SAN JOSE — Not even two years in the past, when San Jose State received all seven of its Mountain West Convention video games, did the Spartans assemble as thorough a pummeling of a league opponent as they did in a 40-7 rout of visiting UNLV.
SJSU solid a 33-0 lead in opposition to a crew that was averaging practically 38 factors per sport and gave Cal a scare in a 20-14 loss at Berkeley, and flirted with its first shutout victory in a convention sport since 1988.
“An effective way to spend Friday evening,” mentioned coach Brent Brennan, who celebrated the scholars, alumni and neighborhood that put 16,669 followers in CEFCU Stadium.
“I’ve coached in loads of video games right here the place we didn’t fairly have that,” he mentioned. “I believed our gamers executed and performed with unimaginable enthusiasm.”
The Spartans (4-1, 2-0), now alone atop the MWC West Division, hadn’t received a league sport by a margin this extensive since coach Mike MacIntyre’s 2012 crew that went 11-2 pounded New Mexico State 47-7 in a WAC matchup.
Cornerback Nehemiah Shelton mentioned that is starting to really feel a little bit just like the 2020 season.
“I undoubtedly really feel like we've got a championship crew,” he mentioned. “The one factor we’re centered on is our course of, going 1-0 each week. The sky is certainly the restrict for us.”
Listed below are three takeaways from the Spartans’ triumph:
CORDEIRO CONTINUES TO IMPRESS: Graduate switch Chevan Cordeiro, the reigning MWC Offensive Participant of the Week, was even perhaps higher in opposition to UNLV.
The previous Hawaii standout was 18 for 27 for 230 yards with landing passes of twenty-two yards to tight finish Dominick Mazotti and 20 yards to Elijah Cooks. He has thrown 162 passes this season with out an interception because the Spartans performed turnover-free soccer.
Cordeiro additionally rushed 14 occasions for a season-high 109 yards with TDs runs of 10 and 15 yards in a span of barely 5 minutes to propel the Spartans to a 20-0 lead within the second quarter. He had extra runs overlaying 20, 29 and 36 yards.
Mazotti, who had simply two catches for 15 yards within the crew’s first 4 video games, delivered a profession evening with seven receptions for 100 yards and the landing. Afterward he was requested what makes Cordeiro so particular.
“I’d say his capacity to be a frontrunner and likewise be humble on the similar time,” Mazotti mentioned “He’s somebody who places within the work each day no matter how he performed yesterday.”
DEFENSE RUINS THE REBELS: The very best-scoring crew within the Mountain West, UNLV (4-2, 2-1) twice has topped 50 factors this season. At halftime Friday, the Rebels had been down 23-0, had simply 5 first downs and 116 whole yards.
UNLV completed with season lows in practically each offensive class, together with simply 213 whole yards.
“I don’t know if I believed we'd be capable to shut them down at that stage,” Brennan acknowledged. “However I've confidence in our protection. They performed with nice effort and depth. It’s been actually enjoyable to observe all season.”
By early within the second quarter UNLV coach Marcus Arroyo, a former Spartans quarterback, pulled starter Doug Brumfield from the sport after he accomplished simply one in all six passes for eight yards.
Shelton gave all credit score to the Spartans’ entrance seven. “They had been going loopy this sport,” he mentioned. “When the protection is ready to try this, it’s simply lights out.”
“They’re the very best protection within the Mountain West,” Cordeiro mentioned.
Twenty completely different SJSU defenders had not less than one sort out. “That’s the way it’s alleged to be — all 11 hats to the ball,” Shelton mentioned.
NEXT UP: The Spartans hit the highway subsequent Saturday to tackle long-time rival Fresno State, which was set to open its convention schedule at Boise State on Saturday evening after going 1-3 in non-conference play.
Fresno State has received three of the previous 4 conferences, together with 40-9 final season in San Jose.
Brennan gave his gamers the weekend off earlier than starting prep for the Bulldogs.
“I couldn't be happier for the crew,” he mentioned. “I can’t wait to see how we come to follow subsequent week.”