SAN JOSE, Calif. - Jabari Bates and Danny Scudero each surpassed 100 yards and Denis Lynch nailed the 48-yard game-winning field goal with eight seconds left to lead the San José State football team (1-2, 0-0 MW) in a 31-28 victory over Idaho (2-2, 0-0 Big Sky) Saturday afternoon from CEFCU Stadium.
After trailing 14-0 midway through the second quarter, the Spartans stormed back with 14 unanswered points to tie the game at halftime. Bates provided the spark with an 87-yard touchdown run, the longest play from scrimmage of the season for SJSU. Walker Eget later connected with Kyri Shoels on a 15-yard strike to even the score at 14-14 going into the break.
The second half featured back-and-forth scoring, highlighted by two rushing touchdowns from Floyd Chalk IV, including a game-tying one-yard run with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
With the game knotted at 28-28, the Spartans orchestrated an eight-play, 31-yard drive in the final minutes, capped by a 48-yard field goal from Lynch with eight seconds remaining to secure the victory.
San José State totaled 420 yards of offense, including 198 on the ground. Through the air, Eget finished 13-of-21 for 222 yards and a touchdown. Scudero led all receivers with 130 yards on six catches.
Defensively, linebacker Jalen Apalit-Williams anchored the Spartans with a team-high nine tackles and a fumble recovery, while Vili Taufatofua delivered the team’s lone sack.
- Bates' 87-yard rush was the longest rush for the Spartans since Malik Roberson had an 87-yard rush against Portland State on Sept. 10, 2016
- Bates is the first Spartan to record at least 100 rushing yards under Ken Niumatalolo
- The 198 rushing yards are the most under Niumatalolo at SJSU
- Bates’ 131 yards set a new career high
- The Spartans had only 21 passing attempts, which is the fewest under Niumatalolo at SJSU
- Chalk IV recorded his first multi-touchdown game since scoring two touchdowns against Nevada on Oct. 5, 2024.
- Shoels 15-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was the first touchdown of his career
- Scudero finished with over 100 receiving yards for the second time this season
- Scudero’s 56-yard catch in the second quarter was a career-long
- Both of Trent Carrizosa’s punts landed inside the 20-yard line. He now has six punts so far this season that landed inside the 20
- The Spartans came back from a 14-0 deficit to win the game. The last time the Spartans overcame a 14-point deficit was against Sacramento State on Aug. 29, 2024
- Lynch’s 48-yard field goal to win the game was his first made field goal of the season
- Apalit-Williams' nine tackles set a new career-high, and he also recovered his first career fumble
- The Spartans were 7-for-10 on third downs and 3-for-3 in the red zone
- Idaho controlled the ball for 39:01 of the game compared to the Spartans, who had the ball for 20:59
- The Vandals were five for five on fourth down
- The Spartans have won six straight against FCS opponents
- The Spartans have recorded a takeaway in 15 of 16 games under Coach Niumatalolo
UP NEXT: The Spartans will head to Stanford, Calif., to face Stanford on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 4:30 p.m. on ACC Network.
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