The Spartans have been via an emotional gauntlet. Simply two weeks in the past they misplaced a teammate in tragedy, celebrated his life and stepped again into their season in his honor. Now this gifted staff is making historical past.
Coach Brent Brennan wore a t-shirt displaying Camdan McWright pointing to the skies on the sideline throughout SJSU’s 28-16 win over Colorado State on Saturday at CEFCU Stadium. The win makes the Spartans bowl eligible for the second time in three years. Not because the back-to-back 1986 and ‘87 California Bowl appearances has San Jose State gone to a bowl recreation twice over a 3 yr span. The Spartans went to the Arizona Bowl after going 7-1 in 2020.
However with COVID restrictions and a shortened season, that bowl expertise didn’t really feel proper, Brennan stated. This run feels just a little extra satisfying.
“I really feel nice about the place we’re at, it’s been a very long time since our program was on this place,” Brennan stated. “The final time was throughout COVID and that felt nothing like this. We had video games with no followers. No mother and father after video games. No households go to see their children play. So it is a completely different world for us, it’s thrilling.”
Ought to they get an invitation, Brennan could be the primary head coach since Claude Gilbert to take the Spartans to multiple bowl recreation. Now at 6-2 (4-1) with 4 video games to go (together with a postponed recreation towards New Mexico State), SJSU may earn themselves a spot within the Mountain West Convention championship recreation and additional their case for a bowl recreation nod. If Fresno State loses as soon as extra, SJSU will make the convention title recreation.
Although the Spartans will hit the street for his or her subsequent two video games, their remaining schedule is favorable.
Their hardest match-up is their subsequent towards the San Diego State Aztecs, who're 4-4 general and 2-2 in convention play. Then they’ll tackle a Utah State staff that's at the moment 3-6 (2-3). They’ll return dwelling to play Hawaii, who's at the moment 2-7 (1-3) and have but to reschedule their recreation towards New Mexico State (3-6, 1-4), postponed within the wake of McWright’s loss of life.
Right here’s how the Spartans gained Saturday and have gained this season.
Chevan Cordeiro and the offense
Cordeiro is likely one of the finest quarterbacks within the convention, a pressure together with his arm, legs and funky headedness. After Saturday’s recreation, he leads the convention with a median 278 yards per recreation together with a 60% completion price ranked fourth. He threw his second interception of the yr towards the Rams.
Saturday’s efficiency was in keeping with Cordeiro’s efficiency this yr. He accomplished 27 of 42 move makes an attempt for 274 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Spartans offense was gradual to roll early, however discovered simply sufficient momentum to edge the Rams.
“These video games are necessary as a result of it's a must to discover a solution to win them,” Brennan stated.
Colorado State scored a fast landing on their opening drive, three performs in, with a 56-yard landing run by Avery Morrow. However Cordeiro and the Spartans answered within the second quarter with an 11 play drive that ended with a Cordeiro two-yard landing move to tight finish Dominick Mazotti.
Cordeiro accomplished passes to eight completely different receivers, and Mazotti has emerged as a brand new favourite goal. He had 5 receptions for 30 yards and a landing.
“He works onerous and does every part proper,” Cordeiro stated. “I've his belief. I do know he’s going to run the correct route and be in the correct spot. All I've to do is put it in his arms.”
SJSU broke free after that. Within the third quarter, a 25-yard move to Isaiah Hamilton led to Kairee Robinson’s five-yard dashing landing to provide the Spartans their first lead, 14-10. Within the fourth quarter, Cordeiro discovered a large open receiver Elijah Cooks for a straightforward 35-yard landing to achieve separation, the Spartans up 21-10.
After a late Rams landing, the Spartans answered with a Robinson 38-yard rush and Justin Lockhart’s 38-yard move a yard in need of a landing. Robinson punched it in for San Jose State’s fourth landing and Robinson’s second dashing landing of the night time.
Protection is nails
San Jose State’s success doesn’t come with out some staunch defensive play. They entered Saturday’s recreation having allowed simply 16.4 factors per recreation, second fewest within the MCW to Air Pressure (15.7).
The Spartans have a flashy offense headed by Cordeiro, however their protection will make them a pressure come bowl season. Their efficiency Saturday confirmed how defensive coordinator Derrick Odum and a star defensive crew headed by lineman Cade Corridor have dominated the yr thus far.
“They made numerous large performs and a few of these large performs seemed messy to me,” Brennan stated. “I don’t know what meaning, a few of these issues have been difficult, however that’s soccer. As a result of it's a must to discover a solution to end.”
The Spartans had 9 sacks on the night time, together with three from Alii Matau and two for Viliami Fehoko.
“It’s fairly simple after they’re not doubling you and you've got single one on one alternatives,” Matau stated. “A number of the calls coach Odum referred to as tonight favored that.”
Nehamiah Shelton’s leaping choose within the endzone within the third quarter – sealed with a wonderfully positioned foot inbounds to protect the catch – was the defensive spotlight on Saturday night time. Considered one of a handful of defensive performs that saved the Rams out of the top zone, for probably the most half, after they threatened within the pink zone.
Shelton completed with eight tackles, 4 solo.
The Rams threatened to come back again late within the fourth with a determined 40-yard move for a landing, with a failed two-point conversion, to make it 21-16 with lower than 5 minutes remaining. However Lockhart’s large reception on the one yard line iced the sport.
“I’m so pleased that we’re bowl eligible,” Brennan stated. “For all of the folks which might be disenchanted that we didn’t win by sufficient, no matter man. See you subsequent week.”
