Homecoming was not a welcome return for San Jose State as the football team fell short 19-13 against San Diego State on Friday night at CEFCU Stadium.
The Spartans (3-4, 1-2 MWC) took the No. 24, undefeated Aztecs (6-0, 2-0) to double overtime but a late interception on quarterback Nick Nash set the stage for the Aztecs’ game-winning touchdown.
The first half of the game was not as thrilling, however.
Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter and could only muster a combined 12 points in the form of three field goals.
SJSU almost scored off a Nash 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Charles Ross but it was called back by a face mask penalty in the first quarter.
The Spartans trailed the Aztecs 6-3 at halftime in a low-scoring defensive showcase.
SDSU ranks 10th nationally in rushing the ball as it averages 244 yards a game. Yet, the Spartan defense held the Aztecs to only 70 yards on 36 carries.
Head coach Brent Brennan said he was thrilled with his team's defensive performance but penalties stopped any offensive momentum the Spartans created.
“I thought [we] battled tough but the thing that's going to make us sick are the penalties which are just ridiculous,” Brennan said. “We need to eliminate them because we missed opportunities to win.”
SJSU ended the game with a season-high 12 penalties that cost the team 101 yards.
The defensive showdown resulted in a combined total of 14 punts, with one punt by the Aztecs being 86 yards which pinned the Spartans in their own end zone.
SJSU kicker Matt Mercurio tied the game at 6-6 with a field goal in the fourth quarter and eventually had the game in his hands in the final seconds.
Nash and the Spartan offense moved down the field in the last minutes of regulation to set up Mercurio for the game-winning field goal with about 20 seconds left.
Mercurio looked to be the hero for SJSU but missed the field goal wide right, sending the game to overtime tied at six points.
The sole spark on offense for SJSU was running back Tyler Nevens as he finished the game with a total of 74 yards rushing and one touchdown.
“I think we played great tonight and our chemistry as an offense came together and we’re more sound than ever before in the past weeks,” Nevens said.
Neven’s touchdown came in overtime after SDSU scored first to tie the game again at 13-13.
SJSU almost gained control of the game in double overtime but Nash was intercepted by the SDSU defense in the end zone.
The Aztecs capitalized by scoring the walk-off touchdown in the following drive, winning the game 19-13.
Nash finished the game with 16 of 34 pass attempts and one interception.
“I think there's a lot of positives that we can take out there but what hurt was penalties and making dumb mistakes, but you know it was a hard-fought battle,” Nash said. “Obviously, it hurts to lose.”
Before the game, SJSU inducted former wide receiver and Super Bowl-winning NFL player James Jones, who was in attendance, into the SJSU Ring of Honor after the first quarter.
Jones was congratulated with a TV message by Brennan and his former Packers teammates Aaron Rodgers, Randall Cobb and Devante Adams who said, “You are a legend.”
Rodgers, who played with Jones on the Packers from 2003-06, said in the video, “No one talks as much about their alma mater as you do. I’m so thankful to have played with you for so many years and to call you a close friend.”
The Spartans (3-4) look to bounce back as they are expected to take on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (0-6) on Oct. 21 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas at 8 p.m.
