KALAMAZOO, Mich.----- The nice start to San Jose State University's afternoon at windy Waldo Stadium on the Western Michigan University campus disintegrated into a 23-3 non-conference loss to the Broncos.
Matt Mercurio capped the Spartans' first offensive possession with a 32-yard field goal after the San Jose State drive stalled at the 15-yard line for a 3-0 lead. Nobody forecasted the Spartans would go the rest of the way with a score.
San Jose State (2-2) was buoyed by the return of running back Tyler Nevens, whose presence was evident throughout the game. Nevens finished as the game's leading rusher with his season-high 94 yards on 15 carries.
Beyond Nevens' running, the Spartans struggled on offense as Western Michigan applied steady and constant pressure whenever San Jose State was in pass formation. The Broncos were credited with a season-high eight quarterback sacks – six of them when Nick Starkel was calling the signals for the Spartans in the first three quarters.
Western Michigan (3-1) picked up its second non-conference win in as many weeks taking advantage of an interception and a pair of fumble recoveries turning each of those opportunities into 17 total points.
The Broncos took the lead for good on the possession after Mercurio's field goal. WMU quarterback Kaleb Eleby connected with wide receiver Jaylen Hall on a 22-yard touchdown pass for a 6-3 lead. Freshman linebacker Bryun Parham blocked the PAT try to keep the score where it was.
Eleby, who completed 17-of-28 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, was able to keep first half drives alive eluding the San Jose State pass rush that finished with a season-high four sacks and connecting on a pair of fourth down conversions that led to scores.
The first one was a 4th down-and-16 in which he found wide receiver Skyy Moore for 24 yards and a first down. Five plays later a 1-yard run by La'Darius Jefferson extended the Western Michigan lead to 13-3. The drive was set up when Ryan Selig intercepted a Starkel pass and returned the ball to the San Jose State 41-yard line.
The second fourth-down conversion was a 37-yard touchdown pass on 4th-and-4 with Eleby connecting with wide receiver Corey Coombs finishing off a 55-yard drive for a 20-3 lead. That drive started after Corwin Moment recovered a Starkel pass attempt that was ruled a fumble when the Spartans' quarterback arm was hit while in the pocket.
The only second-half scoring was a 30-yard field goal by Parker Sampson in the fourth quarter set up when Walker Eget was unable to get the handle on a center snap and the Broncos edged the Spartans out for the ball deep in San Jose State territory.
The Spartans finished with just 119 yards of total offense. The Broncos had 347 yards offensively, a relatively low total, but bit off key chunks of gridiron real estate when needed.
Starkel lasted until the end of the third quarter when he was assisted off the field following a sack. Freshmen Walker Eget played three series and Natano Woods, two. Between Starkel, Eget, and Woods, the Spartans completed just 9-of-26 passes for 59 yards.
San Jose State returns home for the first time in five weeks on October 2 when it hosts New Mexico State in a 7:30 p.m. game. It will be Hall of Fame weekend with six Spartan greats and the 2000 baseball team that qualified and played in the College World Series honored at halftime and Pediatric Cancer Awareness Night. NBC California with Justin Allegri and former Spartan quarterback David Fales calling the action.