By Felix Oliveros — Staff Writer
All the raw emotion that came from the first victory against an SEC school in San Jose State Football’s history was undoubtedly something to remember.
But that was last week, and the party’s over.
With their rest cut short by a day, the Spartans (2-1) will suit up for their first conference game of the season and face off against the Air Force Academy (2-1) on Friday at 5 p.m. at Falcon Stadium.
Air Force’s previous match didn’t end in their favor when they went on the road Saturday night and lost on the blue grass at Boise State, 30-19.However here’s something to consider. The week prior to their loss against Boise, Air Force was able to take down The University of Colorado Boulder, a Pac-12 team in over time on the road.
Back in San Jose, after national shock and an energetic pep rally to start the week, the Spartan defense will have to make adjustments. Going from trying to stop an Arkansas offense that threw the ball 50 times, to an Air Force offense that is run heavy is a tall task.
“They spread you out,” said head coach Brent Brennan of Air Force at Monday’s press conference. “They stretch you really thin and it’s one of those deals where you have to play assignment-sound football.”
Quarterback Josh Love will look to build on last weeks performance where he used Tre Walker (12 receptions, 161 yards) as his primary weapon to exploit the Arkansas defense.
Love’s 402 yards and two-touchdown performance also named him Mountain West’s Offensive Player of the Week. The Falcons however, can’t ignore the Spartan ground attack.
Last week, SJSU used five different rushers that were able to eat up 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Most carries going for over an average of five yards.
One of the touchdowns came from the elusive running of freshman quarterback Nick Nash and the second from DeJon Packer, on the late game-winning drive that sealed the Hogs’ fate.
After being doubted so heavily, a win like Saturday’s comes with its challenges. A big one is not letting the taste of victory ruin the appetite for more. Not over indulging in the past and remaining focused on the next opponent.
“This morning it was all about Air Force,” Brennan said. “We talked about the Arkansas game very little because we know what a challenge this is … I’m encouraged because there was that sense from them that they were excited about what happened on Saturday but, [they said] let’s go let’s get working on this next one.”
The last time San Jose State and the Air Force Academy faced off was in 2016 and it didn’t go the way the Spartans hoped. Air Force came out on top 41-38 in a close game where the Falcons scored a game winning touchdown in the final 60 seconds of the fourth quarter.
If SJSU can get off the runway and take down Air Force, it will be the team’s first time winning back to back games since 2014 when they defeated UNLV and then went on the road to beat Wyoming.
Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. Saturday.
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