By Ernie Gonzalez (@superego1012):
San Jose State (1-6, 0-3 MW) is coming off another disappointing performance at home, but will look to spark some second-half momentum on the island as it gets ready to take on the Rainbow Warriors (2-4, 0-3 MW).
The two teams are even ahead of their 40th meeting, knotted up at 19-19-1. The 1941 matchup was cancelled because of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Currently, both the Bows and the Spartans remain winless in Mountain West conference play, so something’s gotta give Saturday night. Hawaii has to have a bad taste in its mouth from last week’s road loss at Nevada, which is why Spartan head coach Brent Brennan is certain his group will need to be present Saturday night.
“I’m sure they’re bent out of shape about the loss at Nevada last week,” Brennan said. “We better have our big-boy pants on and be ready for a real fight.”
Hawaii has not only the third leading rusher in college football in Diocemy Saint Juste, but the third leading pass catcher as well in John Ursua.
Saint Juste and Ursua combine for a whopping 53.4 percent of the Bow’s total yards this season, all funneled through quarterback Dru Brown.
“Dru Brown is a great story.” Brennan said. “Bay Area kid. It’s really cool [to see] his emergence last year…leading them to a bowl game. ”
Brown will be the fifth dual-threat quarterback the Spartans have faced all season, and it would be reasonable to imagine SJSU has put together a plan to maintain and monitor mobile QBs.
“My hope is that our experience against the dual threat guys that we have faced will give us a chance to play good defense against Dru,” Brennan said.
On offense for the Spartans, the keys still belong to quarterback Josh Love, who has a 54 percent completion rate, five touchdowns and seven interceptions through five starts this season.
Helping Love out is true Freshman Tyler Nevens, who has bursted onto the scene as the team’s go-to back. Nevens is averaging 19 carries for 96.5 yards his last two outings. Expect similar touches tonight for the big fella.
Kickoff is set for 9:00 p.m.
