By Austin Turner
Following a frustrating season-opening loss to UC Davis, San Jose State will try to avoid its first 0-2 start since 2011.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, to avoid an 0-2 start, they have to go through the PAC-12’s Washington State Cougars, a team coming off a 9-4 season and a 41-19 dismantling of Wyoming in week 1.
The Spartan defense will face one of its toughest challenges of its 2018 campaign.
The Cougars offense scored 41 points against Wyoming’s defense, which is considered as one of the top defenses in the Mountain West Conference.
WSU’s graduate transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew had a solid performance in his first game for the Cougars, passing for 319 yards and three touchdowns.
Defending Washington State’s air-raid offense will prove to be an immense challenge for SJSU’s secondary, which struggled greatly against UC Davis.
The Spartans allowed UC Davis QB Jake Maier to throw for 446 yards and three touchdowns in the opener. Simply put, San Jose’s secondary has to step up against WSU for the Spartans to have any chance against the high-powered passing offense of the Cougars.
On the other side of the ball, the Spartans should have more stability and certainty this week.
SJSU played three different quarterbacks against Davis. Josh Love and Michael Carrillo proved to be mostly ineffective, while 2017’s starter Montel Aaron was dominant.
After coming into the game about halfway through the third quarter, Aaron threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns, including a 79-yard strike to Bailey Gaither on the final play of the third quarter.
Aaron will get the start Saturday night against the Cougars, and his explosive big-play ability will prove vital to the Spartans success.
The Spartan offense will rely on Aaron, especially with the absence of running back Tyler Nevens, who will sit out Saturday’s game after being carried off the field in a stretcher in week 1.
Replacing Nevens in the backfield will be seniors Dejon Packer and Malike Roberson. Packer rushed for 41 yards on ten attempts against UC Davis, while catching one pass for a 12-yard gain. Malike will also provide that strength-speed one-two punch alongside Packer.
Saturday night’s game will be the first matchup between SJSU and WSU since 1996, and will be the 13th overall. WSU leads the series 7-4-1.
Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m.
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