Senior quarterback Luke Weaver attempting a pass over fifth-year defensive end Brett Karhu on Oct. 31. (Photo courtesy of SJSU athletics)
By Lucas Quick
SAN JOSE – Despite San Jose State football (4-5, 2-3 MW) tricking New Mexico (7-1, 4-0 MW), the Lobos still came out with the treat in a tight 21-16 win.
Playing behind the Lobos for the majority of the match, the Spartans defense wound up keeping them in the game. They forced three turnovers and won the turnover margin against a Lobos team who led the nation in turnover margin prior to this game. However, the offense squandered a couple of chances to pull off the upset.
Down 21-9 in the fourth quarter, sophomore safety Tuli Tagovailoa-Amosa made the biggest play of the game, jumping the route of fifth-year wide receiver Miles Williams and intercepting sophomore quarterback Toa Fa’avae, returning it for a 89-yard touchdown and cutting the deficit to 21-16. It was his first career interception.
“As soon as I saw that ball tipped, I knew as soon as I caught the ball that it was a touchdown,” Tagovailoa-Amosa said. “Shoutout to my teammates, they had great blocks.”
A Lobos three and out the very next New Mexico drive and a blocked field goal attempt gave the Spartans offense one final chance to take a late lead and pull off a potential upset.
The Lobos defense would make their biggest impact of the game on back-to-back plays. A sack by fifth-year defensive end Brett Karhu for a loss of 14 yards would kill all momentum SJSU had on its drive, following interceptions by fifth-year linebacker Jayden Flake and fifth-year safety Austin Brawley would seal the game for New Mexico.
After back-to-back three and outs by the SJSU offense and trailing 14-3 in the second quarter, senior safety Brian Dukes picked off Fa’avae and set the offense in opposing territory.
The ensuing play, the Spartans take their first shot of the game, as Weaver connects with freshman wide receiver Carson Clark for 32 yards to put them in the red zone and results in a 24-yard field goal by junior kicker Trajan Sinatra.
It wouldn’t take long until the Spartans were back in scoring position, as junior linebacker Dylan Lee forced a second straight interception to put them in the red zone again. However, the offense yet again weren’t able to capitalize it to a touchdown, resulting in a 28-yard field goal to cut the Lobos lead down to 14-9 at halftime.
“We felt like we could’ve executed a little bit more,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “We had one run to feel like we had a chance to score but we got backed up a little bit. You have to turn those into some touchdowns.”
Going into the half with momentum on their side, the Spartans lost it immediately. They opened the half on a three and out, proceeding to the Lobos marching down the field. The 9-play, 89 yard drive, capped off by a leaping 20-yard touchdown grab by junior tight end Cade Keith to give the Lobos more breathing room, up 21-9.
The rushing attack for the Lobos caused problems all day for the Spartans, running for 231 yards. Their top two running backs had efficient outings. Junior running back Kiefer Sibley finished with 12 carries for 102 yards and senior running back Scottre Humphrey had a pair of touchdowns on 16 carries for 87 yards.
After being demoted the previous two games, Weaver came back in as starter, finishing the game 16-of-23, 190 yards, 2 touchdowns and the 2 fourth quarter interceptions.
Alongside him was Clark, leading all receivers with 8 catches for 91 yards. Being shadowed in the first half, he took over in the second half, including having an impressive one-handed grab.
“He’s extremely talented,” Weaver said. “He’s a guy that just continues to find the ball and does his job every time he continues to do that.”
The Spartans were 14.5 point underdogs and kept a tight game against the top-seeded Lobos, but the offense woes continued. They’ve scored as many touchdowns in the last two games as the defense.
They look to shake off their two-game losing skid against Northern Illinois at 1 p.m. on Nov. 7 at CEFCU Stadium.
