FRESNO – San Jose State went into its first bye week a month in the past as one of the vital prolific offenses within the nation. The assault that includes a heavy dose of run-pass choice averaged greater than 330 yards by means of the air and appeared to know what course it was headed.
Saturday’s 33-10 loss to Fresno State has SJSU eager for that earlier model because it heads into its second idle week this season.
“Our worst game the whole season and we’re disappointed it came against our rivals,” mentioned San Jose State coach Ken Niumatalolo. “We’re not in sync right now.”
The quarterback carousel was in full swing once more as Walker Eget, Emmett Brown and Xavier Ward all noticed time.
Niumatalolo mentioned he was concerned within the selections Saturday after earlier strikes had been made by offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann.
Mixed, the three quarterbacks had been 21-for-51 for 284 yards, one landing and 4 interceptions. Three consecutive second-half drives ended with an interception and a substituted quarterback.
“I think it’s a little tougher for any offense to succeed with the quarterback switching,” mentioned large receiver Nick Nash.
Eget began the sport and located Nash for a 35-yard landing on the opening drive. Nash’s twelfth landing was the primary and just for the Spartans.
Eget completed 14-for-31 for 202 yards, a landing and two interceptions.
Brown led the one different scoring drive and completed 6-for-16 for 66 yards with an interception. Ward led one drive within the fourth quarter and completed 1-for-3 for 16 yards and an interception.
“We have to get this rectified because I don’t want to play musical chair quarterback,” Niumatalolo mentioned.
The dearth of constant working performs additionally harm the quarterbacks, particularly Eget: The Spartans solely known as 4 run performs within the first half.
Floyd Chalk IV and Jabari Bates completed with a mixed 15 carries for 119 yards.
Eget got here into the week because the assumed starter for the foreseeable future. Now the Spartans head again to the drafting board.
Turnovers don’t Spartans out
SJSU got here into Saturday with 20 takeaways, second-best within the nation.
Whereas Robert Rahimi added to that whole together with his fourth interception, it got here far too late.
Saturday was a glimpse at what the crew seems to be like with out well timed turnovers.
Fresno State’s Mikey Keene began 17-for-18 and completed 30-for-41 for 275 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
“It’s hard to win games when you aren’t disciplined and I think that’s an area we need to focus on even more,” mentioned linebacker Jordan Cobbs.
San Jose State despatched stress that created two sacks however incessantly resulted in Keene discovering an open man downfield.
Notably, the Spartans despatched stress on a 3rd down within the second quarter the place Keene accomplished a cross to sophomore Jalen Moss over the center. Moss beat his one defender and ran to the tip zone to finish a 43-yard landing.
“First half, we had a difficult time getting off on third downs and that hurt us a little bit,” Niumatalolo mentioned.
It was one in every of 12 third-down conversions the Bulldogs generated.
Offensive line struggles
The Bulldogs’ two sacks and 4 quarterback hits undersell the stress they generated Saturday.
Early within the second quarter, Eget fumbled when he was sacked by cornerback Al’zillion Hamilton and stunted the offense.
Backup middle Joseph Harbert began the second half in reduction of Hudson Mesa, who struggled snapping the ball.
Harbert was the third totally different middle used this season after Mesa took over for Tyler Chen following Chen’s snapping points.
“We were just trying to find a spark, something. We needed a spark somewhere and unfortunately we couldn’t find it,” Niumatalolo mentioned.
The Spartans had given up only one sack of their earlier three video games.
Underprepared for rivalry
“I thought we were prepared but clearly we weren’t,” Eget mentioned.
Feelings had been excessive with the Valley Trophy on the road. The 2 groups started jawing at one another earlier than kickoff once they entered the sector from the locker room tunnel. Each groups participated within the theatrics however as soon as the sport began it was evident rapidly who the extra disciplined crew was.
“We didn’t play very well, and that starts with me. Obviously I didn’t have our guys ready to play,” Niumatalolo mentioned.
The Bulldogs held SJSU to simply three factors for the ultimate 59 minutes of the sport and power 4 turnovers. It’s the second straight recreation the place the Spartans scored on the opening drive and struggled to execute after.
“I think we just lost focus. Me personally I wasn’t focused enough.” Nash mentioned. “I think as an offensive unit we lost focus, we got a little bit complacent.”
Up subsequent:
San Jose State could have a much-needed bye week earlier than its subsequent recreation. Oregon State on the street is the subsequent opponent Nov. 9 and a win would clinch SJSU bowl eligibility.
