STANFORD — San Jose State is just a few plays away from being 3-1.
But after seeing a 12-point fourth quarter lead disappear in Saturday night’s 30-29 loss at Stanford, the Spartans head into Mountain West play with a 1-3 record, on a short week, and against a New Mexico team that has been one of the biggest surprises in the nation.
On Saturday night, the Spartans were trying to protect a 29-24 lead and forced the Cardinal into a 4th-and-10 on its own 41 with 1:16 left in the game after a broken up pass by Spartans cornerback Jalen Bainer. But on the following play, Cardinal wide receiver Caden High burned past the Spartans secondary for a 34-yard pass. Stanford scored the go-ahead touchdown four plays later, a one-yard rushing touchdown by Sedrick Irvin with 19 seconds remaining.
San Jose State Spartans’ Danny Scudero (10) looks on as the Stanford Cardinal celebrate their 30-29 win of a college football game at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
“That’s a tough one to lose,” said head coach Ken Niumatalolo, whose Spartans lost their season opener 16-14 to Central Michigan and have had three of their four games decided by a field goal or less. “Tip your hat to Stanford, they found a way to make a couple more plays then we did.”
In the loss, SJSU quarterback Walker Eget set a career highs in passing yards (473) completions (36). Eget also threw for three touchdowns.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the game.
INCONSISTENT KICKING GAME
After seeming to shake off early-season misses with a game-winner the previous week against Idaho, SJSU kicker Denis Lynch missed two field goals from under 30 yards against Stanford.
Lynch missed a 28-yard field goal with 0:59 left to go in the second quarter which would have given the Spartans a nine-point lead heading into halftime. His other missed field goal came from 29-yards away with 3:50 left in the third quarter.
“Missing that field goal at the end of the half killed us,” Niumatalolo said. “We make those field goals we’re not having this conversation right now.”
San Jose State Spartans’ Denis Lynch (48) reacts after missing a field goal against the Stanford Cardinal in the second half of a college football game at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2024. Stanford Cardinal won 30-29. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Lynch made two field goal attempts earlier in the game, from 41 yards and 36 yards out. He added a 31-yarder with 7:41 left in the game that gave SJSU a 29-24 lead.
With six missed field goals attempts in four games, it’s possible the USC transfer could get a challenge from Mathias Brown this week in practice. Brown has been used only as a kickoff specialist in his two seasons at SJSU.
“You just got to have trust in (Lynch),” Eget said. “If we had one more opportunity I think he would have made it and that’s all that matters, the next opportunity.”
SJSU’S PASSING OFFENSE LOOKS ELECTRIC
Offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann’s “Spread-and-Shred” offense was clicking on all cylinders against Stanford.
Three Spartan receivers eclipsed the 100 yard mark.
Kyri Shoels was the Spartans leading receiver with career highs with 10 receptions and 147 yards. Shoels also caught a touchdown and had a 33-yard catch as his longest reception.
San Jose State Spartans quarterback Walker Eget (5) makes a throw against the Stanford Cardinal in the second half of a college football game at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Danny Scudero was next in line with career-highs in both receptions (11) and touchdowns (2). Scudero also had 135 yards receiving.
Purdue transfer Leland Smith also had career-high’s in both receptions (6) and yards (101).
“Walker played like I knew he could play,” Niumatalolo said. “That first game was an enigma, seeing Walker play like that gives you hope.”
Eget’s 473 passing yards was the seventh most all time in SJSU history. His 36 completions were the most by a Spartan quarterback since 2013.
Following a 2024 season where Nick Nash and Justin Lockhart combined for 2,365 yards and 21 touchdowns, this was the type of explosiveness expected out of the offense.
“Coach Stutzmann called a hell of a game,” Eget said. “I thought we were in attack mode the whole game and I absolutely loved it.”
SJSU DEFENSE CAN’T CLOSE THE DOOR
The Cardinal offense was able to match the Spartans passing offense with an air raid of their own.
Stanford quarterback Ben Gulbranson threw for 444 yards, 2 touchdowns and averaged 15.3 yards per completion.
Stanford wide receivers CJ Williams and High combined for 248 receiving yards.
San Jose State Spartans’ Jackson Canaan (85) is brought down by the Stanford Cardinal defense in the second half of a college football game at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
The possession after the Spartans extended their 12 point lead, Gulbranson connected with Bryce Farrell connected with wide receiver Bryce Farrell for a 50-yard gain. This set up a 14-yard touchdown pass from Gulbranson to wide receiver Myles Libman.
“We had all the momentum and they took it right back,” Niumatalolo said. “That was a killer.”
Stanford has two passing plays go for over 50 yards in the fourth quarter. SJSU allowed Stanford receivers to have 156 yards after the catch.
The Spartans defense started the game hot getting four sacks in the first half but the Cardinal avoided getting sacked in the second half. SJSU also held Stanford to zero points in the third quarter before allowing 16 in the fourth.
The defense held strong on third down holding Stanford to 3-13. But, Stanford went 2-3 on fourth down meaning SJSU has allowed teams to go 7-8 on fourth down the past two games.
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“It hurts a lot knowing that we’ve been losing close games,” SJSU linebacker Taniela Latu said. “We just need to put a complete game together and we’ll be ok.”
UP NEXT
SJSU will return home to begin conference play by facing New Mexico (3-1) on Friday Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m on FS1.
New Mexico is coming off of a 38-20 win over New Mexico State, already beat UCLA at the Rose Bowl, and its only loss of the season is against No. 19 Michigan.