Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Football Beat Reporter
SJSU football (2-1) showed electricity and hunger in their 34-6 win over Western Michigan that wasn’t seen in the previous win against Portland State and loss to Auburn.
No play more electric than wide receiver Justin Lockhart scampering past Western Michigan’s defense for 82 yards, setting up a Tarren Schive field goal to take a 3-0 lead. The 82-yard reception ignited a strong 116-yard day on the gridiron for Lockhart and a 17-of-27 for 250 yards showing by quarterback Chevan Cordeiro.
It was the longest offensive play of the season for this SJSU football team.
Lockhart’s Nevada counterparts showed similarly strong production as well. Elijah Cooks and Charles Ross both went for touchdowns.
The Spartans’ defense showed a similar passion and conviction as well.
The Broncos had two drives in the first half traversing deep into Spartan territory. But they came away with nothing both times due to staunch stops on fourth down. Cornerback Kenyon Reed claimed the first one to curb a 78-yard drive on the SJSU 8-yard line. The second comes on a stuffing led by Kyle Harmon on the SJSU yard line.
The first play of the fourth quarter saw SJSU’s defense stuffing Zahir Abdus-Salaam for their third fourth down stop of the game.
Running back Kairee Robinson boosted the score to 31-6 on a 23-yard rushing touchdown on the next play, one of two rushing touchdowns on the night. The first came on a powerful five-yard rush to put the Spartans up 10-0 in the second quarter, trucking a Bronco defender along the way. Robinson’s 70-yard day on the ground would be a season-high by any SJSU running back this season. The play was set up by trick play that saw Elijah Cooks lacing a 19-yard back-shoulder pass to quarterback Chevan Cordeiro making a spectacular diving catch.
It was then Elijah Cooks on the receiving end of a touchdown to propel the lead to 17-0 to end the first half.
The Spartans’ first drive of the third quarter saw Ross first adjusting to a Cordeiro heave, bobbling and then reeling in a 39-yard touchdown to make it 24-0. WMU finally answered on the ensuing kickoff when running back Sean Tyler returned a kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown to make the score 24-6 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
Schive would punch in the final score of the day with a 27-yard field goal to make it 34-6, initially set up by an interception from SJSU’s Jordan Pollard.
The Broncos’ lone score of the day would come with 8:24 left in the third quarter.
SJSU football will fly out to Laramie, Wyo. for their first conference game to take on the University of Wyoming (3-1, 1-0) next Saturday, Oct. 1. Through five matchups the SJSU football is 4-1, having won last year’s matchup 27-21.