SAN JOSE – Emmett Brown threw three touchdown passes in his debut for San Jose State, and sixth-year senior Nick Nash caught two touchdown passes and threw one other because the Spartans beat Sacramento State 42-24 on Thursday night, giving Ken Niumatalolo a win in his first game as Spartans head coach.
The Spartans trailed 14-0 midway through the primary quarter and only took the lead for the primary time within the third quarter against the FCS-equal Hornets at CEFCU Stadium, but decided the sport with the ultimate 21 points.
Play was halted for nearly 11 minutes early within the fourth quarter after Hornets kickoff returner Michael Johnson was left motionless on the sphere after a dangerous collision. Johnson was conscious and raised his arms as he was carted off the sphere.
SJSU forced five turnovers within the second half to make up for a turnover-filled first half against the Hornets, who were ranked No. 10 within the AFCA FCS coaches' preseason poll.
Brown, a sophomore transfer from Washington State, accomplished 20 of 34 passes for 298 yards. His foremost goal was Nash. He finished the sport with 15 passes for 10 catches, 170 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Stewart just before halftime as SJSU cut the deficit to 17-14.
Danny Scudero, an Archbishop Mitty graduate and the 2023 West Catholic Athletic League and Bay Area News Group Player of the Year for Santa Clara County, caught a 20-yard touchdown pass late within the third quarter to provide the Hornets a 24-21 lead. But SJSU took the lead for good with 12:13 left in the sport on a 4-yard touchdown run by Floyd Chalk IV.
Johnson was injured on the following kickoff. When play resumed, SJSU went 18 yards in 4 plays, capped by Brown's 8-yard touchdown pass to Justin Lockhart.
Chalk, a junior transfer from Grambling State, scored on a 27-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes left to secure the win for Niumatalolo, Navy's all-time winningest player who replaced Brent Brennan after Brennan left for Arizona after seven seasons and three bowl games at SJSU.
Next up for SJSU is its Mountain West opener at Air Force on September 7.
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