The city of Reno is often noted for various ghost stories and hauntings. On Saturday afternoon, it was a complete nightmare for San Jose State (3-7, 2-4 MW) in a 55-10 loss.
“They whipped our butts in every
conceivable way,” said SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo. “It was an embarrassing performance and it was maybe the worst one in my career.”
Nevada’s (2-8, 1-5 MW) complete clobbering added to a 26-year winless drought in Reno for the Spartans after the Wolf Pack put up 413 yards of total offense.
“Regardless of their record, we knew Nevada was a good team and they came out hot and stayed hot,” said safety Jalen Apalit-Williams. “They took the momentum and never let up.”
The last time San Jose State lost so badly against a conference opponent was to Fresno State in a 63-12 loss in 1999.
Five Spartan turnovers helped make Nevada look elite.
As San Jose State started last week with three turnovers in a half, they equaled themselves with three turnovers in the first-half on Saturday afternoon in a game they were never in.
Just like that, San Jose State spotted the Wolf Pack’s 14 first-ever first-quarter points of their 2025 season, as Nevada never looked back and the Spartans couldn’t move forward.
“There were holes in our effort early on,” said Niumatalolo. “Things came up everywhere whether it was the pick six or the penalties or the drops.”
It was Spartan QB Walker Eget’s sixth interception of the season that gifted Nevada linebacker Nakian Jackson a 66-yard touchdown return. SJSU’s next drive gifted the second turnover fumble and a short 30-yard field where the Pack promptly scored again.
“What they threw at us was expected, especially with the type of offense we run,” said Eget. “It was a lot of mistakes on my part and we can’t win like that. It’s on me.”
In reality, it can’t completely be Eget’s fault, the Wolf Pack owned the second quarter as well.
Nevada QB Carter Jones rang up his second touchdown throw on a screen pass to Calab Ramseur and the route was on with a 21-0 lead followed by Eget’s second INT leading to a 28-0 lead.
“They had him everywhere,” said Apalit-Williams on Jones’ effectiveness. “He runs hard and threw well. You’ve got to give him credit. He had a good day.”
Who’d ever think Nevada was the bottom of the conference in offense?
The Pack offense basically doubled their average offensive output in one half taking a 31-0 lead into the half.
For San Jose, it was the perfect nightmare.
117 yards of total offense at a half for a team averaging well-over 400 yards a game finishing with only 270 total yards certainly was a problem.
Though 72 yards on the ground was an inkling of maybe something good in the first-half, it was Eget forcing the issue on the ground with 33 run yards on a defense blanketing SJS’ receiver U.
“I’m just trying to get the first down,” said Eget. “San Jose took a shot on me, so I’ve got to give them my best.”
Was Nevada that good or San Jose State that bad?
After a flick of a glimmer of hope from Mathias Brown’s 46-yard field goal on the Spartan’s first drive of the second-half, the vex on San Jose remained in full-force after Eget’s third interception capped the end of the third quarter.
With the proverbial white flag up, Spartan true-freshman QB Robert McDaniel was greeted by two offensive line penalties, a sack and an interception for SJS’ 10th fruitless drive of the day.
Tama Amisone rotated in next and was the only bright spot for San Jose. With his fleet-of-foot and scrambling ability, Amisone finally found the end zone for the Spartans on a 12-yard jaunt.
Nevada remained relentless and returned the ensuing kick-off 99-yards to add insult-to-injury.
In what Utah State did to Nevada last week in a 51-14 loss, the Wolf Pack did the same on San Jose State. If that logic of the illogical holds up next week when the Spartans visit first-place San Diego State, there should be a chance.
