SAN JOSE – San Jose State's job Saturday is to do what no other team has been in a position to do that season: Stop Ashton Jeanty.
“All of our attention will be on him to make sure we can do our best to stop him, but there were nine other teams that tried that too and no one succeeded,” Spartans coach Ken Niumatalolo said This week before visiting No. 13-ranked Boise State at CEFCU Stadium. Kickoff is 4 p.m
While SJSU's Nick Nash is having an underwhelming season at receiver, Jeanty is doing the identical at running back.
The 5-foot-9 junior from Jacksonville, Florida is He managed to match Barry Sanders' NCAA single-season rushing record. In nine games, he rushed for 1,734 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 7.7 yards per carry and an incredible 193 yards per game.
The Spartans got a firsthand take a look at Jeanty last season when he was just beginning to hit his stride, rushing for 167 yards, including a 68-yard run, within the Broncos' comeback win.
“You might think he's in trouble, but he could get a 20-yard gain and that changes the dynamic,” cornerback DJ Harvey said.
Jeanty has rushed for greater than 200 yards 4 times this season and gained at the very least 127 yards in each of Boise State's first nine games. He needs 894 yards to interrupt Sanders' NCAA record of two,628 set in 1988. The Broncos (8-1, 5-0 Mountain West) have three regular season games left, in addition to a probable conference tournament berth and possibly several playoff games.
San Jose State (6-3, 3-2 MW) became bowl eligible last weekend with a win at Oregon State, but a loss on Saturday would all but eliminate them from the race for the conference championship.
To make things even tougher for the Spartans, leading tackler Jordan Pollard will miss the primary half of the sport attributable to a targeting penalty assessed within the second half last week.
But as they proved against Washington State, the Spartans may also put up big numbers on offense. SJSU lost 54-52 but managed nearly 500 yards of offense and scored seven touchdowns.
Quarterback Walker Eget has established himself as the person for SJSU after rushing for 395 yards and a touchdown last week. Nash enters the week leading the nation in receptions (86), receiving yards (1,156) and receiving touchdowns (13).
The teams mix to supply nearly 1,000 yards of offense at the beginning of the sport.
“Our offense is going to score points and their offense is going to score points, so it's going to be an intense, explosive game,” cornerback Michael Dansby said.
Last yr, the Spartans lost 35-27 in Boise, blowing a 27-7 lead. SJSU has beaten Boise State only once in 16 meetings – within the 2020 Mountain West championship game.
A win over the Thirteenth-ranked Broncos can be the Spartans' first win against a Fifteenth-ranked opponent since No. 9 TCU in 2000.
The Spartans enter the sport as underdogs with 13.5 points.
“When you watch them on tape, you can't help but say, 'Wow,'” Niumatalolo said. “But we accept it and are thrilled.”
Can Eget withstand the pressure?
While it's difficult to start, Eget has only began high-stakes games to date. His first start was SJSU's homecoming, then on the road in a rivalry game against Fresno State and on the road against a Pac-12 opponent.
And now a nationally ranked juggernaut that’s sacking quarterbacks on the second-highest rate within the country (4.44 sacks per game).
An enormous challenge for an SJSU offensive line that only gives up one sack per game.
“I think the whole line did a great job. In the last few weeks they have really developed into what we expected,” said Eget.
The Broncos are led by Jayden Virgin-Morgan and Ahmed Hassanein, each of whom rank in the highest 15 within the country in sacks.
“Well-coached, high motor, really good players and we will try our best to have a good scheme, but it will be a challenge,” Niumatalolo said of their pass rush.
San Jose State's passing game could also be its biggest strength, as Boise allows greater than 12 yards per completion.
Eget has proven that he can push the ball downfield so long as he has a clean pocket to accomplish that.
Special teams issues
San Jose State's special teams woes continued last week after Kyler Halvorsen blocked a kick from 26 yards out, the second blocked kick in three weeks.
“It’s definitely a cause for concern, but the good thing is we know where the problems are,” Niumatalolo said.
A 40-yard kick against Wyoming is the opposite block, a play wherein punt returner Matthew Coleman parried a punt within the second quarter.
The early-season penalty issue on special teams has been resolved, however the unit still hasn't played a clean 4 quarters.
“If we have that this week, if we get one blocked or miss field goals or whatever, that's not going to bode well for us,” Niumatalolo said.
Boise State's Jonah Dalmas has made every kick attempt this season aside from a 54-yard attempt against No. 1 Oregon.
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