Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Football Beat Reporter
Chevan Cordeiro threw for 230 yards and one touchdown in his first game against University of Hawaii since transferring to SJSU this past winter. The fourth-year quarterback led the Spartans to a 27-14 win over the Rainbow Warriors on SJSU’s senior day as they finish the season undefeated at home for the first time since 1978.
Fourth-year running back Kairee Robinson went for a career-high 148 rushing yards and sixth-year wide receiver Elijah Cooks had two touchdowns on 10 catches and 121 receiving yards in the victory.
SJSU took a 7-0 lead on its second possession of the game when Cordeiro threw a laser beam to Cooks in the end zone and the Spartans’ maintained lead the entire way.
UH’s third-year kicker Matthew Shipley nailed back-to-back field goals after SJSU’s offense stalled out, giving the Rainbow Warriors good field position. His second field goal came off the back of a Cordeiro interception near the red zone when he attempted a pass behind fourth-year wide receiver Justin Lockhart that was initially broken up and then caught by Virdel Edwards.
SJSU football then snuck in a touchdown just before the half ended as Cordeiro found Cooks for a seven-yard score.
His Nevada counterpart Lockhart helped set up the touchdown with a 44-yard catch-and-run up the sideline. He finished second on the team with two catches and 51 yards.
Robinson helped extend the lead 21-6 on the first drive of the first half on a one-yard rushing touchdown.
It was Robinson’s third game with at least 80 rushing yards and first since going for 81 yards in a 34-6 win over Western Michigan on Sep. 24.
The Spartans’ lead peaked at 24-6 following a Taren Schive field goal with 14:51 in the fourth quarter.
The Rainbow Warriors managed to ring off 10 points, but would ultimately fall short as senior defensive ends Junior Fehoko and Cade Hall combined for a sack on a critical goalline stop with a couple minutes left.
Second-year quarterback Brayden Schager completed 25 of 45 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown. The Rainbow Warriors managed 273 total yards of offense and the Spartans held them to just 43 yards on the ground.
UH made it a two possession game when Schager found Steven Fiso for a 22-yard strike with 12:41 left and then converted the two-point conversion on a pass to Zion Bowens to make it 24-14.
Bowens led the Rainbow Warriors with six catches and 48 yards and his touchdown was UH’s first and only one of the day.
SJSU forced a critical turnover on downs on a 15-play, 53-yard drive while up 27-14 with 2:16 left, coming on a demonstrative sack forced by seniors Cade Hall and Junior Fehoko.
The College Football Playoff Committee will determine where SJSU’s bowl game will be held on Dec. 4 when they announce bowl placement for all of its participants.