By Aaron Johnson (@voz_aaron1) – Spear Reporter | Wide Receiver Nick Nash begins to run his route. (photo by Nick Orozco – Co-Executive Editor of The Spear)
Senior wide receiver Nick Nash has fit into offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann’s spread-n-shred offense like a glove.
Nothing proved that more than his 17 receptions, 225 yard and three touchdown performance in a 31-10 win against Kennesaw State.
His 17 receptions is a regular season record for the most in SJSU history.
Nash entered the transfer portal last offseason but ultimately decided to stay a Spartan largely in part to Stutzmann’s offensive pedigree.
“Coach Stutzmann is a very passionate guy, he loves this offense, it’s his baby,” Nash said. “That’s why I stayed, I could see the vision and I’m happier than ever that I did.”
Head coach Ken Niumatalolo is more thankful than ever that he did.
“I’m just grateful that he stayed,” Niumatalolo said. “I tell him that after every win.”
Sophomore quarterback Emmett Brown had the best performance of his young career throwing for 355 yards and four touchdowns while sporting a QB rating of 181.6.
Brown was able to utilize his arm to make some deep passes including a 35-yard touchdown shot to senior wide receiver Justin Lockhart.
“I definitely feel like we connected better on (the deep ball),” Brown said. “It’s always going to be an emphasis for us.”
Lockhart was the second leading receiver with 104 yards and a touchdown on four receptions.
Justin Lockhart catches a 35-yard touchdown pass | (photo by Nick Orozco – Co-Executive Editor of The Spear)
However, it wasn’t all pretty for the Spartans. On the second offensive play of the game Nash fumbled after catching a 30-yard pass from Brown.
This set up Kennesaw State at the SJSU 41 yard-line but the Owls were only able to get a field goal.
It was self imposed errors that left the Spartans behind 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
SJSU had three fumbles in the first half, the other two coming from sophomore receivers Matthew Coleman and TreyShun Hurry.
Coleman lost the ball after getting hit hard on a punt return and Hurry lost his trying to fight for more yards after the catch.
Niumatalolo knows the Spartans need to cut down on turnovers because if they were to cough the ball up like they did against the Owls at Washington State, the outcome would not be as forgiving.
“We were moving the ball but those three turnovers killed us,” Niumatalolo said. “We have to play better next week.”
The defense was able to bail the Spartans out of trouble early on by forcing Kennesaw State on multiple three and outs.
Kennesaw State also struggled with discipline as it had 11 penalties resulting in 95 yards in SJSU’s favor.
Junior linebacker Jordan Pollard led the team in total tackles for the second straight week with 11 and picked up a fourth quarter interception, his first of the season and the defense’s sixth.
The SJSU defense has been hot the last two weeks holding Air Force to 7 points and now Kennesaw State to 10. The defensive line has been playing great holding their gaps and allowing the linebackers to come in and make plays.
“(Our D-line) is crazy, they just all want to get their hands on someone,” Pollard said. “I love them all, they’ve been great these past three weeks.”
The Spartans are off to a 3-0 start but their skills will truly be tested next week as they are scheduled to take on Washington State (3-0).
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at Martin Stadium.
