SAN JOSE — San Jose State’s task Saturday is to do what no other team has been able to accomplish this season: stop Ashton Jeanty.
“All of our attention is going to be on him to make sure that we can do our best that we can to try and stop him but there have been nine other teams that have tried that too and nobody’s succeeded,” Spartans coach Ken Niumatalolo said this week in advance of No. 13 ranked Boise State’s visit to CEFCU Stadium. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.
While SJSU’s Nick Nash is having a season for the ages for receivers, Jeanty is doing the same for running backs.
The 5-foot-9 junior from Jacksonville, Florida, is making a run at Barry Sanders’ NCAA single-season rushing record. Though nine games he’s rushed for 1,734 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 7.7 yards per carry and a staggering 193 yards per game.
The Spartans got a first-hand look at Jeanty last season just as he was beginning to really take off, when he rushed for 167 yards in the Broncos’ comeback win, including a 68-yard run.
“You might think he’s bottled up but he might break out for a 20 yard gain and that changes the momentum,” said cornerback DJ Harvey.
Jeanty has rushed for more than 200 yards in four times this season and gained at least 127 yards in each of Boise State’s first nine games. He needs 894 yards to break Sanders’ NCAA record of 2,628 set in 1988. The Broncos (8-1, 5-0 Mountain West) have three regular season games remaining as well as a likely spot in the conference tournament and potentially multiple playoff games.
San Jose State (6-3, 3-2 MW) became bowl eligible last weekend with a win at Oregon State, but a loss Saturday will all but eliminate them from the conference championship race.
To make things even more difficult for the Spartans, leading tackler Jordan Pollard will miss the first half of the game due to a targeting penalty that occurred in the second half last week.
But as they proved against Washington State, the Spartans’ offense can put up big numbers too. SJSU lost 54-52, but put up nearly 500 yards of offense and scored seven touchdowns.
Quarterback Walker Eget has cemented himself as the guy for SJSU after passing for 395 yards and a touchdown last week. Nash comes into the week leading the nation in receptions (86), receiving yards (1,156), and receiving touchdowns (13).
The teams are combining for nearly 1,000 yards of offense entering the game.
“Our offense is going to put up points and their offense is going to put up points so it’s going to be a physical, explosive game,” said cornerback Michael Dansby.
Last year in Boise the Spartans lost 35-27, blowing a 27-7 lead. SJSU has only beaten Boise State once in 16 meetings — in the 2020 Mountain West championship game.
A win over the 13th-ranked Broncos would be the Spartans’ first against a top-15 ranked opponent since No. 9 TCU in 2000.
The Spartans enter the game as 13.5-point underdogs.
“When you watch them on tape, you can’t help but say ‘wow,’” Niumatalolo said. “But we’re accepting it and we’re excited.”
Can Eget navigate pressure
Not that any start is easy but Eget has only started high stakes games. 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 sacks the quarterback at the second-highest rate (4.44 sacks per game) in the nation.
A large challenge for an SJSU offensive line that only gives up one sack a game.
“I think the whole line has been doing an outstanding job. These last few weeks they’ve been really growing into the line that we thought they could be,” Eget said.
The Broncos are led by Jayden Virgin-Morgan and Ahmed Hassanein who are both top-15 in the country in sacks.
“Well coached, high motor, really good players and we’re going to try our best to have a good scheme, but it’s going to be a challenge,” Niumatalolo said of their pass rush.
San Jose State’s passing game could be its biggest strength as Boise allows more than 12 yards per completion.
Eget has proven he can push the ball downfield as long as he has a clean pocket to do so.
Special teams troubles
San Jose State’s special teams woes continued last week after Kyler Halvorsen had a kick blocked from 26-yards out, the second blocked kick in three weeks.
“It’s definitely a concern but the good thing is we know what the issues are,” Niumatalolo said.
A 40-yard kick against Wyoming accounts for the other block, a game where punt returner Matthew Coleman muffed a second quarter punt.
The early season penalty issue on special teams has faded away but the unit has still failed to play a clean four quarters.
“If we have that this week, if we get one blocked or miss field goals or whatever, then that’s not going to bode well for us,” Niumatalolo said.
Boise State’s Jonah Dalmas has made every kick attempted this season except for a 54-yard attempt at No. 1 Oregon.
