Kairee Robinson totaled 189 yards from scrimmage and scored 4 touchdowns as San José State defeated the University of New Mexico 52-24 on the road Saturday night.
Spartans’ (2-5, 1-2 MWC) junior running back Quali Conley rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback
Chevan Cordeiro completed 8 of 17 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown.
“This was a great win for our team,” said SJSU head coach Brent Brennan. “I’m just so proud of our team and how they responded coming out of halftime. I think that's who we are and I think that's who we can be.”
The Lobos (2-4, 0-2 MWC) scored on their last possession of the first half and took a 17-14 lead after senior running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt scored on a direct-snap rush from the eight-yard line.
Coming out of halftime, SJSU scored on its first play. Cordeiro found Robinson on a screen pass and the 5-foot-7 running back took the ball 55 yards for a touchdown to put the Spartans up 21-17.
From there it was all SJSU. The Spartans outscored the Lobos 38-7 in the second half behind three-second half touchdowns from Robinson.
SJSU’s defense forced three straight three-and-outs and intercepted New Mexico quarterback Dylan Hopkins in the third quarter.
Brennan said he credited Robinson’s big performance as one of the keys to SJSU’s win.
“Kairee is a senior and has been here a long time,” Brennan said. “It’s awesome to see him playing his best football at this stage in his career. And he’s just such a tough runner and a great kid and a really good leader for our team.”
The Spartans are scheduled to be back home this week for a matchup with
Utah State University at 7 p.m. Saturday. The matchup against the Aggies will be SJSU’s homecoming game and will fall on the one-year anniversary of the death of former running back Camdan McWright
