No Christmas miracle for San Jose State: Takeaways from a wild Hawaii Bowl loss

After 60 minutes and five overtime periods – a first in bowl history – San Jose State lost to South Florida 41-39 Tuesday night in the Hawaii Bowl.

The Spartans have not won a bowl game since 2015, losing their last four bowl appearances.

“We were close, we had a couple plays we could have made, a couple coaching decisions by me I could have made to help us win,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “Lot of tears in the locker room right now, lot of hugging and crying.”

In the fifth overtime period, SJSU had the ball second for a 2-point conversion try after USF scored to start the period. Quarterback Walker Eget’s pass intended for Justin Lockhart was broken up in the endzone, ending the game and the Spartans’ season.

The Spartans trailed 21-10 at the half but outscored the Bulls 17-6 in the second half.

SJSU took its first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter on the back of an interception by linebacker Noah McNeal-Franklin that set the Spartans up with the ball on the 2-yard line after a 27-yard return.

Spartans freshman running back Lamar Radcliffe punched it in, giving them the 27-24 lead.

SJSU had a chance to clinch the game on a third-and-1 with less than 2 minutes left but running back Floyd Chalk IV was stopped for no gain, and the Spartans had to punt.

A 13-yard return from USF’s Sean Atkins set the Bulls up in prime position.

Six plays later, Bulls kicker John Cannon sent the game to overtime with a 41-yard field goal that glanced off the right upright. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the first overtime and field goals in the second, sending the game to a series of two-point conversions beginning in the third that culminated with USF’s Mac Harris knocking down Eget’s pass to seal the game.

Same story, different game

SJSU had two turnovers and allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown.

“It’s kind of been the story of our losses,” Niumatalolo said of turnovers and special teams mishaps. “I think we lead the country in turnovers, and it’s hard to win games doing that.”

The Spartans drove down the field on their second drive and nearly took an early lead on a reception by wide receiver TreyShun Hurry, but the touchdown was nullified after review revealed he fumbled the ball and it hit the pylon, resulting in a touchback.

“It took a lot of wind out of our sails,” Niumatalolo said of the touchback. “One thing I talked about to our team was the thing that happens in bowl games that kills you are turnovers and special teams and unfortunately proved prophetic in that.”

Late in the second quarter SJSU had cut the Bulls’ lead to 14-7 and immediately gave up a 93-yard kick return to USF’s Ta’Ron Keith making it 21-7.

“The kick return killed us too,” Niumatalolo said. “If we don’t have that, I don’t think the game is close.”

Did conservative calls cost SJSU?

The Spartans were up 27-24 with 53 seconds left in the game with the ball on their own 14-yard line. They decided to punt the ball on fourth-and-1, which ultimately gave the Bulls the chance to tie the game and send it to overtime.

“I should’ve went (for it),” Niumatalolo said. “I probably will not be able to sleep for the next year thinking about it.”

Niumatalolo had to weigh the options, knowing that a failed attempt would likely mean a loss or at least overtime. But a successful attempt would have ended the game and given the Spartans their eighth win of the season.

“I had to make a split-second decision,” Niumatalolo said. “And unfortunately I made the wrong one.”

The Spartans were successful on all three of their fourth-down conversions Tuesday night. They were lined up for another fourth-and-1 in the second overtime at the Bulls’ 2-yard line but took a delay-of-game penalty and instead kicked a field goal.

Bright future

Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Matthew Coleman filled in for 2024 Fred Biletnikoff Award finalist Nick Nash and led the Spartans in receiving with 119 yards on 12 receptions with 75 yards after catch. He hauled in one touchdown in the first overtime and a 2-point conversion in the third overtime.

Radcliffe also led the team with 65 yards on 15 carries and the fourth-quarter touchdown.

“I feel good about next year,” Niumatalolo said. “It’s hard to look at the future after a game like that.”

Niumatalolo recalled the Spartans being picked to finish 10th in the Mountain West, calling this season something to build upon for next season.

He also said he looks forward to next year’s roster.

“Pretty much our whole o-line is coming back, our whole running back room is coming back, our two quarterbacks who played are coming back,” Niumatalolo said. “We’ve already got some commitments in the transfer portal at wide receiver that we feel good about, we got some edge players that we’ve recruited so the future is bright.”