Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State football earned its first Mountain West win of the season by downing the New Mexico Lobos 32-21. Now, San Jose State heads out on the road to look for a two-game win streak with another MW win over the Nevada Wolf Pack.

Here’s the lowdown on the San Jose State-Nevada game:

GAME #6
San Jose State at Nevada
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Mackay Stadium, Reno, Nev.
1:00 p.m. PT
AT&T SportsNet/Mountain West Network

SAN JOSE STATE RECORD
3-2, 1-1 Mountain West.

NEVADA RECORD
3-2, 0-1 Mountain West. The Wolf Pack lost to Hawaii, 54-3, on September 29. Nevada had a bye the week of October 5.

RADIO COVERAGE
KKSF (910 AM, Oakland), RealTalk 910, is the new flagship radio station for San Jose State football. Justin Allegri calls the play-by-play. Kevin Richardson provides commentary. The Nevada broadcast begins at 12:30 p.m. PT with a pregame show.

Network affiliates are KION (1460 AM/101.1 FM, Salinas), KFIV (1360 AM, Modesto), KWSX (1280 AM, Stockton).

The San Jose State-Nevada broadcast with Justin Allegri and Kevin Richardson calling the action also will be carried on www.siriusxm.com Channel 981.

KSJS (90.5 FM, San Jose) also will broadcast the San Jose State-Nevada game starting with Ryan Carlson handling all duties starting at 12:45 p.m. PT.

TELEVISION
AT&T Sports Network will provide broadcast coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m. PT. Drew Goodman calls the play-by-play. Sed Bonner provides commentary. AT&T Sports Network is available on DirecTV Channel 684, and DISH Network Channel 414.

SERIES HISTORY
Nevada leads the series, 21-9-2. The Wolf Pack have won the last two games and nine of the last 11 in a series that dates back to 1899. A year ago, Nevada posted a 21-12 triumph over San Jose State.

San Jose State’s last win in the series was a 14-10 win in CEFCU Stadium on October 15, 2016.

The Spartans are winless in their last eight trips to Mackay Stadium in Reno. San Jose State’s last win there was a 49-30 decision on October 21, 2000.

ON THE MINDS
San Jose State can finish the weekend of October 12 with a 4-2 overall win-loss record for the first time since 2012 with a win at Nevada. Since then, the Spartans’ best win-loss record after six games was 3-3 in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

STAKES ARE HIGH
This game gives San Jose State its first opportunity since the 2015 season to be 2-1 in Mountain West action after three games and to win a conference road game since the November 26, 2016 triumph at Fresno State, 16-14. Since the win in Fresno, the Spartans returned to San Jose with a conference loss in nine consecutive contests — four in 2017, four in 2018 and earlier this season at Air Force.

SEEKING A WIN STREAK
The Nevada game marks the third time this season San Jose State can notch its first two-game winning streak since defeating UNLV, 33-10, on October 4, and winning at Wyoming, 27-20 in overtime, on October 18, 2014.

NATIONAL LEADER IN TURNOVER MARGIN
A point of emphasis for this year’s San Jose State team is finishing in the top-25 in turnover margin.

After six games, San Jose State is the national in turnover margin at +11 or 2.2 per game in games played through October 5. The Spartans have 11 interceptions, which is second nationally, and four fumble recoveries. Florida, which has played six games, is the national leader with 12 interceptions.

For its first five games, San Jose State lost the ball four times on three fumbles and one pass interception. Through games of October 5, the Spartans are tied for eighth nationally in fewest times losing the ball.

POINTS OFF OF TURNOVERS
After five games, San Jose State has scored 37 points off of opponent turnovers compared to none by the opposition. The 37 points have come in the three Spartan wins this season — 14 vs. Northern Colorado, seven at Arkansas, and a season-high 16 against New Mexico.

The 16 points came in handy in the 11-point win over New Mexico and seven points was the difference in a 31-24 victory at Arkansas. San Jose State defeated Northern Colorado, 35-18.

BACK-TO-BACK WEEKS BLOCKING A KICK
If it’s a Friday, it must mean the San Jose State will execute a blocked kick. In the Friday, September 27 game at Air Force, linebacker Hadari Darden was credited with deflecting an Air Force extra-point attempt after a Falcons’ third-quarter touchdown.

On Friday, October 4 against New Mexico, wide receiver Bailey Gaither blocked a first-quarter punt for the second time in his career.

The Spartans enter the week tied for eighth nationally in blocked kicks with two.

While you’re on the site, check out the recent press releases on Josh Love and Matt Mercurio:

JOSH LOVE & MATT MERCURIO NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 
For the second time in three weeks, two San Jose State players received Mountain West football’s Player of the Week honors.

Quarterback Josh Love was named the Mountain West “Offensive Player of the Week” for the second time this season and kicker Matt Mercurio was named the Mountain West “Special Teams Player of the Week.”

Love, a senior, completed 24-of-36 passes without an interception for a season-high 405 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 32-21 conference win over New Mexico on October 4. The signal caller received the same Mountain West honor after San Jose State defeated Arkansas, 31-24, on September 21.

Mercurio, a freshman, tied a San Jose State single game school record kicking four field goals in five attempts and converted two extra point tries in the win. He accounted for the team’s last 13 points with a PAT and field goals of 24, 33, a career-long 49, and a second 24-yard field goal.

JOSH LOVE NAMED TO DAVEY O’BRIEN AWARD GREAT 8
San Jose State’s Josh Love is one of eight FBS quarterbacks named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 list for games played the week ending October 5.

Love completed 24-of-36 passes without an interception for a season-high 405 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 32-21 conference win over New Mexico on October 4.

The fifth-year senior is the first San Jose State quarterback recognized by the Davey O’Brien Award for weekly excellence at the position since David Fales during the 2013 season.

For the year, Love has completed 61.9 percent of his passes with only one interception for 1,418 yards and seven touchdowns.

The other seven quarterbacks recognized as the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 for Week 6 include Ian Book, Notre Dame; Joe Burrow, LSU; Jett Duffey, Texas Tech; Sam Howell, North Carolina; Jake Luton, Oregon State; Brock Purdy, Iowa State; and Khalil Tate, Arizona.

The Davey O’Brien Award’s Quarterback of the Week from the Great 8 honorees will be announced on Tuesday, October 8.