Navin Sunjay Krishnan – (@NavinKthespear) Spear Opinions Columnist
Spartan nation can count on the fingers of their hands the number of times SJSU football ascended atop the mountain.
Or went undefeated at home. Or thrashed a household-name team.
SJSU’s 40-7 rampage against the UNLV Rebels Friday solidified its dominance.
Spartan faithful have a reason to celebrate. SJSU football has officially climbed atop the rigorous and perilous Mountain West.
“We played with incredible effort and energy,” said SJSU head coach Brent Brennan. “It was just a fun night at CEFCU stadium.”
But the thrill and adrenaline is seamed with a nuance of doubt. Can SJSU keep this impressive streak alive and take it’s rightful place of king of the Mountain West?
SJSU’s junior quarterback Chevan Cordeiro‘s legacy has a chance to be cemented in stone rather than etched in sand.
Cordeiro accounted for four total touchdowns Friday at CEFCU stadium.
“[Cordeiro] has taken the coaching and really, really focusing on intentional practice,” Brennan said.
The next time SJSU football takes home field will be homecoming on Oct. 29 against Nevada.
The Spartans have a record of 4-1. This is the best start since 2020, the year they won the Mountain West Championship.
“We’re five games in, and we’re playing our tails off,” Brennan said. “Just this special comradery and brotherhood in this football team, coming to work every day.”
Offensively, Cordeiro and his squad have been clean with no turnovers.
The blue-and-gold tallied a season high, 203 rushing yards.
“Our offensive line has continued to mature,” Brennan said. “The way [Cordeiro] is throwing the ball, his ability to extend drives. All of that comes together. I’m excited about the turnover margin.”
SJSU’s +6 turnover ratio coming into this game was good for ninth in the country.
On defense, the Spartans have wreaked havoc, forcing an interception in every game this season.
Freshman linebacker Jordan Pollard lead SJSU with seven tackles on Friday night. Graduate student and defensive lineman Cade Hall and junior defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko combined for two sacks.
“I have confidence in our defense,” Brennan said. “We have a good defensive football team. They’re extremely well-coached. [We] played with great effort and intensity.”
Make no mistake, Brennan’s genius is resonating in his team as they defeated a fiery UNLV team lead by head coach Marcus Arroyo.
Arroyo is a former Spartan who played quarterback for SJSU from 1998-2002. He threw for 15 touchdowns and had 2,334 passing yards. After his playing career, Arroyo became an assistant coach at SJSU and even coached alongside Brennan from 2005-2008.
“I give tons of credit to coach Arroyo and that staff there for what they’ve been able to do in such a short amount of time,” Brennan said. “They are a very well-coached team.”
Now SJSU football must prove itself against Mountain West powerhouse Fresno State next Saturday in Fresno.
The Bulldogs accumulated a 10-3 record last season and are 1-3 this season. However, their record does not reflect the capacity of their team.
Fresno State senior wide receiver Nikko Remigio, a transfer from the University of California Berkeley, already has 121 punt return yards and 259 kick return yards this season. Remigio also has a rushing touchdown, the first touchdown of his collegiate career.
The Bulldogs have lost to the University of Connecticut, University of Southern California and Oregon State University. They have yet to play a Mountain West team.
This output by SJSU may be a meaningful rout or it might very well be the calm before the storm.
Fresno State leads the all time series against SJSU, 43-38. The Bulldogs took the last contest, 40-9 on Nov. 25 last season.
SJSU football will take on Fresno State on Oct. 15, with the “The Valley” trophy on the line.
The Spartan nation has been ready and they will be ready for SJSU to really test it’s limits and climb the rocky road to the top of the Mountain West.
On the Sidelines with Sunjay will be following SJSU sports and its duels with Mountain West competition with updates every week, be on the lookout for more content.