The San José State football team wrapped up homecoming week with a 26-16 loss to Air Force on Saturday, marking its second home loss of the season.
The Spartans fell to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in Mountain West Conference (MWC) play, dropping to ninth in conference standings.
Air Force improved to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in conference play, remaining just below SJSU in 10th place.
The all-time series between the teams now stands at 6-3 in favor of Air Force.
Senior quarterback Walker Eget left in the first quarter after taking a hard hit during a 12-yard run.
Backup senior quarterback Xavier Ward came in for one drive but fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Falcons sophomore defensive back Roger Jones Jr.
Eget then returned shortly after and resumed play.
With Eget’s early scare, the Spartans’ offense struggled in the first half, committing three turnovers and managing only one field goal.
The Spartans trailed 16-3 at halftime.
Eget also threw two first-half interceptions, who hadn’t thrown an interception since Week 2 against the University of Texas– ending a streak of 275 consecutive pass attempts without one.
Eget also failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time since that game, snapping his streak of six straight games with a passing touchdown.
Air Force also held sophomore star wide receiver Danny Scudero to a quiet night with only 41 receiving yards.
SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said Eget’s injury affected his performance as the game progressed, limiting his usual rhythm and power in the passing game.
“I think it took away some of his mobility,” Niumatalolo said. “You could see it in some of his deep balls; he couldn’t really step into his throws, which he normally has a lot of. The kid’s got a strong arm, but he’s been banged up with his shoulder and then with the leg, that was not able to push off.”
Eget still threw for 334 yards on 27 of 42 passing, moving him into first place nationally in passing yards.
Despite the turnovers, Eget took accountability and praised the Falcons’ performance.
“They’re a tough team, they’re smart. They’re definitely good at what they do, and they got us in some positions. I just need to play better,” Eget said.
Air Force had 261 total rushing yards, including 87 from sophomore quarterback Liam Szarka.
It stands second in the nation in rushing with 2,421 yards, trailing only Navy, which has 2,744.
SJSU senior linebacker Taniela Latu recorded eight tackles and a pass breakup and felt the difficulty of defending the Falcons’ offense.
“(With a) triple-option offense, you just make sure you’re on point every play,” Latu said. “You can’t have your eyes in the wrong place.”
Aside from its offensive struggles and Scudero’s quiet night, SJSU did have some bright spots coming from its other receivers.
Junior receiver Leland Smith posted a career high with 144 receiving yards on nine receptions, while sophomore Kyri Shoels added six receptions for 93 yards, marking his third straight game with over 90 yards.
Freshman running back Steve Chavez-Soto scored the Spartans’ only touchdown on an eight-yard rush with 14 minutes and 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
It was his third straight game with a touchdown, giving him seven across five games.
Niumatalolo knows the offense can execute when it plays a turnover-free drive.
“My biggest message for us offensively is I know if we can take care of the ball, we can move the ball and then score,” Niumatalolo said.
The Falcons responded as Szarka threw his only touchdown pass, a 12-yard strike to senior receiver Quin Smith, with 9:11 left in the quarter.
The Spartans’ two-kicker system, using senior Denis Lynch from the right hash and sophomore Mathias Brown from the left, paid off again.
Lynch went two for two while Brown went one for one.
Marking the third straight game in which SJSU kickers made all their field goals, going six straight after missing eight earlier in the season.
SJSU is likely out of playoff contention with this loss, but can still reach a bowl game by winning out, as six wins are typically enough to qualify, according to the NCAA.
The Spartans have made three straight bowl games, the longest streak in program history.
SJSU is scheduled to face the University of Nevada, Reno at Mackay Stadium on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
