Chevan Cordeiro threw for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns while also rushing for 52 yards, but it wasn’t enough to upset No. 6 USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night as the Trojans defeated the Spartans 56-28.
Wide receiver Nick Nash completed the hat trick, hauling in 3 touchdowns passes while recording 89 yards.
“We didn't make the plays we needed to stay in it and keep it close and that was disappointing,” said head coach Brent Brennan. “We had a couple of breakdowns that really hurt us. But that's football. I think we have a resilient team.”
San Jose State kept the game competitive through the first half. Nash caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Cordeiro at the end of the first half to cut the Trojans’ lead to 21-14.
On the first drive of the third quarter, the Spartans had the Trojans in a fourth-and-3 situation, but failed to turn the ball over on downs as Caleb Williams completed a 23-yard pass to wide receiver Mario Williams which set up USC in the red zone.
The Trojans later scored on that drive and the next four after that as the Spartans’ defense could not stop the Trojans’ air raid. USC outscored SJSU 35-14 in the second half and the Spartans’ upset bid fell short.
“We just had missed opportunities,” Nash said. “I think we were doing well, we were driving the ball well. We just had a couple of missed opportunities. Those little things are what gets you beat by a good team like USC.”
The Spartans won’t get a break in their next game as they face No. 18 Oregon State at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday at CEFCU stadium.
SJSU will also get a look at another highly-touted quarterback in DJ Uiagalelei, the former Clemson quarterback who transferred to Oregon State this past season.
“I think we're going to be a little bit more prepared for Oregon State and what they have to bring for us defensively,” Nash said. “We're excited to play them.”
