SAN JOSE — Senior Nick Nash caught three touchdowns and set a new school record with 17 receptions in San Jose State’s 31-10 win over Kennesaw State on Saturday at CEFCU Stadium.
Nash had touchdown catches of 24, 3, and 9 yards, helping to establish a new career high with 225 yards receiving. The Spartans’ previous record for most receptions in a game was 15, shared by Guy Liggins (1986), Steven Pulley (1999), and Tauti Wooden (2003).
“Best receiver I’ve been around,” San Jose State coach Ken Niumatalolo said of Nash.
Nash was the favorite target of redshirt sophomore quarterback Emmett Brown, who threw for 355 yards and a career-high four touchdowns for San Jose State, which improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2020 when it captured the Mountain West Conference title.
”Luckily it was just my night to have my number called,” Nash said.
With the win, Niumatalolo became just the second first-year San Jose State head coach in nearly 50 years to start 3-0. Lynn Styles also did it in 1976.
“I love our team, and I love where we’re at,” Niumatalolo said.
Brown entered Saturday among the top 25 quarterbacks in the country, with an average of 280 yards passing per game. San Jose State had 417 yards of offense for the game compared to Kennesaw State’s 192.
“We show a glimpse here and there of what this offense can be,” Brown said.
Leading the Spartans’ defense was reigning Mountain West defensive player of the week, Jordan Pollard, who had 11 tackles, a sack, and an interception.
Kennesaw State (0-3) committed 11 penalties for 95 yards, making it difficult to sustain drives. The Spartans were also far from perfect, with three lost fumbles.
Still, San Jose State had eight plays of over 20 yards, including one on arguably the game’s biggest play.
With 4:31 left in the third quarter, Justin Lockhart caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Brown to give the Spartans a 24-10 lead after the extra point. Just 43 seconds earlier, Kennesaw State’s Preston Daniels had capped an 18-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run that cut SJSU’s lead to seven points.
Lockhart finished with four catches for 106 yards.
“I think that’s what our offense looks like,” Nash said of Lockhart’s quick-strike touchdown. “That’s the capabilities that we have.”
Brown started the second quarter with a 24-yard completion to Nash for his first touchdown of the night, giving San Jose State a 7-3 lead with 14:30 left before halftime.
UP NEXT: The Spartans will face Washington State in Pullman on Friday. This will be Brown’s first time back at the school since he transferred to San Jose in December. Brown played in one game for the Cougars as a freshman last year.
When asked Saturday if he’d already started thinking about next week’s game, Brown said, “I’d be lying if I said no.”
