Photo credit: @SanJoseStateFB

By Ana Kieu

San Jose State had hoped to string together two wins in a row on Saturday afternoon against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Mackay Stadium. Did the Spartans do that? Unfortunately, no.

Nevada opened the scoring with a two-yard touchdown by Devonte Lee at 10:17 of the first quarter. The Wolf Pack made it 14-0 after Austin Arnold returned an interception for a 40-yard score with 9:34 left. Brandon Talton hit both extra points.

SJSU got on the board when Matt Mercurio made a 44-yard field goal to pull within 11 with 7:10 left. The Spartans trailed 14-3 at the end of the first.

Nevada made it 21-3 at 14:00 of the second quarter as Devonte Lee ran for a 1-yard touchdown. Brandon Talton made a 25-yard field goal to put the Wolf Pack ahead 24-3 with 5:12 left.

Josh Love threw a 37-yard pass to Isaiah Hamilton, who scored the touchdown, and the Spartans pulled within 14 with just 27 seconds left. SJSU continued to trail, 24-10, at the halftime break.

Malik Henry threw a 75-yard pass to Romeo Doubs, who scored the touchdown, and the Wolf Pack made it 31-10 at 14:52 of the third quarter.

Just seconds later, SJSU pulled within 14, again, as Josh Love threw a 60-yard pass to Bailey Gaither, who scored the touchdown at 14:17. The Spartans tacked on a 1-yard DeJon Packer touchdown to pull within 7 with 6:09 left. The Spartans trailed 31-24 at the end of the third.

Thanks to Josh Love’s 20-yard pass to Tre Walker, SJSU tied the game 31-31 with 8:20 left in the fourth quarter. Nevada, however, rained on SJSU’s parade with a 1-yard Toa Taua touchdown to lead 38-31. Sure, SJSU tied the game, 38-38, once again, courtesy of a 2-yard DeJon Packer touchdown — his second of the game — with 2:36 left. But the Wolf Pack capped off the scoring with a 40-yard field goal by Brandon Talton on the final play.

SJSU (3-3, 1-2 Mountain West) lost to Nevada (4-2, 1-1 Mountain West) by a final score of 41-38.

NOTES: SJSU’s game captains were Sailosi Latu, Jesse Osuna, Josh Love and Troy Kowalski … For the third time this season, SJSU was unable to win back-to-back games. SJSU arrived into Nevada after defeating New Mexico, 32-21 … The loss to Nevada marked the first time this season SJSU scored at least 30 points in a game and lost. The 38 points scored against Nevada were a season-high … SJSU was 2-of-12 for the game and 0-of-7 on third-down conversions in the first half. Each third-down conversion in the second half led to a Spartan touchdown … Nevada became the first team to score on a Spartan turnover this season when Austin Arnold returned a Josh Love interception 38 yards to give the Wolf Pack a 14-0 first quarter lead. Nevada got a second takeaway when Brandon Ezell fumbled a possible punt return after a punt hit Zamore Zigler in the helmet, but was unable to score on the possession … SJSU came up with interceptions by Ezell, his third of the season, and Rico Tolefree, his second in as many games, and forced a turnover when Nehemiah Shelton forced a Toa Taua fumble at the Spartan goal line resulting in a touchback … The Spartans now have 18 takeaways for the season on 13 interceptions and five fumble recoveries … Isaiah Holiness made his first start of the season at a running back position. He didn’t have any carries or pass receptions … Matt Mercurio has made his last five field goal tries after converting a 44-yard kick for SJSU’s only first-quarter score. He’s now 8-for-11 on the season … E.J. Ane was credited with SJSU’s first quarterback sack since the opening game of the season versus Northern Colorado … Isaiah Hamilton’s 37-yard touchdown reception was a season long pass reception for him. In the season-opening win over Northern Colorado, Hamilton caught a 32-yard pass … Bailey Gather notched his fourth 100-plus yard receiving game as a Spartan with a season-high 131 pass receiving yards and a touchdown on five receptions … Romeo Doubs’ 75-yard touchdown catch for Nevada to open the second half was the longest pass play given up by SJSU this season … Jay Lenard was the game’s leading tackler with 13 stops. Kyle Harmon was next with a single-game, career-high 12 tackles.

UP NEXT: The Spartans return home to welcome the San Diego State Aztecs on Saturday, October 19 at 4:00 p.m.