By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Spear Reporter // Photo via Christian Vieyra
San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro stood peacefully on the sideline. Helmet resting slightly over his head, lightly dapping up teammates, taking swigs of gatorade like it was a Mai Tai on a white sand beach.
No need to catch his breath after a 15-yard touchdown run put SJSU up 31-0. After a surprising onside kick from SJSU, Cordeiro trotted back out and threw a touchdown. That sequence summed up how breezy the Spartans 59-3 victory over Cal Poly was. SJSU’s largest margin of victory since 1949.
You might be rolling your eyes thinking, ‘Big whoop. SJSU should dominate an FCS opponent.’
Here’s why SJSU’s drubbing could be a noteworthy whoop.
SJSU found itself in a justifiable 0-2 hole after it couldn’t upset No. 6 USC and No. 16 Oregon State. An upset could’ve convinced still skeptical donors SJSU’s a worthy investment. A bowl appearance — which would be SJSU’s first time making three in the span of four years — is the program’s next best chance of garnering investments to strengthen its facilities, NIL presence and national profile. Saturday’s drubbing, was a solid step to making sure SJSU’s back on track to get there.
“We have a good football team. And I think we’ve known that, but we didn’t have any proof. And I thought today, there were things that we could look at and say, ‘Wow, that was really well done,'” SJSU head coach Brent Brennan said.
Now, on the other side of a talent gap, SJSU thoroughly dominated the line of scrimmage, finishing with 267 rushing yards. Running back Kairee Robinson galloped for 124 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Hapless white jersey’s bounced and boinged off his shoulder pads.
“Shoutout to the big dogs,” Robinson said.
The Spartans’ built a 24-0 lead before a lightning delay at the 13:00 mark in the second quarter. The torrential downpour of points was about as clean as the Euro step SJSU’s 325-pound offensive lineman Fernando Carmona Jr. hit following one of running back Quali Conley’s two rushing touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Cordeiro had the luxury of letting plays develop. Eyes drifting between options then boom. Sprinkling spirals all over the field.
In just three quarters, he amassed 205 yards and two passing touchdowns. Moreover, the passing game stayed afloat despite the absence of wide receiver Justin Lockhart, who missed his third straight game. Wide receiver Charles Ross nabbed a 24-yard touchdown and tight end Sam Olson’s lone catch was a 27-yard touchdown.
“It just shows how much depth we have,” Cordeiro said.
Granted SJSU’s offense had two opportunities put on a silver platter in the first six minutes. First, SJSU forced a fumble on the opening kick-off. Then defensive end Tre Smith strip sacking Cal Poly quarterback Sam Huard, setting SJSU up on the Mustang’s 33-yard line,
Brennan said he feels the D-line is, “going to continue to get better and they’re going to continue to improve as the season goes.”
Last week, OSU quarterback DJ Uiagalelei said he “could have made sandwich” in the pocket. On Saturday, Cal Poly quarterback Huard hardly had time to grab ham out the fridge. The Spartans held Huard to just 66 passing yards, no touchdowns and safety Chase Williams picked him off in the first quarter.
By game’s end, SJSU amassed eight tackles for loss and held Cal Poly to 169 total yards and 95 rushing yards.
“Our front seven dominated and just had a great game,” SJSU defensive back Jalen Bainer said.
Following a Mathew Coleman punt return touchdown made it 59-3, SJSU Director of Athletics Jeff Konya confidently waltzed off the field. Chin held high, waving to some fans before exiting. Knowing that SJSU did what should’ve been done. While knowing that the Spartans are in a better place because of it.
Looking ahead:
SJSU hopes to get back to .500 next Saturday at 4 p.m. against Toledo, the first match up of a home-and-home series (SJSU will host in 2028). It’ll be the first matchup since the teams faced each other in the 1981 California Bowl. The Spartans fell 27-25 thanks to a last-second 41-yard field goal by the Rockets’ Tony Lee. The game can be found on ESPN+.
Looking back:
Today, SJSU celebrated the birthday of its late longtime sports information director Lawrence Fan. There were cupcakes at seat reserved for him in the press box. During the postgame press conference, Mountain West Connection’s Vic Aquino quipped the lightning strike was Lawrence saying ‘Hello, I’m here on my birthday.’ It got a smile out Brennan.