By Niles Hall (@n23hall) – Content Editor | Sophomore wide receiver Danny Scudero runs open in loss against the Fresno State Bulldogs on Nov. 29 (Photo by Jupiter Decker – Spear Photographer)
The San Jose State Spartans closed out their 2025 season with a disappointing 41–14 loss in the 88th edition of the Battle of the Valley against rival Fresno State Bulldogs. This game would be the final chapter in SJSU’s underwhelming 3-9 season.
“We’re going to go to work immediately to make sure this never happens again,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said.
In SJSU freshman quarterback Tama Amisome’s first career start, he went 2-of-9 passing for 12 yards and two interceptions.
Amisome got injured midway through the first quarter but attempted to gut it out. Eventually, he left the game midway through the second quarter, which left the Spartans scrambling for answers.
“Tama got hurt early in that first drive, couldn’t move, couldn’t throw,” Niumatalolo said.” To get hurt that early put us behind the eight ball.”
Back-up quarterbacks, SJSU’s freshman Robert McDaniel and senior Xavier Ward, each got a chance. McDaniel got the first shot playing for one drive, leading SJSU to a field goal attempt, going 1-of-4 passing for eight yards. Ward would go on to play the rest of the game, passing for 94 yards and three interceptions.
SJSU senior linebacker Jordan Pollard went all out in his last collegiate game, having 19 tackles and accounting for the Spartans’ best plays of the night.
Pollard intercepted Fresno State senior quarterback E.J. Warner for a pick-six in the second quarter and forced a fumble, peanut punching the ball out of Warner’s hands in the fourth quarter.
“I’m now 1-3 against [Fresno], I kind of just wanted to tie the scoreboard a little bit, I wanted that trophy,” Pollard said. “That was a big thing for me this week. I have nothing to lose, so why not knock them off?”
On the offensive side of the ball, sophomore wide receiver Danny Scudero sealed his name in SJSU history, becoming the third all-time in SJSU receptions, and leading the nation with 1,291 receiving yards.
“If you would’ve told me as a junior in high school when I first started playing, that I’d be here I’d look at you a little funny. But [this season] really just shows it’s possible,” Scudero said. “Now that I’ve got a taste of being able to really produce, it’s really just looking forward to next year to see what I can do.”
Despite Scudero’s success, SJSU’s offense didn’t follow, struggling to score a single offensive point until 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
SJSU’s defense had a strong performance early, keeping the Spartans within striking distance, but eventually lost the war of attrition, having to stay on the field for 39 minutes compared to the SJSU offense’s 20 minutes. The Bulldogs won the time of possession by almost double.
The Bulldogs rushed for 259 yards, almost beating their season average of 170 rushing yards by 89 yards. This performance was bolstered by a 92 rushing yard, two-touchdown performance from senior running back Elijah Gillam.
Fresno State senior wide receiver Josiah Freeman also gave the Spartans issues, having 76 receiving yards and a touchdown.
SJSU’s special teams struggled. Senior punter Trent Carrizosa had a 16-yard punt in the first quarter and senior kicker Denis Lynch missed a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter.
The Spartans’ performance was a true culmination of the 2025 SJSU experience. Struggling in special teams, being unable to play complementary football, and having strong individual performances.
SJSU will go back to the drawing board, heading into the off-season looking to fix the flaws of a disappointing 2025 season.
“It starts first and foremost with retooling our coaching staff, getting our staff right,” Niumatalolo said.“The second part of it is getting our roster together and trying to make sure we’ve got the best out there, everything’s on the table.”
