SAN JOSE — San Jose State gamers and coaches spent a lot of the week saying that Saturday night time’s sport at Fresno State doesn’t carry any additional significance.
“I do know it’s a rivalry and it’s a ‘we hate Fresno they usually kinda hate us’ kind of deal,” senior cornerback Nehemiah Shelton mentioned, “however on the finish of the day, it’s simply one other sport that’s going to rely the identical within the tally mark as 1-0 or 0-1.”
However the sport towards Fresno State is one SJSU followers all the time circle on their calendars. And Saturday’s assembly – the eighty fifth all-time – is loaded with juicy subplots.
Not solely are regional bragging rights and the Valley Trophy on the road, however with a win, the Spartans (4-1, 2-0 Mountain West) can solidify their maintain on first place within the West Division race and transfer one victory away from turning into bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons.
SJSU is greater than a landing favourite towards the Bulldogs (1-4, 0-1 MW) and though the gamers gained’t say it, there’s potential for some payback, too.
Fresno State ended SJSU’s 2021 season with a 40-9 drubbing that additionally prevented the Spartans from turning into bowl eligible. And keep in mind, SJSU by no means acquired an opportunity to play the Bulldogs throughout its magical, unbeaten 2020 common season as a result of COVID-19 contact tracing pressured the sport to be canceled three days earlier than kickoff.
“I undoubtedly like beating them. I believe I’ve solely beat them as soon as since I’ve been right here,’’ senior defensive lineman Cade Corridor mentioned. “I’m 1-2 towards them. I need to repair that earlier than I go away.”
The groups have traveled very totally different paths to date this season.
It has been one bump and bruise after one other for the Bulldogs. They're winless since their season opener towards Cal Poly, and preseason Heisman darkhorse quarterback Jake Haener suffered an ankle damage in a 45-17 loss at USC.
The product of Danville’s Monte Vista Excessive gained’t play Saturday and won't return this season. Logan Fife stepped in at quarterback and has but to throw a landing move whereas being intercepted 4 occasions.
Fresno State’s road-heavy schedule hasn’t helped both. The Bulldogs misplaced video games on the Pac-12’s Oregon State and USC – and opened convention play final weekend at MW favourite Boise State and misplaced 40-20. Alongside the best way, the Bulldogs misplaced at Connecticut, turning into the primary FBS staff to lose to the Huskies since 2019. Saturday is Fresno State’s first residence sport in additional than a month.
Issues have been a lot totally different in Silicon Valley.
SJSU is driving a three-game successful streak and rolling on either side of the ball.
Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro has gained back-to-back Mountain West Offensive Participant of the Week honors, and SJSU’s protection ranks ninth nationally in factors allowed per sport (14).
SJSU has outscored its opponents 107-29 prior to now three video games and hasn’t allowed a degree within the fourth quarter in the course of the stretch.
The Bulldogs lead the all-time sequence 43-38-3, largely due to a decades-long dominance that noticed Fresno State win 18 of 20 video games from 1988 by way of 2010.
SJSU has turned the sequence again right into a rivalry, and has gained 5 of the previous 9 conferences. However the Spartans haven’t gained in Fresno since 2016.
Final season’s loss was notably irritating as a result of it prevented the Spartans from turning into bowl eligible in back-to-back seasons for the primary time since 1985-86.
“That one harm for certain. Not solely did we get crushed badly by our rival, however we misplaced our hopes of going to a bowl sport,” Corridor mentioned. “I believe it left a nasty style in our mouth for certain.”
Haener threw for 4 touchdowns and 343 yards for the Bulldogs in that sport. SJSU’s protection gained’t get one other shot at attempting to cease Haener, however can go a good distance in persevering with their rivals’ depressing begin to the season.
Since dropping Haener, the Bulldogs’ offense has spiraled, scoring 17 factors per sport after averaging 32.5 within the first two video games of the season. The protection has allowed at the very least 35 in three of the previous 4 video games and has allowed the second-most speeding yards within the convention.
SJSU seems to have solved its early-season operating points. By way of the primary two video games, the Spartans had rushed for a mixed 103 yards (solely Colorado State and Boston School have been averaging fewer speeding yards per sport amongst FBS groups). Since then, the Spartans rushed for 128 yards towards Western Michigan, 142 towards Wyoming, after which a season-high 203 speeding yards final week towards UNLV.
And in contrast to final season, when Nick Starkel was nonetheless recovering from an arm damage, the Spartans have a transparent benefit at quarterback. Cordeiro led the Spartans with 109 yards final week, and now leads the convention with 1,308 passing yards and 12 complete touchdowns. And he’s executed it with out throwing a single interception.
Even with every stat and matchup pointing within the Spartans’ favor, Corridor feels that “The roles aren’t reversed” and “their report doesn't replicate how good of a staff they're in any respect.”
Shelton mentioned, “Anybody can get (beat) at any given time. So that you’ve acquired to take advantage of your preparation and be able to go when the chance presents itself.”
For San Jose State, the chance doesn’t get a lot greater than the one ready for them Saturday night time in Fresno.