By Jonathan Canas (@jonathancanas_) Spear Editor | Senior linebacker Jordan Cobbs looking onto the field against Wyoming on Oct.19. (Photo by Nick Orozco – Co-Executive Editor of The Spear)
San Jose State (6-3, 3-2 MW) gets ready for its toughest challenge in over a decade as it gets set to take on No. 13 Boise State (8-1, 5-0) to start off a three-game homestand.
Coming fresh off a win against Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore. that made them bowl eligible, the Spartans are still fighting for a spot in the Mountain West Championship.
Currently sitting in fourth place in conference SJSU needs plenty of help from other teams but a tie-breaker against the Broncos would go a long way.
There will be a barrage of offensive firepower from both sides heading into Saturday’s showdown. Both come in very different ways with one on the ground and the other on the air.
Boise State junior running back and Heisman candidate Ashton Jeanty leads the country in rushing yards (1,734), rushing touchdowns (23) and all-purpose yards (1,827). He is also coming off a game against Nevada where he ran for 209 yards.
“He’s not just another man,“ SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “He’s really really good so all of our attention is going to be on him. There have been nine other teams who have tried to stop him and no one succeeded so we know we have our work cut out for us.”
The Spartans will be without the Mountain West tackling leader in the first half as junior linebacker Jordan Pollard was called for targeting late in the fourth quarter at Oregon State.
“It’s always going to be hard not having one of the best linebackers in the conference,” SJSU senior linebacker Jordan Cobbs said. “Having that depth is nice. Being able to trust the people behind us so whenever we come out, there’s no drop off.”
The defense has a right to be feeling good after holding the Beavers to 13 points in their own home while being on the field for 39 minutes. They allowed 200 yards on the ground but forced costly turnovers to seal the win.
“It was definitely our best defensive performance,” SJSU senior defensive lineman Soane Toia said. “We can’t let anything stop us from playing our defense, so we just have to go out there and play hard and play physical.”
SJSU’s defense has forced 22 turnovers which is the third best in the nation. Sixteen of the turnovers have been interceptions.
The Broncos and Jeanty rank second in the nation in rushing yards per game (268). However, the Spartans are more than capable of holding their own until Pollard’s arrival in the second half.
The defense doesn’t seem to be phased by how long they are on the field either.
“Even if the offense doesn’t score and gets a three-and-out or they score, we get excited,” Toia said. “We love going back out there because we like to make plays.”
Forcing Boise State sophomore quarterback Maddux Madsen to throw the ball could be key to winning the game.
On the flip side the Broncos defense have their own matchup nightmare awaiting them in Spartan senior wide receiver Nick Nash.
Nash leads the country in touchdown receptions (13), receptions (86), receiving yards (1,156) and receiving yards per game (128.8). He is three receptions away from SJSU’s single-season record of 89.
For as much attention as Nash gets, the Broncos have a two-headed monster to deal with the not so surprising emergence of senior wide receiver Justin Lockhart.
Lockhart is fifth in the Mountain West with 753 receiving yards. Spartans’ starting quarterback junior Walker Eget has two elite receivers at his disposal.
Eget may have to look to get rid of the ball faster than usual since Boise State ranks second in the country in sacks per game (4.44).
Broncos’ defensive ends sophomore Jayden Virgin Morgan and senior Ahmed Hassanein are two of top three sack leaders in the Mountain West that will push the offensive line to its limits.
SJSU opened up as 14.5 underdogs, which is the highest margin of the season but will continue to play its brand of football.
“We believe our standard of ball can beat anybody no matter who it is,” Cobbs said “it’s just a matter of if we can do it for four full quarters and I think that’s going to be our biggest testament coming into this game.”
Cobb said the biggest test will come in the second half.
“It’s the third, fourth quarter when they’re still fighting and going back and forth,” Cobbs said. “Can we match that energy? And I 100% believe that we can.”
