By Jenski Nonnarath – Spear Reporter | The Spartans getting ready to walk out onto the field against Stanford Sept. 27, 2025. (Photo by Alex Stoev – Spear Photographer)
San Jose State football defeated Eastern Michigan University 27-21 in a game that came down to the wire for its first win of the season.
The Spartans’ defense, after allowing a 50-yard rushing TD to sophomore Amareon Blue, would stop the Eagles on seven straight drives in the second half.
After a slow start for SJSU’s offense, Senior quarterback Luke Weaver got it going right before halftime, leading the offense 80 yards with 1:47 to go in the first half.
Weaver found junior wide receiver Cooper Hoch on a go route down the left sideline for 51 yards setting the offense up in scoring range. Two plays later throwing a touchdown on a double move to freshman wide receiver Jase Nix.
The Spartans would go into the half up 10-7 after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Eagles junior defensive lineman Marvell Eggleston got the Spartans into field goal range.
Weaver would have a career day, throwing for 316 yards and 3 passing touchdowns.
Junior running back Jabari Bates also got things going after a rough Week 1 game, rushing for 119 yards.
Hoch was Weaver’s top weapon with 5 catches, 115 receiving yards, and 2 touchdowns. He had the touchdown that would end up being the game winning touchdown. Weaver found Hoch down the middle; he broke a tackle and scored a 27 yards touchdown for his second one of the game.
“We’re going to make a play and eventually sometime they are going to bite and we are going to take a shot and go make that play,”Hoch said.
Junior kicker Trajan Sinatra made two field goals, one from 49 yards that hit the bottom post and bounced in, and the second to put the Spartans up by six that just snuck inside the left upright.
“We trust him. He’s been out there visualizing all his kicks after every practice. We put all our trust in him, knowing that he is going to perform when the time comes,” Hoch said.
The Spartans will look to continue their momentum going into their home opener against Cal Poly at 6 p.m. Saturday at CEFCU Stadium.
