By Niles Hall (@n23hall) – Content Editor | Senior Luke Weaver celebrates touchdown with teammates on Aug. 29. (Photo by Max Garcia (@maxgarci09) – Spear Photographer)
The San Jose State Spartans lost 42-26 in their season opener at the University of Southern California Trojans in a battle at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
After electing to receive the opening kickoff, the Trojans’ rushing game dominated the Spartans, gaining 57 yards on their opening drive, which was capped off by senior Jaiden Maiava‘s quarterback sneak touchdown.
This pace continued throughout the first half, with the Trojans scoring touchdowns on the first four of five drives. SJSU faced a 28-0 halftime deficit.
The Trojans’ balanced offensive attack gave SJSU’s defense issues, ending with 505 yards of total offense.
Sophomore running back King Miller led the team with 63 rushing yards and a touchdown, while freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley led the team with 118 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Maiava showed poise finding open receivers throughout the game, throwing for 286 passing yards and 2 touchdowns,
Maiava’s day ended early, getting subbed out at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a 35-3 lead.
SJSU had 11 yards of offense in the first quarter and finished the first half with 102 total yards, while USC ended the half with 312. SJSU finished the game with 334 total yards to USC’s 505.
The Spartans’ defense struggled to finish tackles throughout the game, giving up 150 yards after the catch, while the Trojans continued to find open zones in their defense.
SJSU’s defense showed signs of life in the first quarter, forcing a turnover on downs at the Spartans’ own goal line after a 61-yard USC punt return. That was the only non-scoring drive of the first half for the Trojans.
A majority of the Spartans’ first-half offense came from a 68-yard drive at the beginning of the second quarter, with junior running back Jabari Bates setting the tone rushing for 36 yards on the possession. The drive stalled out after an unsuccessful 4th-and-1 run attempt on USC’s 7-yard line.
“It took us a little bit to settle in, but I was really proud of the resolve of our team, especially in the second half bouncing back,” SJSU senior quarterback Luke Weaver said.
Weaver threw for 234 yards and 2 passing touchdowns, going 21 for 32 on pass attempts, and rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown.
“I think the kid’s a dog. He took some shots while scrambling, but we’re gonna need his play, his moxie. He can throw the football, he can run. Took some shots, but I think he battled to the end and he didn’t make a ton of bad decisions,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “I’m encouraged for our football team.”
The Spartans strung together back-to-back scoring possessions after junior wide receiver Jerry McClure caught a 28-yard touchdown during the first play of the fourth quarter. McClure ended the game with 68 receiving yards.
SJSU capitalized with a successful two-point conversion pass to junior tight end Kamaehu Kopa-Kaawalauole.
SJSU’s offense put its first points on the board during its second drive of the third quarter after a 42-yard diving catch to freshman wide receiver Carson Clark. The drive stalled on the Trojans’ 6-yard line, and junior kicker Trajan Sinatra made a 22-yard field goal.
Clark led the team with 74 receiving yards in his collegiate debut.
The Spartans showed signs of optimism, outscoring USC 26-14 in the second half.
“Yeah, we definitely gotta look at how we kept battling against a top-10 team,” Niumatalolo said. “I’m gonna take away that we played really good football against a really good team.”
SJSU is now 5-3 in its last eight season openers This is the second time in eight seasons that SJSU lost to USC in a home opener, losing 56-28 on Aug. 26, 2023.
The San Jose State Spartans will look to bounce back at Eastern Michigan University at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at Rynearson Stadium.
