Category: San Jose State Spartans

Shorthanded Spartans drop contest to UNLV 76-62

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San Jose State Spartans Melvin Bell Jr scored a career high 22 points against the UNLV Runnin Rebels at Provident Union Event Center at San Jose on Sat Jan 17, 2026 (SJSU photo)

By Ryan Hannagan

San Jose — UNLV pulled away late to defeat shorthanded San Jose State 76-62 on Saturday afternoon, capitalizing on its depth and timely scoring runs to secure a Mountain West victory.

The Spartans dressed just seven players and were without leading scorer Colby Garland, who remains sidelined with a concussion. San Jose State also missed Ben Roseborough, Javaughn Hannah, Yaphet Moundhi and Jermaine Washington, leaving the Spartans thin against a UNLV team that entered the game favored.

Despite the limitations, San Jose State (6-12, 1-6 Mountain West) showed early resilience, trading baskets with the Rebels before UNLV began to find rhythm offensively. A Rebel run midway through the first half pushed the lead to eight, but the Spartans responded with a 9-1 surge to tie the game at 14.

San Jose State relied heavily on its interior offense in the opening half, drawing fouls and converting at the free throw line as perimeter shots failed to fall consistently. The Spartans briefly regained the lead at 20-19 with 8:23 remaining, but UNLV answered with a decisive 16-5 run to seize control.

Adrian Myers provided a spark late in the half, knocking down a 3-pointer and converting a pair of free throws to pull the Spartans within four. UNLV closed the half on another run and took a 40-31 lead into the locker room.

The Rebels opened the second half with efficient shooting, extending their advantage, but San Jose State adjusted offensively and found success from beyond the arc. A strong stretch of perimeter shooting cut the deficit to three and briefly swung momentum.

As the half progressed, the Spartans balanced inside scoring with perimeter looks, but UNLV maintained a cushion for much of the second half. Each San Jose State push was met with a response from the Rebels, who repeatedly halted comeback attempts.

Fatigue eventually set in for the undermanned Spartans, and UNLV pulled away in the closing minutes to secure the 76-62 win.

UNLV improved to 9-8 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while San Jose State fell to 6-12 overall and 1-6 in Mountain West action.

Spartans fall 81-68 in hard fought battle against San Diego State

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San Diego State University guard Elzie Harrington (3) guards SJSU Spartans guard Colby Garland (0) at Provident Credit Union Arena in San Jose Tue Dec 30, 2025 (SJSU Spartans photo)

By Ryan Hannagan

San Jose, Calif–The Spartans (5-7) entered the contest looking to snap a two game losing streak after falling at New Mexico, 88-65, and at home against Stanford, 86-82. San Jose State came in 4-2 on its home floor but winless against teams at .500 or better this season. The Aztecs, now 7-4, were playing their second conference game after opening Mountain West play with a loss to New Mexico.

San Jose State now 5-8 was without Javaughn Hannah, Ben Roseborough and Sadraque Nganga, further testing the Spartans’ depth against a physical Aztecs squad now 8-4 after defeating the Spartans 81-68 at Provident Credit Union on Tuesday night.

Turnovers plagued the Spartans early, allowing San Diego State to capitalize in transition. The Aztecs’ fastbreak offense helped build a double digit lead less than 10 minutes into the game.

San Jose State responded with a strong run midway through the first half, cutting what had been a sizable deficit down to a one possession game in a five minute span. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, though foul trouble emerged as a new concern for the Spartans. San Diego State went 9 of 14 from the free throw line in the opening half.

San Jose State forward Yaphet Moundhi left the game with just under three minutes remaining in the first half and did not return before the break. The Aztecs took a 42-38 lead into halftime.

Moundhi returned to the bench to start the second half but did not re-enter the game. Jermaine Washington opened the half with a 3 pointer to trim the Aztecs’ lead to one, setting the tone for a competitive second period.

Behind a scoring surge from Colby Garland, the Spartans tied the game at 49 with 14:30 remaining and briefly took a 53-51 lead shortly after. The game remained tight for more than 10 minutes, with neither team able to create separation.

That changed when San Diego State went on a key late run, pushing its lead to eight and halting San Jose State’s comeback momentum. The Aztecs maintained control from there, closing out the win.

Garland led a strong second half effort for the Spartans after a quiet opening half. San Jose State also excelled at the free throw line, shooting 94 percent as a team.

Despite the loss, the Spartans showed resilience, limiting turnovers and fouls while executing within their system. The effort, however, was not enough to overcome San Diego State’s late surge.

Stanford Cardinal Daniel Dullum podcast: Stanford holds on at the end to defeat SJSU 86-82

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Stanford Cardinal forward Chisom Okpara (10) and guard Jeremy Dent-Smith (25) battle the San Jose State Spartans at Provident Union Event Center in San Jose on Sat Dec 13, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal X photo)

Stanford Cardinal Daniel Dullum podcast:

#1 Stanford’s AJ Rohosy, shot 8-for-9 and scored 20 points Saturday night — what did you see from the San José State defense that allowed him to have such a high-efficiency night?”

#2 Stanford’s Chisom Okpara, hit all three of his 3-point attempts. What helped him stay so confident from deep in a tight road game?

#3 Jeremy Dent-Smith, added four 3-pointers and gave Stanford a spark — how important was it to keep the offensive momentum going when San José State went on their late run?

#4 Stanford’s guard Benny Gealer, closed the game from the free-throw line — what was going through his mind at the end there, and how did he handle pressure situations like that?

#5 Stanford guard Ryan Agarwal, nearly posted a double-digit rebound night with 11 points and nine boards — how do you think Stanford’s defense and rebounding impacted his ability to control the game?

Daniel Dullum does the Stanford Cardinal podcasts each Sunday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal game wrap: Cardinal Conquer the Spartans 86-82 in Silicon Valley Capital City, Saturday Evening

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Stanford Cardinal guard Jeremy Dent-Smith throws the ball with a big smile in front of the San Jose State Spartans bench at Provident Credit Union Event Center in San Jose on Sat Dec 13, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal X photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Stanford Cardinal (8-2) invaded the South Bay campus of the San Jose Spartans (5-6) and handed them a 86-82 loss in the Santa Clara County Clash.

The Cardinal wasted no time jumping all over their regional neighbor.  They lad by as many as 14 points in the first half, with the assistance of a 6-0 run.  This was accomplished without the services of their freshman sensation, Ebuka Okorie.

Okorie was held out of the game with a reported lower body injury.  The team’s leading scorer (21) and assists (3.1) guy was apparently not needed for the dispatching of the Spartans. Stanford controlled the first 20 minutes of the game, never trailing or tied.

At recess, the visitors from Palo Alto led by eight points, 44-36.  Two of their players reached double-figures.  Senior forward Chisom Okpara led with 13 points, senor guard Jeremy Dent-Smith added 11 points to the Cardinal total.

The Spartans only presented one player to reach the aforementioned plateau.  Senior forward Yaphet Moundi led his squad with 10 points.

In the second half, Stanford increased their single-digit halftime advantage to a high of 14 points, although SJSU did cut the deficit to four points midway through the second stanza..

The Cardinal immediately went on a 7-0 run over 1:29 span, putting them back up by 11.  The lead did reach 14 points, as it did in the first half.

The Spartan did try to utilize their swords and shield to knock over the mighty Tree, but the Cardinal seemed to have an answer for every SJSU run.  They cut it to two a couple of times, but Stanford had the every time..

The crucial sequence was a turnover by SJSU with 7 seconds left in regulation.  Gealer was fouled with 3-6 seconds left.  His clutch free throws sealed the game, and gave the Cardinal a four point victory, 86-82.

Okpara and AJ Rohosy both led the Cardinal with 20 points each, while Den-Smith added 16 and Agarwal chipped in 11.  SJSU was led by Moundi’s 26 points and 5 rebounds, and Colby Garland 20 points 9 assists, , in addition to Adrian Myers contributing 14 points.

The Cardinal will next be in action Wednesday, December 17, as they host UT-Arlington at 7 PM PT on ACCNX.  The Spartans travel to the Southwest to take on New Mexico Saturday, December 20, at 6 PM PT on MWN.

San Jose State Falters Late to UC Irvine 72-63

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San Jose State University Spartans guard Ben Roseborough (11) drives the lane for a layup against the UC Irvine Anteaters at Provident Credit Union Event Center in San Jose on Sun Nov 30, 2025 (SJSU Spartans photo)

By Ryan Hannagan

SAN JOSE, Calif. — UC Irvine held off San Jose State 72-63 on Saturday afternoon at Provident Credit Union Event Center, pulling away midway through the second half after a tight, back and forth matchup for most of the game.

The meeting marked the first of a four-game homestand for the Spartans (3-5), who entered the day coming off a win over Loyola Chicago. The Anteaters (5-4) arrived with slight favorability at a 53% win probability, per ESPN — and validated it behind strong transition play and a dominant performance from guard Derin Saran.

San Jose State remained without key contributor Javaughn Hannah, but early on, the game lived up to expectations of being closely contested. Sadraque Nganga opened the scoring with a free throw, but the Spartans didn’t make their first field goal until nearly three minutes in, when Jermaine Washington slammed home a fast break dunk. The Spartans struggles from the field continued the entirety of the game.

Despite shooting just 28% from the field in the first half, the Spartans kept the deficit manageable. UC Irvine built leads of six and later nine, but San Jose State repeatedly clawed back, including a tip in at the buzzer to trim the halftime score to 36-34. Nganga led SJSU with 10 points at the break, while Saran paced UCI with 12.

Washington tied the game at 36 to open the second half, but once again the Anteaters responded with a run. A three from Adrian Myers in his return off the bench briefly halted the momentum, yet UC Irvine continued to generate separation.

The Spartans’ offensive struggles worsened as the half progressed. UC Irvine’s lead swelled to 11 with just over 10 minutes remaining, capitalizing on SJSU turnovers, defensive lapses and transition miscues. San Jose State made one final push, trimming the deficit to five after a sequence of scores from Yaphet Moundi and Ben Roseborough, but Saran responded with a three pointer and a layup on consecutive possessions to restore a double digit lead.

A late three from UCI’s Justin Dixon extended the margin to 69-58 with 4:24 left, effectively sealing the game. The Anteaters held control from there.

“The physicality,” Roseborough told Sports Radio Service when asked about the cause of second half collapse. “They hit first, you got to hit first. Loose balls, everything like that, you got to get to it. They played way harder than us tonight.”

Head coach Tim Miles echoed that assessment.

“Credit Irvine — they ran the floor well. They did all the things that winning teams do. … Ultimately, I didn’t think we were great in transition defense and I didn’t think we converted well on the offensive side, especially in the interior.”

San Jose State shot just 31% from the field (22 of 70) compared with UC Irvine’s 49% (30 of 61). Despite winning the rebounding battle 43-41 — including 19 offensive boards — the Spartans were outscored 50-26 in the paint and 24-6 on fast breaks.

Roseborough led SJSU with 12 points. Saran finished with a game-high 24 for the Anteaters.

The loss marks San Jose State’s first home setback of the season. The Spartans continue their homestand later this week as they look to regroup and find their footing before conference play.

San Jose State Basketball dominates Bethesda in their home opener 110-56

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San Jose Spartans Japhet Moupadele (21) gets the throw down against the Bethesda University Flames at Provident Credit Union Arena in San Jose on Mon Nov 17, 2025 (SJSU Spartans photo)

By Ryan Hannagan and Lincoln Juarez

San Jose, Calif–The Spartans (1-3) buried the Flames (0-4) under a relentless first half surge, turning an early 9-8 deficit into a 15-0 run that broke the game open and came away with a 110-56 victory at Provident Credit Union Arena. San Jose State led 54-24 at the break and never let up in a wire to wire blowout.

SJSU guard Colby Garland scored a team high 17 points, and Roseborough added 12, all in the first half to pace the Spartans’ balanced offense. Camron Durr led Bethesda with 11 points.

San Jose State dominated nearly every statistical category. The Spartans shot 65% from the field (43 of 66) and 52% from 3 point range (12 of 23), while holding Bethesda to 30% shooting overall. SJSU outrebounded the Flames 55-18 and outscored them 60-18 in the paint.

The only brief scare for SJSU came early in the second half, when Garland went down awkwardly after a collision under the basket. He returned quickly and said afterward the issue wasn’t serious.

“Oh I’m actually feeling pretty good,” Garland told Sports Radio Service. “…I injured this ankle early in preseason, so it’s been lingering. It tightened up a bit, but I went to the back, got a few massages and went right back out there. I feel good.”

San Jose State opened the game hitting shots at a high clip but struggled with turnovers early. Once the Spartans cleaned up their possessions, the offense exploded behind strong ball movement and physical interior play. Bethesda briefly slowed the run with a 3 pointer midway through the half, but the Spartans controlled the rest of the night.

SJSU’s starters combined for 64 points, including strong showings from Jermaine Washington and Yaphet Moundi, who opened the second half with a 3 pointer to extend the margin.

With the win, SJSU is now 1-3, while Bethesda falls to 0-4.

San Jose State returns to action later this week looking to build on its first victory of the season.

Air Force takes advantage of SJSU turnovers and run right through the Spartans for a 26-16 Victory

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Despite the San Jose State University Spartans hard efforts they fell ten points short for a win against the visiting Air Force Falcons at Spartan Stadium in San Jose on Sat Nov 8, 2025 (SJSU Spartans photo)

By Lincoln Juarez

SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State turns the ball over three times in route to disappointing 26-16 loss to Air Force in conference battle. SJSU quarterbacks passed for 341 yards but did not pass for a touchdown as the lone endzone finder came via the struggling run game.

The Spartans kicked off a Mountain West matchup against Air Force Saturday afternoon at CEFCU Stadium. Coming in at 2-6 overall Air Force aimed for their second conference win of the season, while the Spartans hoped to shoot above .500 in conference play.

The SJSU defense provided the spark in the opening quarter with two three-and-out drives forced on the Air Force offense.

The Spartans’ first drive spanned nearly two minutes resulting in a Denis Lynch 31-yard field goal for the first score of the game. That was the only time the Spartans scored in the first half.

On State’s next drive, quarterback Walker Eget scrambled up field for 12 yards and a first down but took a hard hit on his way to the ground. Eget came out of the game for a few plays but luckily re-entered on the next drive. Eget threw two interceptions as part of the three SJSU turnovers which resulted in Air Force points.

The Falcons took a handle on the game in the second quarter outscoring the Spartans 16-0, including a safety on one of the wilder plays you’ll see, earning a commanding 16-3 lead going into halftime. Air Force totalled 94 offensive yards with only 11 passing yards as they ran the ball right through the SJSU defense on 24 total plays in the second quarter.

State answered back with another field goal in the third quarter before eventually scoring 10 in the fourth to make it somewhat close toward the end. Freshman, Steve Chavez-Soto rushed the only Spartan touchdown as part of his team-leading 49 rushing yards in the game.

Air Force matched the Spartans’ 10 point fourth quarter to come out on top with a 26-16 victory improving to 2-4 in the Mountain West Conference this year.

With no turnovers and a better run game, the Spartans most likely come out on top of this game. However, it’s onto the next for San Jose State as they head to Reno next week for a matchup against last place Nevada.

San Jose State Outlasts Hawai’i 45-38 in Dick Tomey Legacy Game

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San Jose Spartans defensive linebacker Quincy Likio (91) is excited with the direction of the game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose on Sat Nov 1, 2025 (photo by San Jose State University)

By Ryan Hannagan

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Behind a dominant passing performance from quarterback Walker Eget and a three-touchdown effort from running back Steve Chavez-Soto, San Jose State held off Hawai’i 45-38 on Saturday night in the annual Dick Tomey Legacy Game.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Spartans and marked their second straight home victory over the Rainbow Warriors. It was also the first time since 2013 that San Jose State had three receivers eclipse 100 receiving yards in the same game.

Eget continued his hot streak, completing 20 of 40 passes for 458 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The Spartans’ offense exploded for 630 total yards, including 533 through the air.

Hawai’i opened the scoring on its first drive, marching 73 yards in nearly seven minutes before Cameron Barfield punched in a 1-yard touchdown run. The Spartans quickly responded with a 37-yard pass from Eget to Danny Scudero, setting up Chavez-Soto’s first touchdown of the game to tie it 7-7 late in the first quarter.

The second quarter belonged to San Jose State. Eget connected with Chavez-Soto for a 20-yard score to take the lead, and running back Lamar Radcliffe added a 1-yard touchdown run to extend the advantage to 21-7. Scudero then hauled in a 50-yard touchdown to make it 28-14 before a late field goal gave the Spartans a 31-14 halftime lead.

Hawai’i came out firing in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 31-21 with a quick touchdown. The Spartans immediately answered as Eget hit Scudero again for a 62-yard strike. The Rainbow Warriors wouldn’t go away, responding with a 2-yard touchdown run by Landon Sims to make it 38-28 entering the fourth.

Hawai’i continued to fight back in the final quarter, narrowing the gap to 38-35 with a 20-yard touchdown pass. San Jose State, however, regained control when Chavez-Soto powered in his third touchdown of the game, sealing the 45-38 victory.

Eget said the team was prepared for Hawai’i’s late surge.

“I mean we expected a dog fight, especially in the fourth quarter,” Eget said. “It’s hard to win football games, just being able to stay on the attack, our offense just not stopping, continuing to move the ball. I think that’s the biggest point of emphasis that we talked about this week — just being able to finish, just being able to stay on the attack. I think Coach Ken did a great job with the last few drives, play calls. Even though it got close for a little bit, we expected that. We’ve been talking about just winning in the fourth quarter.”

Scudero led all receivers with 215 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches, while Chavez-Soto finished with 53 rushing yards and three scores. Radcliffe added 97 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

For Hawai’i, quarterback Micah Alejado threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Jackson Harris six times for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

San Jose State improved to 3-5 with the win, while Hawai’i fell to 6-3. The Spartans will look to extend their winning streak to two when they take on Air Force next week for more conference play.

Team Statistics:

  • First Downs: Hawai’i 22, San Jose State 26
  • Total Yards: Hawai’i 496, San Jose State 630
  • Turnovers: Hawai’i 1, San Jose State 0
  • Time of Possession: Hawai’i 33:10, San Jose State 26:50

Notable Individual Performances:

  • SJSU QB Walker Eget: 20/40, 458 YDS, 2 TD
  • SJSU RB Steve Chavez-Soto: 10 CAR, 53 YDS, 3 TD
  • SJSU WR Danny Scudero: 7 REC, 215 YDS, 2 TD
  • SJSU WR Kyri Schoels: 5 REC, 109 YDS
  • Hawai’i QB Micah Alejado: 31/46, 367 YDS, 3 TD
  • Hawai’i WR Jackson Harris: 6 REC, 134 YDS, 2 TD
  • Hawai’i RB Landon Sims: 13 CAR, 57 YDS, 1 TD

With the victory, San Jose State honored the late Dick Tomey’s legacy by putting on one of its most complete offensive performances of the season.

Second Half Spark: Spartans Turn it Around in Exhibition Scare 73-60

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San Jose State University Spartans forward Colby Garland (0) takes the ball up the floor against Cal State East Bay at Provident Union Event Sports Center in San Jose on Mon Oct 27, 2025 (San Jose State University photo)

By Ryan Hannagan

SAN JOSE–An exhibition game against Cal State East Bay Pioneers didn’t exactly start off as planned for the Spartans on Monday night. But in the end which where it really counts the Spartans came away with a 73-60 win.

Early foul trouble amongst starters and poor shooting in the first half led the Spartans to a rough start. After 20 minutes, the Spartans trailed 38-36 going into half. 

When asked about what was discussed at half time, head coach Tim Miles told Sports Radio Service, “We’re not going to lose this game because we don’t work at it, free throws are mental toughness. Free throws are discipline… When a team doesn’t make free throws, to me, they’re not ready to play. Mind right, game right.”

What was discussed at half time sparked the Spartans in the right direction. With consecutive three pointers from Javaughn Hannah, the second half began with a 7-0 run that reversed the momentum in the favor of the blue and yellow.

The Spartans turned a slim deficit into a lead they didn’t give up for the remainder of the game, all the while East Bay struggled with foul trouble and missed field goals.

Hannah finished with a game high 17 points, continuing to dominate in the closing minutes. With forward Jermaine Washington spending a lot of time on the bench due to foul trouble, Colby Garland contributed 12 points, all in the first half, to help SJSU stay within striking distance of the game.

Although the exhibition wasn’t easy, it provided the obstacles, chemistry, and opportunity that preseason games are meant to provide.

According to Miles, “that first half showed we weren’t sharing it, we weren’t trying to create for anybody else.” “We were prepared to play in the second half.”

SJSU ended a more difficult than expected opener by winning the last battles on the boards and at the free throw line. The Spartans depart with a reminder of the standard they wish to maintain and the pressing need to reach it as the regular season approaches.

Walker Eget, New Running Back Room Shine as Spartans Halt Late Comeback Attempt defeat New Mexico 35-28

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San Jose State University Spartans quarterback Walker Eget (5) gets a pass off against the visiting New Mexico Lobos at Spartan Stadium in San Jose on Sat Oct 3, 2025 (photo from Winners and Whiners)

by Austin Ota

SAN JOSE — Following a heartbreaking loss on the road in the Bill Walsh Legacy Game, San Jose State returned home and put on an offensive show for its home crowd, taking down Mountain West-foe New Mexico, 35-28.

With 2024 receiving triple crown winner Nick Nash watching his alma mater on the sidelines, the Spartans (2-3, 1-0 Mountain West) gashed a surging New Mexico Lobos (3-2, 0-1 Mountain West) defense.

“That’s a really good football team,” said head coach Ken Niumatalolo. “Coach Eck — what he’s done — they had to start from ground zero. Their team was 3-1, with some big wins. They’re well coached. That was a hard-fought win.”

After redshirt-senior quarterback Walker Eget fired a career-high 58 past attempts against the Cardinal, the Spartans opened the Friday night bout against the Lobos with a curveball: establishing the run. Five of the first ten plays from scrimmage were rushes, including a third down run from Steve Chavez-Soto to put the Spartans up early. At the end of their first drive, the Spartans ran three straight times, marking just the second time since opening night against Central Michigan they’ve done so.

San Jose State followed with its best defensive possession of the first half. Lobo quarterback Jack Layne, who followed head coach Jason Eck from FBS Idaho, showed his game-management tendencies early on as he weaved through the Spartan defense. But as New Mexico’s run-first offense churned through three- and four-year gains, they had turned field position after converting on a fourth-and-one try.

It was a continued theme for the Spartans, who entered the game having allowed 10 conversions on 12 fourth down tries.

But a pass defense that has also struggled turned the tide on the next play. Larry Turner-Gooden had originally lined up as the man-defender marking the Lobo running back, but as he recognized the flea-flicker try from the opposition, Turner-Gooden floated back into coverage and made an acrobatic play on the football along the boundary for the Spartans’ second interception of the season and more importantly, the first of the safeties’ career.

Eget continued to slice apart New Mexico’s defense, connecting with Matthew Coleman early in the second quarter to put the Spartans up by a pair of touchdowns. Eget was terrific through an early three-safety shell, surely placed by the Lobos following the Spartan air-raid against the Cardinal.

“The biggest thing is go by your rules, go by your keys,” said Eget. “Not overthinking it, take what they give to you. You can’t be getting bored of taking the easy throws or the easy completions.”

The two teams traded scores with a New Mexico rush touchdown and a 70-yard dime from Eget to leading receiver Danny Scudero. The Lobos scored quickly after, canvasing 78 yards when Layne took the top of San Jose State’s defense for a 42-yard gain and Scottre Humphrey pushed the pile for a 1-yard touchdown. Friday night’s first punt came at the end of the first half, and Lobo kicker Luke Drzewiecki drilled a 25-yarder to keep the Lobos in it at the half, 21-17.

Chavez-Soto capped a four-and-a-half-minute drive with his second touchdown of the game. With Jabari Bates sidelined for the rest of the year after sustaining a late injury against the Cardinal and Floyd Chalk IV’s status up in the air as the deadline to redshirt looms, players like Chavez-Soto and sophomore Lamar Radcliffe could be huge pieces for the Spartans going forward.

“Coach Smith always just says, ‘stay ready’,” said the freshman. “So that’s what I did, stay ready, and waited for my opportunity.”
 

New Mexico entered Friday with a top-35 rush defense which allowed just 111 rushing yards per game. Ratcliffe entered the night averaging just 2.6 yards per carry, and Chavez-Soto hadn’t had a single collegiate touch. On paper, it was the unstoppable force of New Mexico’s rush defense against the very movable force of an unproven San Jose State rush attack that had lost its top two rushers.

Instead, the Spartans ran the ball a season-high 36 times for 153 yards. Radcliffe himself had 15 for 64, while Chavez-Soto turned in two touchdowns and put up 71 yards.

And of course, as all good quarterbacks do, Eget shouted his offensive line out for how tremendous they were guiding the run.

“They could be a room that is so freakin’ good,” said Eget. “Once they really knew it, it’s going to keep going with a head of steam. We knew that they had the potential to be one of the best o-lines, not in the Mountain West, but really in college football.”

Minutes later, Layne was intercepted a second time after he was pressured by Noah McNeal-Franklin. Jalen Bainer finished the play, picking up his first interception of the year as well.

When Eget found Leland Smith with 2:42 to play in the third to put the Spartans up by 18, it felt like the game was on ice. Bainer picking off Layne again to start the fourth pushed the metaphorical dagger in even more.

“To be able to close it out,” said Niumatalolo, “those are the type of things that you have to do to win championships. You have to be able to close games out. You have to be able to convert third-and-shorts. And we did so many things offensively, I feel like it’s going to bode well for us as we make a push to the next game.”

But San Jose State punted a second time after a three-and-out. New Mexico State scored on a QB keeper just three minutes later, and converted the two-point conversion. Spartan punter Trent Carrizosa had to double-down and punt again with 6:48 to play.

Layne hit Keagan Johnson in stride twice in a three-minute span for a combined 45 yards to bring New Mexico in field goal range, but after Spartan corner Runye Norton broke up a third down pass, the Lobos drilled a 31-yard field goal to make it a one-score game.

Chavez-Soto converted on a second-and-long to put the game on ice.

The overall hero was Eget. After a strong showing against the Cardinal, he finished 26-of-30 passing with 327 yards, finishing three touchdowns to three different receivers. Even though sophomore Danny Scudero has been the focal point thus far for the Spartans, Eget showed the ability to spray the ball to any open receiver against New Mexico.

Niumatalolo sung his praises.

“To me, everything started with our quarterback,” said Niumatalolo. “He played like I knew he could play. I’ve been saying this, the Walker I saw in camp, the Walker I saw in spring ball. The offense I saw was that offense right there. But we’ve been rolling, and if Walker plays like that… he’s just opened up so many things. He’s going with the ball to the right spots. Throwing it to the right people. As well as I thought the offense played last week, I thought the offense did a better job of finishing their catches.”

Now up over 1,500 yards and nearing ten touchdowns on the year, Eget’s stellar play becomes an easy target for the Spartan offense to try and take aim for as they ride on the shoulders of their quarterback.

With eyes on continuing 1-0 in conference play every single week, the message is straightforward, and it seems that the Spartans have the pieces in place to play the message through. They’ll head to Wyoming next to take on the Cowboys, with kickoff set for 4 P.M.