It’s been 749 days since Nevada last won a conference game. The days of counting down to when that losing streak would end are finally over. I’m not sure what was in Nevada’s breakfast today, but it was enough
to score 55 total points in a 55-10 win over San Jose State.
“It’s embarrassing it took me this long to get that done,” head coach Jeff Choate said about getting his first conference win with Nevada. “I don’t feel any different, but I’m happy for these guys and for this staff.”
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter:
9:24: 66-yard interception returned for a TD by Nakian Jackson (Joe McFadden PAT)
SJSU 0 – Nevada 7
6:24: Carter Jones 7-yard TD pass to Chubba Purdy (Joe McFadden PAT)
SJSU 0 – Nevada 14
2nd Quarter:
12:29: Carter Jones 30-yard TD pass to Caleb Ramseur (Joe McFadden PAT)
SJSU 0 – Nevada 21
10:49: Chubba Purdy 13-yard TD run (Joe McFadden PAT)
SJSU 0 – Nevada 28
0:01: Joe McFadden 50-yard FG
SJSU 0 – Nevada 31
3rd Quarter:
8:12: Mathias Brown 56-yard FG
SJSU 3– Nevada 31
2:53: 11-yard rushing TD by Caleb Ramseur (Joe McFadden PAT)
SJSU 3 – Nevada 38
4th Quarter:
10:57: Dominic Kelley 5-yard TD run (Joe McFadden PAT)
SJSU 3 – Nevada 45
4:37: Joe McFadden 26-yard FG
SJSU 3 – Nevada 48
1:23: Tama Amisone 12-yard TD run (Mathias Brown PAT)
SJSU 10 – Nevada 48
1:10: Ky Woods 99-yard kick return for a TD (Joe McFadden PAT)
SJSU 10 – Nevada 55
Offense
Nevada’s opening drive started and its own 1-yard line and went just about how you think it did, going three-and-out.
The offense started its second drive in Spartans territory after the fumble and turned it into the first offensive touchdown scored in the first quarter this season. QB Carter Jones tossed it to Chubba Purdy and ran in for an easy six. It was a quick 14-0 lead for the Pack at the 6:20 mark.
On the Pack’s first offensive drive of the second quarter, they went 13 plays for 78 yards and capped it with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Ramseur to extend the game to 21-0.
After the second interception, it only took one play for Nevada to extend it to 28-0. Purdy flashed some Taysom Hill after rushing for a 13-yard TD play.
Nevada finished the first half with 187 total yards and three offensive touchdowns. Jones was 9-10 with two of those three touchdowns and finished the game 16-19, 195 yards and two touchdowns.
“He [Jones] had a tough go last week in Logan, so for him to go out today the way he did and see the field the way he did, I feel very good for Carter,” Choate said.
After a turnover on downs by SJSU, Nevada’s offense had about 18 seconds left in the first half to make something happen. After an 18-yard pass to Dakota Thomas, kicker Joe McFadden lined up for a 50-yard field goal, tying his career long and extending the lead to 31-0 at halftime.
I’m not sure where this rush attack was all season, but it had a field day against SJSU, especially for Ramseur. He ended the day rushing for 128 yards on 20 carries and two total touchdowns. Nevada finished with 218 total rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Even special teams got in on the action. With just over a minute left, running back Ky Woods returned a kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown to push Nevada into the 50s.
Defense
Nevada’s defense started this one the way it has almost every game, getting an opening stop and forcing it on a three-and-out.
The second drive for San Jose State went perfectly for Nevada’s defense. The Spartans faced a fourth down past midfield, and QB Walker Eget passed it up the middle, which was picked off by Nakian Jackson for a 66-yard pick-six.
That pick-six also marked the first touchdown scored for Nevada in the first quarter this season.
“It’s unexplainable to be honest,” Jackson said of his first career pick-six. “That was sweet to have, I couldn’t even hear anything, all I could hear was the fans cheering.”
The defense continued to wreak havoc early in the game. On the Spartans’ next drive, the ball popped out on a run play and was recovered by Nevada in SJSU territory. In four drives in the first quarter, San Jose State couldn’t come up with a score and was shut out in the first 15 minutes.
Eget could not get anything going against this Nevada defense. On the first drive of the second quarter, Eget threw it up the middle and was picked off again, this time by Murvin Kenion III. It gave Nevada the ball at SJSU’s 13-yard line.
San Jose State had its longest drive of the first half with nine plays in the final minute. The Spartans got near midfield and went for it on a fourth down, but fell just short and turned the ball over on downs in the final seconds of the first half.
Three turnovers were given up by the first half, which resulted in 21 points for Nevada.
San Jose State got on the board in the third quarter off a 56-yard field goal to make it 31-3.
Kenion III was all over Eget, picking him off for the second time and Eget’s third of the game in the late third quarter. SJSU took Eget out shortly after and let freshman transfer QB Robert McDaniel take snaps for his collegiate debut. Eget ended his day going 11-23 with 74 yards and three interceptions.
McDaniel added to the interception total after he threw one to Bryson Snelling for the fourth pick of the day. San Jose State gave up five total turnovers, something it hasn’t done since 2019.
The Spartans got their first touchdown of the game at the 1:23 minute mark of the fourth quarter. QB Tama Amisone, the third quarterback to play a down for SJSU, ran it in himself for a 12-yard score.
What’s Next
Nevada hits the road for the final time this season to play Wyoming. The Cowboys are hanging in the balance for a potential bowl birth and take on Fresno State tonight.
Kick off is scheduled for 11 a.m. PST on Saturday, Nov. 22.
