An interception by San Jose State senior linebacker Jordan Cobbs with 2:26 left in the game sealed SJSU’s first win at Air Force in program history, a 17-7 victory over the Falcons.
Junior linebacker Jordan Pollard led SJSU’s defense with a career-high 17 total tackles. The Spartans’ defense held the Falcons to 3-for-15 on third-down conversions.
“It was as suffocating of an effort as I’ve ever had against them and that’s a credit to (defensive coordinator Derrick) Odum, the mastermind behind that plan,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said after the game. “Our defenseman, they played lights out,” he added.
Nick Nash picked up where he left off last week, with an 18-yard touchdown reception to put the Spartans on the board first.
An interception thrown by SJSU quarterback Emmett Brown would set up Air Force’s equalizer when Falcons wide receiver Cade Harris would stumble into the end zone on a pitch for six yards on fourth-and-2.
The Spartans responded with a 58-yard touchdown run by tight end Jackson Canaan to take back the lead 14-7.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second and third quarters. Air Force, coming off three straight Bowl Game wins, has earned a reputation for winning hard-fought games. Niumatalolo, who coached the Naval Academy from 2007-2022, is familiar with the style of play.
“To come here and beat Air Force here is monumental,” Niumatalolo said. “They’re hard to beat here. This is a hard, hard, hard team to beat anywhere, but at home it’s even harder.”
SJSU had 312 total yards of offense with only 50 coming on the ground.
“We could play against any defense,” said Brown, the Spartans quarterback. “It’s just understanding that we have to do what we do every play, make the right decisions, make the right throws,”
A fourth-quarter field goal by senior Kyler Halverson gave SJSU a two-point lead.
Offensive lineman and captain Marist Talavoa was disqualified for a field goal penalty in the third quarter with 3:24 left when the Spartans were backed up in their own half.
Talavoa will also miss the first half of SJSU’s next game due to a second-half suspension.
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