LOS ANGELES, Calif.----- Heading into the fourth quarter at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the San Jose State University football team was looking to make the 2021 Labor Day holiday weekend a memorable one filled with fireworks similar to the stadium rendition of the national anthem.
Withstanding a first quarter University of Southern California 10-point outburst on the Trojans first two offensive possessions and interruptions to an offense that had signs of Los Angeles freeway traffic embedded in it at least for a half, there were the Spartans on the doorstep of its first win over USC in five tries, first win over a Pac-12 school since 2006 against Stanford, and first triumph over a nationally-ranked opponent on the road in 41 years.
In the end, the No. 14 Trojans (1-0) prevailed over the Spartans (1-1), 30-7, before a sun-drenched crowd of 54,398 – the largest to see a San Jose State road game since the win at Arkansas in 2019.
A Tyler Nevens 2-yard touchdown run with 7:25 remaining in the third quarter gave San Jose State the opening it wanted and cut USC's 13-0 lead down to 13-7. The Spartans fashioned an 11-play, 74-yard drive for just its second time in USC territory and the sideline was buzzing with anticipation.
SPARTAN DEFENSE GAINS ITS TRACTION
After USC's two quick scores in the first quarter, the Spartan defense forced a fumble for its one turnover in the game and stonewalled the Trojans on five of six possessions. Parker Lewis' second of three field goals in the game was all USC could muster against a Spartan defense that found its groove.
Though highly-touted USC quarterback Kedon Slovis passed for 256 yards and two touchdowns, he dealt with a constant Spartan rush for the last three quarters of the game. Slovis started out 10-of-12 in the first quarter, but finished 24-of-36.
San Jose State quarterback Nick Starkel was not sacked in the game, but like Slovis, dealt with constant pressure from the Trojans, too. Starkel passed for more than 300 yards for the second game in a row this season with 308, but was intercepted twice. The first one by defensive end Drake Jackson at the San Jose State 39-yard line preceded a Slovis to Tahj Washington 29-yard touchdown pass for USC's 10-0 lead.
TURNOVERS COSTLY TO THE SPARTANS
Defensive back Greg Jackson came up with USC's second interception at the 11:42 mark of the fourth quarter and raced 37 yards to push the Trojans' lead to 23-7 and put the Spartans in a dire situation.
Still, San Jose State had fight in it. Starkel distributed the football to six different receivers successfully, but the Spartans' drive stalled at the USC 9-yard line with 7:20 to go when Starkel and Derrick Deese, Jr., were unable to connect along the right sideline in the end zone.
Slovis' second touchdown pass of the game, a 20-yard play to tight end Erik Krommenhoek, whose first quarter fumble gave the Spartans its best starting field position of the first quarter at the USC 47, closed out the game's scoring.
The Trojans outgained the Spartans, 416 to 376, but more importantly, USC was 7-of-14 on third plays compared to San Jose State's 3-of-14, 0-of-7 in the first half. On the San Jose State scoring drive, the Spartans converted both of their third down plays into first downs on their way to the end zone.
San Jose State now turns its attention to the start of Mountain West action and defense of its conference championship on September 18. The Spartans take on Hawaii in a game that will be nationally-televised by FOX Sports beginning at 9:30 p.m. (PT).
