Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Football Beat Reporter
There’s a zen aura to Spartans’ quarterback Chevan Cordeiro. Ironic, because he’s played like a man possessed in 2022.
Cordeiro led the Spartans to a dominant 40-7 victory over UNLV (4-2, MW 1-1) with an electric four-touchdown performance, on 230 yards passing and a season-high 109 yards on the ground.
“It feels good to get a win, especially against UNLV,” said Cordeiro. “We handled business and onto the next.”
Cordeiro’s business was handled both astoundingly and rapidly.
Two of his four touchdowns came in the span of 1:04 at the start of the second quarter.
The first came on a quarterback keeper after Cordeiro got the Rebels’ front to bite on an option. The dual-threat QB then scrambled to the right side of the line for a breezy nine-yard score.
On the ensuing drive, UNLV quarterback Cameron Friel, who was replacing Doug Brumfield after he left with a head injury, fumbled the snap on his second play of the game.
SJSU’s Noah Lavulo recovered, setting the Spartans up on the Rebels’ 15-yard line.
On the first play of the drive, Cordeiro dropped back, saw no one was open and took off. First going up the seam, then taking a hard diagonal cut and hitting paydirt.
“I just try to stick to the game plan. Play our ball and go through my progressions,” said Cordeiro, whose back-to-back touchdowns helped extend the lead to 20-0.
“This team came from behind down 17 a week ago,” said Brennan. “UNLV did against New Mexico, so I was really in that head space like, ‘No. We need to keep our foot on the gas pedal.'”
Tight end Dominick Mazotti lit up the Rebels’ defense with a team-leading seven catches and 100 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown (the first of his career) that propelled the Spartans’ lead to 33-0.
“That one surprised me actually,” said Mazotti.
“I knew that I was going to be pulling the coverage so that the two receivers outside of me were getting open. I saw Chevan looking at me as soon as I passed the second level and he threw the ball over the top.”
Cordeiro is the only quarterback in the nation with at least 160 pass attempts and no interceptions.
The game drastically changed when Rebels’ starting quarterback Doug Brumfield left the game after the first quarter. He finished 1-for-6 for eight yards passing.
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.
“I believe that we are one of the better defenses out there,” said SJSU cornerback Nehemia Shelton. “Whenever we step out on the field it’s lights out.”
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.
UNLV’s lone score of the night came on a 14-yard touchdown when Friel hit Senika McKie to make the game 33-7 later in the third quarter.
“I didn’t know that we would be able to shut them down on that level,” said Brennan. “But I have confidence in our defense. We have a good defensive football team.”
During this three-game win streak, the Spartans have shut their opponents out in the fourth quarter and held them to 69 total fourth-quarter yards.
The Spartans’ run game took another leap, going for 203 yards. Cordeiro’s 109 was backed up by Kairee Robinson, who turned 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.
After failing to go for at least 55 yards in the first two games, the Spartans have averaged 186.5 on the ground in their last three contests.
The Spartans completed their first 40-piece of the 2022 season after Cordeiro connected with Elijah Cooks on a 20-yard completion.
None of what the Spartans have done would be possible without the offensive line’s tremendous effort.
“I love them. I have faith in them. I believe in them,” said Cordeiro. “Like I said all year, I have time in the pocket all game … without them, I wouldn’t have all the rushing yards and we wouldn’t be moving the ball.”
Spartans’ kicker Tarren Schive pitched in 10 of the Spartans’ 40 points, going 2 for 2 on field goals and 4 for 5 on extra points.
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.