San Jose State Spartans open Ken Niumatalolo era with comeback win over Sacramento State
SAN JOSE — Emmett Brown threw three touchdown passes in his San Jose State debut, and sixth-year senior Nick Nash caught two touchdown passes and threw another as the Spartans beat Sacramento State 42-24 on Thursday night to give Ken Niumatalolo a victory in his first game as the Spartans’ head coach.
The Spartans trailed14-0 midway through the first quarter and didn’t take their first lead until the third quarter against the FCS-level Hornets at CEFCU Stadium, but put the game away by scoring the final 21 points.
The game was delayed for nearly 11 minutes early in the fourth quarter after a scary collision left Hornets kickoff returner Michael Johnson briefly motionless on the field. Johnson was conscious and lifted his arms as he was taken off the field on a cart.
SJSU forced five turnovers in the second half to overcome their turnover-filled first half against the Hornets, who were ranked No. 10 in the preseason AFCA FCS coaches poll.
Brown, a sophomore transfer from Washington State, was 20 of 34 for 298 yards. His primary target was Nash. He finished with 15 targets for 10 receptions, 170 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw a 26-yard TD pass to Jacob Stewart just before halftime as SJSU cut the deficit to 17-14.
Archbishop Mitty graduate Danny Scudero, who in 2023 was the West Catholic Athletic League and the Bay Area News Group Santa Clara County player of the year, caught a 20-yard TD pass late in the third quarter to put the Hornets ahead 24-21. But SJSU went ahead for good on Floyd Chalk IV’s 4-yard TD run with 12:13 remaining in the game.
Johnson was injured on the ensuing kickoff. Once play resumed, SJSU went 18 yards in four plays, capped by Brown’s 8-yard TD pass to Justin Lockhart
Chalk, a junior transfer from Grambling State, added a 27-yard scoring run with just over two minutes remaining to seal the victory for Niumatalolo, Navy’s all-time wins leader who succeeded Brent Brennan after he went to Arizona after seven seasons and three bowl games at SJSU.
Up next for SJSU is their Mountain West opener at Air Force on Sept. 7.