Carson, Calif.----- For the first time this season, the San Jose State University football team demonstrated it could overcome the loss of its starting quarterback and come from behind twice in the second half in a 28-17 victory over San Diego State University in a Mountain West conference game.
Off to its best start since the 1982 season, San Jose State (3-0, 3-0 Mountain West) shares first place in the conference with the University of Nevada. The Spartans' 3-0 record in conference play also is a first since joining the Mountain West in 2013.
San Jose State won with a combination of a relentless and opportunistic defense, an offense that pivoted game plans, and special teams plays that bounced their way.
For the second time this season, the Spartans faced a run-oriented team averaging more than 300 yards a game. The Aztecs featured five productive running backs planning to wear down San Jose State's cadre of defenders. Like the Air Force win to open the season, the Spartans went away from their base 3-4 alignment to their 4-3 front with nose tackles Jay Kakiva and Lando Grey to begin the game.
Hello, world.
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STARKEL LEAVES GAME; DEFENSE PLAYS WELL BUT AZTECS LEAD
The scheme worked early as San Diego State only managed a 34-yard Matt Araiza field goal for the only scoring of the first quarter. The Aztecs managed just 23 rushing yards in the 15 minutes and 101 yards for the game.
San Diego State added to its lead with a second-quarter drive culminated by a 1-yard run by quarterback Carson Baker for a 10-0 lead with 8:53 before halftime. At that point, the Aztec signal caller was the most productive player on either team at the position.
Quarterback Nick Starkel left the game when he was knocked down by San Diego State defensive lineman Cameron Thomas on the Spartans' fourth offensive play of the game an incomplete pass downfield. Starkel left the playing field and eventually returned in team travel attire and watched the rest of the game from the Spartan sideline.
Nick Nash, who did not play an offensive snap in the 38-21 win over New Mexico the previous week, came in as Starkel's replacement. Nothing went right for Nash for five possessions lasting deep into the second quarter. On 11 plays, four runs and seven passes, the Spartans gained just 38 yards and wound up punting four consecutive series in 3-and-out possessions.
WALKER & DEESE, JR. LEAD THE OFFENSE
It wasn't until Nash connected with tight end Derrick Deese, Jr., on a 22-yard pass play in which Deese ran over one defender and carried other to the Dignity Health Sports Center turf that the offense began to show signs of life. Tre Walker added to the drive with another ballerina-like reception in front of the Spartans' bench good for 32 yards.
Both Walker and Deese, Jr., would figure prominently in the outcome by the end of the game. First was Deese, Jr., who ran a post pattern to the back of the end zone on a 3-and-goal from from the 4-yard line and was on the receiving end of Nash's first touchdown pass of the season with 32 seconds before halftime.
Energized by Deese's team-leading third touchdown of the season, the Spartans continued to keep San Diego State's ground attack in check the entire game. The Aztecs' only had two runs of more than 10 yards, one for 11 and another for 13 and finished with 101 yards on 45 rushing attempts.
THREE BY TRE JENKINS IN BIG SECOND HALF
The Spartans got another surge of energy early in the third quarter when San Diego State discarded a field goal try and Baker was stopped on 4th-and-1 at the San Jose State 20 for no gain by Tre Jenkins and E.J. Ane.
It would be the first of three big second half by Jenkins, one of the Spartans' three starting defensive backs named Tre.
Despite Nash throwing his first interception of the season on a pass intended for Isaiah Hamilton, San Diego State was unable to capitalize and held on to a 10-7 lead midway through the third quarter.
The Spartans took their first lead of the night on another 3rd-and-goal situation. Sending Bailey Gaither in motion away from the sideline, Gaither reversed his field at the snap of the ball, caught Nash's pass in the flat and beat the San Diego State defense to the near pylon for the go-ahead touchdown. Walker's back shoulder 22-yard catch was the big play of the drive.
San Diego State answered with Greg Bell's 5-yard run capping a 69-yard drive for the Aztecs' last lead in the game, 17-14, with 14:30 to go in the fourth quarter.
Jenkins' second big play was a blitz off the Spartans' right side forcing Baker to throw a backwards pass that was recovered by San Jose State defensive end Junior Fehoko at the San Diego State 17-yard line. Power runs by Tyler Nevens of 14 and 3 to the end zone put San Jose State ahead to stay.
Jenkins' last big play was an interception in the end zone on a third down play from the San Jose State 15-yard line. The sophomore safety finished the night with a single-game career best eight tackles, a pass interception and a forced fumble.
The Spartans clinched the win when Walker playing on the punt cover team forced San Diego State punt returner Jordan Byrd to lose the football at the Aztec 31-yard line, the home team's third second-half turnover. Nash put the exclamation point on the win with a 14-yard scamper into the end zone with 1:33 left in the game.
Nash finished the game completing 16-of-25 passes for two touchdowns and 169 yards. He was the team's leading rusher with 53 yards and 11 carries.
San Jose State seeks to stay unbeaten in 2020 when it hosts UNLV, Saturday, November 14, in a 7:30 p.m. game in CEFCU Stadium. Though no spectators will be allowed, FS2 will provide live national television coverage.
Gallery: (11-6-2020) SJSU Football at San Diego State