Colorado Springs, Colo.---- For their play in San José State University's season-opening football win over Southern Utah University, 45-14, quarterback Nick Starkel and punter Will Hart were named the Mountain West offensive and special teams player of the week, respectively.
Starkel, a graduate student majoring in justice studies, was brilliant in the Spartans' season debut scoring on a 1-yard run before throwing four touchdown passes to four different pass receivers. He completed first-half touchdown passes of 23 yards to Jermaine Braddock in the first quarter and 70 yards to tight end Sam Olson and 65-yards to wide receiver Charles Ross in the second stanza. Starkel connected with tight end Derrick Deese, Jr. from 14yards out for the game's final touchdown early in the third quarter.
The San Jose State quarterback completed 16-of-27 passes with one interception for 394 yards in three quarters of action.
A transfer from the University of Michigan, Hart punted twice in the fourth quarter averaging 40.0 yards per punt placing each punt inside the Thunderbirds' 20 yard with no return yardage. The Spartans' net punting average against Southern Utah was nearly six yards better than a year ago. Hart, a University of Michigan graduate who majored in business pursuing a masters in communication studies, also placed a fingertip on top of the football as the team's holder for Matt Mercurio who accounted for nine points on six successful point-after touchdown conversions and a 41-yard field goal,
San Jose State (1-0) is preparing to face #15-USC (0-0) in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Saturday, September 4. Game time is 2:00 p.m. (PT). The Pac-12 Network carries the game on television. The Spartan Radio Network with play-by-play host Justin Allegri and analyst Kevin Richardson will be on KDOW (1220 AM, Palo Alto) beginning at 1:30 p.m. with a pregame show.
