SAN JOSE – Playing in front of its home fans for the first time in 637 days, San Jose State didn’t disappoint Saturday night in its season opener.
The reigning Mountain West champion hit the ground running as the Spartans opened their season with a 45-14 rout of Southern Utah at CEFCU Stadium.
The Spartans (1-0) found the end zone on each of their first five possessions, with quarterback Nick Starkel orchestrating a quick-strike attack. The senior threw for 394 yards and four touchdowns before being replaced to open the fourth quarter. He also ran it in from a yard out on the game’s opening drive.
Starkel spread the wealth by hooking up with 10 different targets, including TDs of 23 yards to Jermaine Braddock in the first quarter, explosive plays of 70 and 65 yards in the second quarter to tight end Sam Olson and Nevada transfer Charles Ross, respectively, plus a 14-yard floater to tight end Derrick Deese Jr. in the third quarter.
San Jose State running back Tyler Nevens provided balance on offense with 12 carries for 91 yards. He scored on a 12-yard run with 47 seconds left in the first quarter to make it 21-0 – the most points in the opening 15 minutes during the Brent Brennan era.
Southern Utah (1-0) capitalized on a few crucial mistakes by the Spartans. A muffed punt by Shamar Garrett followed by a negated field-goal block by an offsides penalty led to the Thunderbirds’ first touchdown on a trick play, while Starkel tossed a pick-six late in the first half as San Jose State went into intermission ahead 38-14.
The Spartans won’t return to CEFCU Stadium until October, as a three-game road trip begins next week at No. 15 USC.
