By Jose Trujillo – Editor
Sometimes, it’s easier to forget.
That might be the best way for San Jose State (0-6, 0-2 MW) to move on from the 52-3 dismantling at the hands of Army (4-2) on Saturday afternoon.
Though it didn’t start that way.
During the first 30 minutes of the game the Spartans played energized. The offense showed signs of life, even with starting quarterback Josh Love out with a concussion.
SJSU moved the ball by mixing up the run and pass leading to the only points scored that quarter. On the other side of the ball, the defense played downhill, showed their physicality and forced the Black Knights to punt on their opening drive.
SJSU won the time of possession 8:01 to 6:59 and led 3-0 after the first quarter, something they haven’t done since opening week against UC Davis.
“We had three and outs, and we were playing good defense,” said second-year head coach Brent Brennan. “At times we were moving the ball on offense pretty well too.”
At halftime, the Spartans were down 14-3, well within striking distance.
Then the third quarter happened. And a coach’s worst nightmare became reality — turnovers.
Three fumbles in three consecutive possessions during what seemed like the longest 15 minutes of football for the SJSU defense.
“Every time we did that, we gave them the ball on our side of the 50,” Brennan said. “When you turn it over like that, that’s how games flip that fast.”
And did it ever. With a blink of an eye, the Levi’s stadium scoreboard read 38-14 Black Knights on top with one quarter to go.
“It’s hard, because the field position you get is challenging,” said senior defensive end Bryson Bridges. “But at the end of the day, it’s our job, we still have to play defense, we can’t control what the offense does, we can only control the defense.”
But just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did. The Spartans started the fourth quarter in the most deflating and ugliest way possible—a fourth consecutive fumble, this time scooped up 52 yards for the defensive score sending all hopes of an SJSU comeback completely out the window.
For Army, junior quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. continued to do what head coach Jeff Monken asks of him: command the offense, run the ball and not commit turnovers. He finished with 18 carries, 99 yards and 3 touchdowns while also throwing for 54 yards and one touchdown.
The Spartans finished the game with only 171 yards of total offense. They allowed five sacks and mustered only 36 yards on the ground.
If the Spartans hope to win at least one game this season, it’s no question, the offensive line will need to improve in both run blocking and pass protection.
“This was a total gut punch for our program. I thought we were making great progress, I was actually encouraged by our week of practice,” Brennan said. “But what it shows is we are not ready to take the next step. I need to coach this team better, I need to find a way to sustain drives on offense and protect our quarterback.”
With six games left on the schedule, Brennan must figure it out fast because SJSU remains with a big, fat donut in its win column.
Nationally televised on ESPN, the matchup was supposed to be a great time at Levi’s stadium, but what fans witnessed was flat, uninspiring and embarrassing performance by SJSU.
One to truly forget for all Spartan nation.
Follow Jose on Twitter @jAy_Ay_T