By Aaron Johnson (@voz_aaron1) – Spear Reporter | SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo walks the sidelines during SJSU’s 33-10 loss to Fresno State on Oct. 26. (photo by Nick Orozco – Co-Executive Editor of The Spear)
It took five overtime periods to find the winner of the Hawaii Bowl. It was the first time a bowl game made it into the fifth overtime period since the new overtime rules were established in 1996.
South Florida (7-6, 4-4 AAC) junior quarterback Bryce Archie found sophomore wide receiver Keshawn Singleton in the back of the end zone for a successful two-point conversion. San Jose State (7-6, 3-4 MW) had to respond.
But when junior quarterback Walker Eget’s pass intended for senior wide receiver Justin Lockhart fell to the ground, the 41-39 loss was set in stone for the Spartans.
For the Bulls to even be in a position to win the game, a few things had to bounce in their favor at the end of the fourth quarter.
SJSU faced a fourth and one on their own 14 with 0:53 left in the game. SJSU elected to punt instead of going for it to try and finish off the game.
“I think I’ll have nightmares about not going for it,” head coach Ken Niumatalolo said in his post game press conference.
USF got a 16-yard kick return and were able to convert on a 3rd and 10 on a 17-yard play on a pass from Archie to Singleton.
This set up a 41-yard field goal for senior kicker John Cannon, who made it after the ball hit off the goalpost.
“One thing I talked about to the team before our game was, ‘the thing that kills you in bowl games are turnovers and special teams,” Niumatalolo said. “Unfortunately, I proved prophetic in that.”
In the first quarter, Sophomore wide receiver TreyShun Hurry fumbled the ball and it hit the pilon resulting in a San Jose State turnover on a touchback and South Florida ball after it was originally ruled a touchdown.
Eget threw an interception in the second quarter which led to a USF touchdown. Eget finished the game with 280 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 58 passing attempts.
SJSU trailed 21-7 after surrendering a kick return by USF senior running back Ta’Ron Keith in the second quarter. But, the Spartans were able to battle back in the second half going on a 13-0 scoring run.
In the second half the Spartans defense played strong only allowing two field goals, which was still enough for the Bulls to force overtime.
Junior linebacker Noah McNeal-Franklin had an interception which he returned to the USF two-yard line, setting up a two-yard rushing touchdown by freshman running back Lamar Radcliffe. This would give the Spartans their first lead with the score at 27-24.
Radcliffe would finish the game as the Spartans leading rusher with 65 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
The absence of senior wide receiver Nick Nash was felt as he opted out of the Hawaii Bowl to prepare for the NFL draft. Sophomore wide receiver Matthew Coleman took advantage of getting more opportunities as he finished the game with a career high 119 yards and a touchdown.
Lockhart only had one catch for ten yards in the game. USF did a good job at limiting his production as Lockhart was second in receiving yards this season for SJSU as he finished the year with 983.
It was a tough end to the season for the Spartans, as this now marks the second straight season they have lost in the Hawaii Bowl.
