By Lucas Quick (@quick_lucas12) – Executive editor | Walker Eget stiff arms a Stanford defender on a run resulting in a first down. (Photo by Denim Bragg – Spear photographer)
After a rare outing of the rushing offense outgaining the passing game last week, the Spartans relied heavily on the pass game, and it paid off.
Despite a difficult 30-29 loss, redshirt senior quarterback Walker Eget stepped up and had his best game this season, with 473 passing yards and three touchdowns.
This was Eget’s career-high on passing yards and his first game of the season without committing a turnover.
“Walker played like I knew he could play,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “The first game was an enigma, but to see him play like that gives you hope.”
Part of that success was contributed heavily by the Spartans receiving attack. They had three receivers with over 100 yards, the first time since they beat No. 16 Fresno State on Nov. 29, 2013.
Redshirt junior Kyri Shoels paved the way for SJSU’s early success on offense, with four receptions for 54 yards in the first quarter.
Shoels is blossoming to a reliable target and explosive player for offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann’s “spread and shred” offense with a career-high 10 catches, 147 yards and a touchdown.
With redshirt sophomore Danny Scudero’s first touchdown reception, it was the first time that the Spartans not only led after the first quarter, but also the first points scored all season.
Scudero is currently leading the Mountain West in receiving yards (514) and average receiving yards per game (128.5).
The momentum through the air continued for the rest of the game, with junior wide receiver Leland Smith making his mark in his early career with SJSU. He finished with six catches for 101 yards, marking a career-high for the Purdue transfer.
It was really the first time the Spartans displayed their receiver core that they were so optimistic about heading into the season.
Before this match, Scudero had been the one putting a lot of the pass game on his shoulders, emerging potentially as a target blanket Eget utilized identically to former receiver Nick Nash.
“On the offense, everyone was doing their job,” Eget said. “When we work together, this could be a dangerous offense and most of the guys had a big night in the receivers room.”
Overall, the Spartans had 58 passing attempts in contrast to just 14 plays on the ground game.
After having 198 rushing yards in their previous match against Idaho, the run game faded, with 51 yards.
Despite putting up 29 points, the scoreline doesn’t fully indicate the success SJSU had on offense. In the end of the second and the early portion of the third quarter, the Spartans had three straight possessions where they were in opposing territory that led to nothing.
Two missed field goals of under 30 yards by redshirt senior Denis Lynch and a failed fourth down conversion would eventually hurt the Spartans later on.
Sitting at 1-3, SJSU now heads into the Mountain West conference on Friday night, hosting New Mexico at CEFCU stadium at 7 p.m.
