Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Football Beat Reporter
Chevan Cordeiro led the Spartans to a dominant 40-7 victory with an electric four-touchdown performance, on 230 yards passing and a season-high 109 on the ground.
San Jose State took control at the start of the second quarter after Cordeiro recorded back-to-back rushing touchdowns in the span of 1:04. His first came on a nine-yard quarterback keeper that put the Spartans up 14-0.
Three plays later, after UNLV’s backup quarterback Cameron Friel fumbled the snap, Cordeiro scrambled his way to a 15-yard score, extending the Spartans to a 20-0 lead.
Dominick Mazotti was targeted the most in this game and grabbed seven catches for 100 yards including a 22-yard touchdown that propelled the Spartans’ lead to 33-0.
Rebels’ starting quarterback Doug Brumfield left early with an injury after starting the game 1-6 for eight yards passing. In the first half, UNLV was shut out of the endzone and outgained by SJSU 249-116.
The Rebels, who came to San Jose with a Mountain West-best 37.8 points per game and second-best total offensive yards per game with 423, were held to a mere seven points and 213 all-purpose yards by SJSU’s defense.
Backup quarterback Friel hit Senika McKie for a 14-yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter to make the game 33-7.
That would be the Rebels’ only score of the game.
Defensive linemen Cade Hall, Junior Fehoko and Tre Jenkins each had a sack, and Kyle Harmon and Jordan Pollard tied for a team-leading seven tackles each. The Spartans have given up 17 or fewer points in four out of their five games this season, the one exception coming in a 24-16 loss to Auburn.
The Spartans’ run game took another leap, going for 203 yards. Cordeiro’s 109 was backed up by Kairee Robinson, who converted his 9 carries into a healthy 61 yards.
Robinson broke away for a nine-yard touchdown to cap off a 12-play, 76-yard opening drive for SJSU football.
The Spartans completed their first 40-piece of the 2022 season after Cordeiro connected with Elijah Cooks on a 20-yard completion.
SJSU football heads to Fresno State next week as they hope to continue their dominance of the Mountain West and vindicate a lackluster performance against the Bulldogs in 2021.