By Aaron Johnson (@voz_aaron1) – Spear Reporter | Quarterback Emmett Brown and running back Floyd Chalk IV prepare to run a play in SJSU’s opener against Sacramento State. (Photo by Nick Orozco – Co-Executive Editor of The Spear)
After making history in Colorado last week, San Jose State (2-0) returns home to face Kennesaw State (0-2).
Kennesaw State was an FCS school last season but has been promoted to Conference USA. The Owls are still looking for their elusive first FBS win and the Spartans are trying to make sure it doesn’t come against them.
Kennesaw State was a perennial FCS playoff team and the Spartans know they can’t take them lightly.
“(Their) offense tries to mess with your eyes a lot and get you in the wrong place,” senior linebacker Jordan Cobbs said. “If we come out there and expect them to lay down and just give us a W, I don’t think it will go that way.”
The defense was the highlight against Air Force as they only allowed seven points against a high powered offense.
While the eye immediately draws to junior linebacker Jordan Pollard’s 17 tackle performance, the Spartans defensive line was breaking up plays and holding gaps allowing the linebackers to make their tackles.
“When your d-line is playing like that as a linebacker it’s like paradise,” Cobbs said. “We can then make the plays we need to make and it’s a good day for everybody.”
The Spartans defensive line showcased why it could be a big problem when the rotations started and they still clamped down hard against Air Force.
“I don’t think a lot of people expected that from us but we have depth,” Cobbs said. “We got the ones in going crazy, then we bring the twos in and there is no drop off.”
For the second week in row head coach Ken Niumatalolo has a strong sense of familiarity for his opponent.
This time it is Kennesaw State head coach Brian Bohannaon who he coached with at Navy for six years.
“We were neighbors. I know him very well, he is a good ball coach,” Niumatalolo said. “He’s the coach that started the program from the ground up and he’s built it into a FBS team.”
This is the first time SJSU will face off against Kennesaw State in school history and Niumatalolo wants to make sure his players are ready for the game.
“I was encouraged by the way our coaches are preparing them to recognize that they can’t get overconfident,” Niumatalolo said. “You can see the talent level they have on their team, we recognize who they are.”
Senior wide receiver Nick Nash currently leads the Mountain West in touchdown receptions with three and total receptions with 17. He has built good chemistry with sophomore quarterback Emmett Brown and we can more than likely expect to see the passing attack continue to go through him against Kennesaw.
SJSU is scheduled to face off against the Owls tomorrow at 4 p.m. at CEFCU Stadium.
