November 17th 2024.
The game between San Jose State and No. 13 Boise State on Saturday night was full of anticipation and excitement. The Spartans were hoping to pull off their first upset over a top-15 opponent since 2000, and the momentum seemed to be on their side multiple times throughout the game. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, they were unable to capitalize and fell to the Broncos with a final score of 42-21.
The game started off with a bang as Walker Eget, the Spartans' quarterback, threw two touchdowns on the first two drives of the game. The crowd of 20,517 at CEFCU Stadium, the largest since 2013, erupted with excitement. And when Boise State fumbled the ensuing kickoff, it seemed like San Jose State had a real chance to take a 21-0 lead. However, their offense stalled out and they were unable to convert their opportunity into points.
Head coach Ken Niumatalolo initially sent out the field goal unit, but then called a timeout due to a substitution error and decided to go for it. The resulting trick play, involving an offensive lineman, ended up being a negative gain and took all the energy out of the stadium. Niumatalolo later admitted that he got greedy and it ended up costing them.
After the trick play, Boise State was able to find their rhythm and went on to outscore the Spartans 42-7 for the remainder of the game. Despite their efforts, San Jose State was unable to capitalize on several missed opportunities, including stopping a fake field goal attempt and recovering a fumbled kickoff.
The first half ended tied at 14, with the Spartans managing to hold Heisman Trophy favorite Ashton Jeanty to just 57 yards. However, Jeanty and quarterback Maddux Madsen did not turn the ball over throughout the game, and Boise State ultimately won the turnover battle 4-1.
Eget had a strong performance, with 34-for-50 for 446 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, and a fumble. However, the fumble at a critical moment in the game proved to be the most damaging. Eget acknowledged that he needs to work on his turnovers in order to improve his game.
Despite the loss, there were still bright spots for the Spartans, including wide receiver Nick Nash breaking Noel Grigsby's single-season reception record, and Justin Lockhart's impressive stat line of 10 receptions, 172 yards, and a touchdown. Both Nash and Jeanty have been named as semifinalists for prestigious college football awards, and their performances in this game only solidified their standing.
Looking ahead, San Jose State will face UNLV in the second game of their end-of-season homestand. While their conference championship hopes have been extinguished, they still have a chance to spoil the Rebels' chances. Eget acknowledged the emotional roller coaster of the game and emphasized the importance of staying focused for the next game.
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