SAN JOSE, Calif. - Quarterback Nick Nash secured his name in the record books on Saturday as he became San Jose State football's all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks in the modern era (since 1950) in the Spartans' 27-21 over Wyoming.
Nash, who entered the game with 685 career rushing yards on 122 attempts, finished the contest with 112 yards on 11 carries to eclipse Kenny Potter (745) and Jeff Garcia (729) and secure his spot at the top of the record book with 797 yards. The junior from Irvine, Calif., needed only half the amount of career carries as Potter (252 attempts) to reach the historic milestone, doing so in only 133 attempts.
After opening the game with a 10-0 lead thanks to Nash's running and a 36-yard field goal by Matt Mercurio, the Spartans and Cowboys exchanged touchdowns inside the final six minutes of the half to make things 16-7 in San Jose State's favor at the half. Mercurio's leg struck true again to give the Spartans a 20-7 advantage early in the third, but Wyoming answered on a three-yard rushing score to make it a one-score affair once again.
The Spartans answered in a big-time way with Nash connected with Charles Ross for a 44-yard score with 3:00 to play in the third quarter. The 12-point advantage looked to be all the Spartans needed to hold on, however Wyoming put up a fight and cut the deficit back to six with a 12-yard passing touchdown from Levi Williams to Isaiah Neyor. Neyor finished with two touchdown receptions for the day.
down: 3rd
— San José State Football ?? (@SanJoseStateFB) October 30, 2021
distance: 18
result: touchdown#SpartanUp | #ClimbTheMountain pic.twitter.com/ZMaduNaCUw
After holding the Spartans offense at bay on their ensuing possession, Wyoming had one last chance to make a move, but Cade Hall and the Spartan Defense shut down any hopes of an upset. Hall secured back-to-back sacks on first and second down to set up a fourth-and-long situation. San Jose State forced the turnover on downs and bled out the clock to secure the victory and improve to 3-2 in Mountain West play and 5-4 overall.
- This is the second-consecutive game that Nash has rushed for over 100 yards. He had 121 yards a week ago against UNLV. Prior to that, the last Spartan to achieve the feat was Kenny Potter in 2015.
- Nash's 48-yard run was the second-longest of his career.
- The Spartan Defense came away with a pair of interceptions after recording just one in the previous eight games. Tysyn Parker pulled down the first of his career while Jay Lenard came away with his fifth-career pick.
- Lenard is the only player on the roster to secure an interception in each of the last four seasons.
- Hall's two sacks gave him his first multi-sack effort of the season and first since the 2020 Mountain West Championship Game.
- Matt Mercurio connected on multiple field goal attempts for the second-straight game. It's his ninth career game with multiple field goals.
- Ross' 44-yard touchdown catch was his second of the season.
- Tyler Nevens finished second to Nash in the rushing department with 71 yards 15 carries. Kairee Robinson made the most of his five carries, finishing with 52 yards with a nine-yard score in the second quarter.
- Once again it was Derrick Deese, Jr. that led the Spartan receiving corps as he pulled down five catches for 81 yards.
- Kyle Harmon, the team's leading tackler entering the day, was a force on the field once again as he finished with a game-high 13 tackles (nine solo) and a tackle for loss.
The Spartans return to action next weekend with a short road trip to Reno to take on Nevada for a 7:00 p.m. kick on Saturday, Nov. 6. The game will be televised by Fox Sports.
#SpartanUp