San Jose State Spartans Kairee Robinson (32) scores a first half touchdown against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Clarence TC Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu on Sat Oct 28, 2023 (AP News)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ October 28, 2023 

It was a homecoming for both sides Saturday as San Jose’s quarterback Chevan Cordeiro and kicker Kyler Halvorsen made their playing returns to The Aloha State, after transferring to the mainland team in 2022.

 The rivalry Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy remained with the Spartans in this Mountain West matchup. Both continued in their respective losing and winning streaks. It was a double loss for Hawai’i as they were held scoreless for the first time in 25 years and their Homecoming streak was snapped at five. 

Cordeiro passed 16/26 with two touchdowns for 251 yards. Running back Kairee Robinson rushed 17 times for 146 yards. averaging 8.6 yards per carry.

The game definitely did not go the way it started, with Cordeiro recovering his beginning fumble the only positive play. Halvorsen capped the drive by missing the field goal attempt.

The Warriors’ second drive did not look much better, but had a net positive two yards after third down.  Furthermore, Jalen Smith incurred an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which the Spartans took advantage of. San Jose converted nine straight times, twice on third down, with Quali Conley running through a wide open path thanks to his teammate’s blocking with 4:07 left. 

Hawai’i’s Isaiah Tufaga was able to force a fumble in between, but the Spartans recovered the next drive, scoring off four third-down conversions this time in the second quarter. Nick Nash made it 14-0 with 5:16 left as he caught the ball next to the left end line. At this point, San Jose had more than triple the time of the Warriors’ possession. 

In this one multi-touchdown quarter, the 21-0 scoring drive used a 35-yard pass to Charles Ross on third down to the red zone and two rushes by Robinson. Robinson’s second run ended with 38 seconds left as he entered the end zone easily. 

The Spartans just needed to convert once to light up the third quarter scoreboard, as they scored within the first five minutes this time. Robinson scored his second touchdown with a 52-yard run, as a multitude of black jerseys were unable to catch up, quadrupling San Jose’s lead.  

The Warriors’ had their best chance to put points on the board with 12:15 left in the third, when punter Matthew Shipley ended up his teams’ leading rusher. He converted a fake punt 17 yards on 4th-and-14 to put Hawai’i on the SJSU 33, after Kejuan Bullard Jr. was charged with a late hit penalty.  Nevertheless, after a play in between, Brayden Schager’s throw sailed past his receivers into the Spartans’  hands. 

San Jose converted their first fourth down with a 16-yard pass from Cordeiro to Nash. Hawai’i’s defense stepped up from this 13-yard line, preventing the Spartans from venturing outside of the red zone. 

However, the same could not be said for the Warriors’ following offensive drive. They converted six straight plays, but then Schager was called for intentional grounding and sacked by Soane Toia to end the third.  

San Jose did not leave the fourth empty handed, as Cordeiro tossed to Nash while evading defenders. With 6:45 left in the contest, the 35-0 would be the final score.

The Warriors replied by bringing in backup quarterback Jake Farrell for his first action this season. He completed three passes for 14 yards before an interception that resulted in the Spartans’ Andrew Jenkins’ unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

San Jose’s backup Jay Butterfield was able to get in some snaps as well.

Game notes: The Spartans will next play Fresno State November 11th at 7:30pm.