By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Spear Reporter | Photo via Christian Vieyra of The Spear
SJSU football quarterback Chevan Cordeiro is typically mild mannered, even keeled and in press conferences, well, let’s just say no reality TV producer is dying to cast him. But after leading SJSU to a 35-0 win over Hawaii, Cordeiro sniffled while answering the first couple of questions.
When a reporter asked if he felt emotional, Cordeiro said “yeah, yeah” paused briefly and then bowed his head as he dabbed at his red, welled-up eyes. The tears weren’t from facing the Rainbow Warriors for the first time since transferring to SJSU in 2021 in the wake of the Todd Graham saga. It was about Cordeiro, the native Hawaiian, playing in front of family and friends for the last time.
“Playing in front of my family it just hits different,” Cordeiro said. “I just love my family and it just sucks because I gotta leave tonight and finish the season.”
Because of Cordeiro, SJSU’s run game and its indomitable defense, the Spartans (4-5, MW 3-2) now head into their bout with rival Fresno State on a three game win streak. Should the Spartans upset the Bulldogs on Nov. 11, their chances of going from 1-5 to bowl eligible skyrocket.
On Friday night, Cordeiro feasted on his dad Leon’s coveted “steak and beans.” And on Saturday night, SJSU’s offense feasted on the Rainbow Warriors defense.
“I’m not gonna lie in the beginning, had a little emotions coming back,” said Cordeiro, who threw for 251 yards, two touchdowns and completed 16 of his 26 passes. “Then I took three deep breaths.”
And once again, SJSU’s rush attack was breathtaking. Running back Kairee Robinson (146 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns) and Quali Conley (73 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown) dazzled for the third-straight game. In SJSU’s prior two wins, it amassed 42-plus points and 250-plus rushing yards.
“Everybody’s coming together … I’m just loving it,” said Robinson, who’s rushed for at least 100 yards in his last three games. “Hopefully we just keep this thing rolling.”
A run heavy attack might work against the bottom-half of the Mountain West. But against an FSU boasting the conference’s second best rushing defense it’s far from a guarantee. Which is why it was important for SJSU wide receiver Nick Nash to haul in 86 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
What’s even more encouraging for SJSU’s bowl hopes, is how it suffocated the Rainbow Warriors offense.
The Spartans forced three turnovers and surrendered just 64 rushing yards and 198 total yards. UH quarterback Brayden Schager, the conference’s leading passer, completed 59% of his passes and threw for 132 yards and a pick. The Rainbow Warriors never advanced the ball past SJSU’s 30-yard line.
“You should see the locker room,” said a grinning cornerback Kenyon Reed who had one of SJSU’s four sacks.
But how will SJSU fare when it faces FSU quarterback Mikey Keene, who threw four touchdowns on Saturday night? Will the hot streak continue? Or will Keene and Bulldogs star running back Malik Sherrod give haunting flashbacks of the previous losses to Air Force and Boise State?
Let it be known, SJSU football did what it needed to do after falling to 1-5. It won three straight games against beatable opponents after blowing three-straight double-digit leads. Following the UH victory, SJSU’s now outscored opponents 131-45 in its last three games.
But the goal wasn’t rising to 4-5 and plunging back into irrelevance. It was bowl eligibility. So now the Spartans need to beat two of their next three opponents (FSU, San Diego State and UNLV) and they’ll complete that ascension.
It’s likely Cordeiro’s post-game candor was a one-time showing. By the end of it he was back to being focused on what lies ahead. With so much still left to accomplish, can you blame him?
“Right now we’re on a three game win streak and all we can do is just watch film, learn from our mistakes. We have a bye week, rest up, get healthy and get ready for Fresno,” Cordeiro said.