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Spartans Top Sacramento State 42-24 in Season Opener

Box Score

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Nick Nash set new career highs in receptions and receiving yards and contributed to three total touchdowns as the Spartans (1-0, 0-0 MW) knocked off Sacramento State (0-1, 0-0 Big Sky) 42-24 on Thursday in their season opener from CEFCU Stadium.

  • Nash contributed to three touchdowns in the opening game for the second season in a row. Last season, he caught three touchdowns during the Spartans’ season opener at USC.
  • Nash set a new career high of 10 receptions and 170 receiving yards in the game. Nash’s 56 first-quarter receiving yards set a new career high for first-quarter receiving yards.
  • The Spartans forced five turnovers in the game, the most turnovers since they forced six turnovers on Oct. 4, 2019, against New Mexico from CEFCU Stadium.
  • Emmett Brown’s 24-yard touchdown to Nick Nash was Brown’s first career touchdown pass.
  • That touchdown marked the first touchdown of the season for SJSU.
  • The Spartans had 324 yards passing, which was one yard short of the team's season-high last year of 325 yards passing.
  • Brown finished his SJSU debut throwing for 298 yards and three touchdowns.
  • Nash’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Stewart was Nash’s first touchdown pass since Oct. 30, 2021, against Wyoming and the 11th of his career.
  • For Stewart, it was both his first career catch and a touchdown in his career.
  • Nash’s 11-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was his 11th receiving touchdown of his career.
  • Floyd Chalk IV’s fourth-quarter go-ahead four-yard rushing touchdown was his first as a Spartan.
  • Justin Lockhart’s fourth-quarter eight-yard receiving touchdown was his first touchdown catch since the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 20, 2022, against Eastern Michigan. The touchdown was the sixth of his career.
  • Chalk IV’s second fourth-quarter touchdown was the 12th of his career, and it's his second career two-touchdown game.
  • Ethan Powell’s interception in the second quarter was the first of his career.
  • Robert Rahimi earned his first career solo sack in the first half, sacking Sacramento State’s Kaiden Bennett for a loss of six yards.
  • Rahimi’s nine tackles and two for a loss set new career highs.
  • In the third quarter, John Norwood’s forced fumble and Quincy Likio’s fumble recovery were both the first of their careers. Norwood would tally another forced fumble later in the game.
  • Jordan Cobbs’ 11 tackles in the game set a new career high and led the team.
  • Michael Dansby earned his fourth career interception in the fourth quarter.
  • Trent Carrizosa and Dino Beslagic each had their first career punt in the game.
  • The last SJSU head coach to win their debut was Ron Caragher in 2013 and it was against Sacramento State.
  • Isiah Revis had eight tackles, including one tackle for loss and two pass breakups in his first career start.
  • Amir Wallace had a pair of pass breakups in his first game at SJSU.
  • The Spartans are 11-2 at CEFCU Stadium in their last 13 home games.

UP NEXT: The Spartans will go on the road to take on Air Force on Saturday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. (PT), and it can be watched on CBS Sports Network and heard on KDOW 1220.

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