LOS ANGELES - Senior running back Tyler Nevens' third quarter rushing touchdown brought San Jose State football to within six points of No. 14 USC at the start of the fourth, however the Trojans scored 17 unanswered points in the final quarter to walk away from Saturday's nonconference showdown with a 30-7 win.
After a sluggish start offensively, San Jose State (1-1) bounced back to start the third quarter, taking their opening possession 74 yards on 11 plays with Nevens' two-yard score serving as the punctuation. The drive included three Nick Starkel completions of over 20 yards. With the deficit cut to 13-7, the SJSU Defense dug in and held the potent Trojan Offense out of the endzone for their following two possessions, highlighted by an eight-yard sack by Viliami Fehoko which helped force a 30-yard field goal. Despite the strong defensive showing, the Spartans were unable to hold on late as a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown and 20-yard touchdown reception with just over 2:00 to play allowed USC (1-0) to escape with the win.
1st and 10
- Nevens finished the game with 58 yards rushing on 15 attempts and the score
- Starkel passed for 308 yards, his fifth-career 300-yard passing day as a Spartan
- Isaiah Hamilton led the Spartan receiving corps with 74 yards on six catches.
- Jay Lenard led all tacklers with 11 stops. Tre Jenkins added eight tackles
- The Spartan Defense finished with six tackles for loss including a pair of sacks.
- Freshman defensive lineman Tre Smith was credited with his first-career sack.
- Reigning MW Special Teams Player of the Week Will Hart had another impressive outing, averaging 47.3 yards on six punts, including a monster 72-yarder.
- USC edged the Spartans in total offensive yards 416-376
San Jose State returns to action on Sept. 18, on the road against Hawai'i in the Spartans' 2021 Mountain West opener.
Gallery: (9-4-2021) Football at USC