The San José State football team fell short in its season opener, losing 16–14 at home to Central Michigan on Friday night.The Spartans got off to a slow start, falling behind 13–0 in the second quarter, but they managed to cut the deficit with a touchdown, making it 13–7 before halftime.
Redshirt senior quarterback Walker Eget had early turnover struggles, throwing his first interception in the red zone, leading to a 29-yard rushing touchdown by redshirt sophomore running back Trey Cornist, who finished the day with 99 yards on 13 carries.
“Some decision-making on my part was a pretty crucial moment,” Eget said. “I think the biggest thing looking back to this game is just turnovers and that’s something again we can’t let happen and that story would be completely different.”
The Chippewas reached the red zone again after their defense forced an Eget fumble at the 14-yard line, recovered by their redshirt senior linebacker Fernando Sanchez III.
However, the Spartans’ defense held, forcing a three-and-out and allowing only a 34-yard field goal late in the first quarter.
Eget, after committing three turnovers, including two in the first quarter, said he could have limited his mistakes.
Rushing yards were a major factor for the Chippewas, who totaled 247 on the ground, while SJSU managed just 75.
The Chippewas’ only points in the second half came on a 28-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter, which ultimately proved to be the go-ahead score.
The Spartans had two chances to take the lead with a missed 33-yard and 56-yard attempt by redshirt senior kicker Denis Lynch.
Despite SJSU’s early first-half struggles with the Chippewas totaling 190 yards in the half and 158 on the ground, Spartans head coach Ken Niumatalolo gave the defense credit.
“Proud of the way the defense played. I thought they gave us a chance as a team, kept battling at the end,” Niumatalolo said. “That last drive, when they got to field-goal range, probably the one drive in the second half, we kind of let up a little bit.”
The Spartans had some standout players on defense, including senior linebacker Jordan Pollard, who had 15 total tackles.
“I just gotta get around the ball, I’m a linebacker,” Pollard said. “Especially in the runs, I got to get to the ball, really to be around it all the time.”
SJSU played cleaner in terms of penalties, committing four compared to Central Michigan’s seven, but the Spartans’ defense failed to force a turnover.
Although the Spartans’ turnovers and missed field goals led to the loss, there were some bright spots, especially redshirt sophomore wide receiver Danny Scudero, who said the loss stung but remains optimistic that he and the receiving corps will bounce back with a win.
“The biggest thing is the 24-hour goal, just grow from your mistakes, learn, just continue to grow as a player and as an offense,” Scudero said.
Scudero had a career night with 189 yards on nine receptions, including a 45-yard touchdown that gave the Spartans their only lead of the game.
Besides Scudero’s debut, junior wide receiver Leland Smith, a Purdue transfer, scored the Spartans’ first touchdown of the season on an 11-yard pass from Eget and finished with two catches for 50 yards.
SJSU also found an option in a backup quarterback role for designed plays, as freshman quarterback Tama Amisone came in and recorded 23 rushing yards on five carries.
“That was our plan coming in, we were gonna have some packages for Tama, so that wasn’t anything that we hadn’t planned,” Niumatalolo said.
Eget was in a similar situation last season, starting in Week 1 while splitting the quarterback roles with former Spartans quarterback, now at Coastal Carolina, Emmett Brown. This year, however, Niumatalolo named Eget the full-time starter, leaving Amisone in for designed plays.
SJSU will face the No. 7-ranked Texas on Saturday at 9 a.m. PST at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
