outgained San Jose State, with a season-high 541 yards to San Jose State's 420. The Spartans struggled rushing the football gaining just 15 yards on 16 attempts.
Though he didn't have one of his most accurate games of the season, Love matched his 2019 single-game passing yardage mark of 405 yards for the second consecutive week. He completed 23-of-45 passes with the interception for a season-high three touchdowns and his third 400-plus yard passing game in the last four contests.
The loss to Nevada was San Jose State's ninth in a row at Mackey Stadium. The Spartans last won in Reno in 2000, 49-30.
San Jose State returns home Saturday, October 19, to host San Diego State in a 4:00 p.m. Homecoming Game in CEFCU Stadium. At halftime, the Spartans will honor linebacking great David Chaney with induction into the stadium's Ring of Honor.
