Rough night in San Jose: Nevens suffers scary injury; SJSU loses to UC Davis 44-38

Photo credit: @SJSUSpartanFB

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State Spartans knew how to get things going with the home crowd in their season opener versus the UC Davis Aggies inside CEFCU Stadium on a cool, breezy night.

Spartans head coach Brent Brennan officially entered his second season at San Jose State, Spartan quarterback Josh Love got the start, and the Spartan fans were a bit surprised to see a fireworks show just seconds after the Spartan Marching Band performed their typical yet talent-filled performance.

Unfortunately, the early minutes weren’t in favor of San Jose State, as UC Davis jumped to an early 7-0 lead at the 11:58 mark of the first quarter. Ulonzo Gilliam scored a 5-yard rushing touchdown and Matt Blair’s kick for an extra point was good.

Jake Maier threw a pass that was intended for a fellow Aggie, but Dakari Monroe intercepted the pass midway through the first quarter. Monroe returned the pass for 29 yards to the 1-yard line.

Just moments later, San Jose State evened the score at 7-7, thanks to a game-tying touchdown. Love threw to JaQuan Blackwell for a 5-yard passing touchdown with 9:33 left in the first.

Spartan fans danced to “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan, as the old-school hip-hop song played just moments after Tyler Nevens scored a 2-yard rushing touchdown to help the Spartans to a 14-7 lead with 5:54 left in the first. Bryce Crawford’s kick for the extra point was obviously good.

UC Davis evened the score at 14-14 on Gilliam’s second touchdown of the game, a 1-yard rushing touchdown, with 2:21 left in the first. Blair’s kick for an extra point was good.

The score was tied 14-14 at the end of the first.

UC Davis regained the lead, 21-14, on Wesley Preece’s 22-yard passing touchdown at the 14:56 mark of the second quarter. Blair’s kick for an extra point was good. Not only that, UC Davis snatched the lead, 28-14, on Jared Harrell’s 49-yard passing touchdown just 1:30 later. Blair’s kick for an extra point was good.

San Jose State pulled within seven and trailed UC Davis 28-21 at the 11:29 mark of the second. Nevens, who scored his scored touchdown of the game, helped the Spartans with a 23-yard rushing touchdown. Crawford’s kick for an extra point was good.

The Aggies extended their lead to 35-21 with 9:54 left in the second. Carson Crawford scored a 9-yard rushing touchdown. Blair successfully kicked in the extra point.

The Spartans had a chance to pull within 11 to reduce the deficit to 35-24, but Crawford’s attempt at a 53-yard field goal was unsuccessful. Crawford was 10 yards short.

San Jose State trailed UC Davis 35-21 at halftime.

The Aggies’ first play of the second half was a safety, which extended its lead to 37-21 at the 14:51 mark of the third quarter. The Spartans, however, had something else to be excited about as the Spartans’ gymnastics team were honored on the field for their latest achievements.

Crawford made a 29-yard field goal to pull the Spartans within 13, but the home team continued to trail the Aggies 37-24 with 2:10 left in the third.

The Spartans pulled within six on a noteworthy, last-second 79-yard passing touchdown by Bailey Gaither, who initially caught the pass from Montel Aaron. The Aggies, however, continued to lead 37-31 at the end of three quarters.

The Aggies didn’t waste any time in the fourth quarter. Gilliam scored his third touchdown of the game, an 18-yard passing touchdown from Maier, to put the Aggies up by 13 for a 44-31 lead at the 13:46 mark of the fourth.

The Spartans were down by 13 for quite a while in the fourth, but the most important part of the game was that the Spartans’ top running back Tyler Nevens was fine after a reported head-to-head collision. The Spartan fans sent their thoughts and prayers to Nevens, who later returned the favor by giving a thumbs up as the trainers stretchered him off the field.

Gaither scored his second touchdown of the game, a 17-yard passing touchdown from Aaron, to pull the Spartans within six, 44-38, with 1:24 left in the fourth.

San Jose State lost to UC Davis 44-38.

Notes
Spartans’ defensive lineup