By Niles Hall (@n23hall) – Content Editor | SJSU wide Receiver Kyri Shoels celebrates in a matchup against the New Mexico Lobos on Oct. 3. (Photo by Alexis Corona-Aguilar – The Spear)
The San Jose State Spartans lost 30-25 to the Utah State Aggies in their fourth one-score loss of the season.
The Aggies extend their 9-1 record in the last 10 games against SJSU as the Spartans’ demons reared their ugly head.
They continued to struggle to play complementary football, plagued by issues in the secondary, special teams and untimely offensive drops.
SJSU entered this game with senior quarterback Walker Eget and sophomore wide receiver Danny Scudero questionable; however, the duo was able to play.
“Those of those kids are tough kids, number 10 (Scudero) might be one of the toughest kids i’ve been around…Those guys came and battled, gave us everything they had”. SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said.
The Aggies set the tone early in the game, swarming to Scudero aggressively, imposing their physical will. They held Scudero to his lowest total of the year with just 25 receiving yards.
SJSU’s secondary struggled, having receivers wide open at multiple points. The biggest was seen in the third quarter when Aggies wide receiver Anthony Garcia was wide open for a 74-yard touchdown. There wasn’t a defender within 10 yards of him.
“That’s when the coverage bust come into play when we’re not communicating, looking at the right things, and just executing to are full potential,” said SJSU freshman defensive back Jaylen Thomas.
Offensively, SJSU struggled to convert on fourth down, failing to do so in Utah State territory at the end of the first quarter. A more costly one was seen at the end of the fourth quarter, down two with 3:41 left in the game.
Utah State graduate student quarterback Bryson Barnes had one of his best games of the season, throwing for 326 yards and a touchdown. Barnes led the team in rushing yards with 54 yards and a touchdown.
With Scudero hampered by injury, SJSU junior wide receivers Leland Smith and Kyri Shoels stepped up with 100-plus yards each. Smith had a 45-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
Eget had a gutty performance playing through injury, throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns.
Both offenses took advantage on their first drive; the Spartans opened the game with a 37-yard field goal from senior kicker Denis Lynch. The drive was halted by a controversial pass on third and one. Lynch went 2/2 on the day.
The Aggies followed up the Spartans’ opening scoring drive with a touchdown that was carried by a momentum-changing 30-yard reception by running back Javen Jacobs on fourth and four, which put Utah State in SJSU territory, and was capped off by a touchdown.
The rest of the first half was quiet, with each team forcing turnovers. In the second quarter, the Aggies forced a fumble on Shoels. The Spartans returned the favor when the Aggies were on SJSU’s 19-yard line, and the Spartans forced a turnover on downs as they opted not to kick a field goal.
The last two drives of the first half ended how the game started this time, SJSU scored a touchdown when they drove down the field, scoring on a screen play to Sophomore Lamar Radcliffe. The drive was carried by a 43-yard acrobatic catch by Smith.
The Aggies kicked a 31-yard field goal with the half’s last seconds ticking off. The drive was helped by a pass interference call on SJSU and a 21-yard quarterback scramble.
The Spartans running game got active. Freshman Steve Chavez-Soto stood out with a 66-yard rushing touchdown. He ended the night with 102 rushing yards. Radcliffe had 74 rushing yards and a receiving touchdown.
“They’re just absolute tanks for them to do what they do consistently… You can’t ask for better running backs; they really sacrifice everything for the team,” Eget said.
The Spartans will head into the bye week with their backs against the wall as they lick their wounds and prepare to attack the rest of the season.
