San Jose State bounced back from a season-opening loss by taking down Eastern Michigan 27-21 in a tight battle in Ypsilanti, Michigan on Friday night.
The Spartans took a 24-21 lead early in the fourth quarter on Luke Weaver’s 40-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Cooper Hoch. The eventual game-winning drive got its momentum from running back Jabari Bates, who had 21 of his game-high 119 rushing yards during the possession.
“The guys fought and were resilient in a lot of the things I saw during this game I saw during training camp,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “The guys fought through a lot of stuff tonight.”
Hoch led the team with a career-high 115 receiving yards on five receptions, which included his first two career touchdowns.
“I was just out there doing my job, and the ball found me,” Hoch said. “I think I was doing a good job running off and blocking hard and the ball ended up finding me.”
As EMU tried to rally with two minutes left, SJSU linebacker Dillion Lee intercepted a pass by quarterback Noah Kim, who was being pressured by the Spartans’ defensive front.
The Eagles had taken a 21-17 lead after EMU defensive lineman Ronn Hardin went unblocked, causing San Jose State’s Weaver to fumble at his own 12-yard line. EMU cornerback Bryce Llewellyn picked up the ball and returned it for a touchdown.
After leading 10-7 at halftime, San Jose State’s offense got in a groove on its first drive of the second half, going 75 yards in just under six minutes, culminating in Hoch’s 10-yard scoring grab from Weaver.
SJSU’s offense, which gained 453 total yards, exploited weaknesses in EMU’s run-pass option defense throughout the second half.
San Jose State quarterback Luke Weaver had a big night passing against Eastern Michigan on Friday night. The Manteca native’s 40-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter gave the Spartans a 24-21 lead. (Courtesy of Aubrey Tibbils / San Jose State)
Bates was the Spartans’ most consistent player, making timely runs throughout the game and finishing with 119 rushing yards on 20 carries while averaging six yards per carry.
“Jabari was battling all day, I mean, shout-out to the offensive line for giving him great gaps,” Weaver said. “Jabari ran his butt off today, and I’m super proud of him. He battled through a lot of wear and tear today.”
After a slow first half, the Eagles opened the second half by taking a 14-10 lead on a fourth-and-1 50-yard rushing touchdown by running back Omarion Blue. It was EMU’s last offensive score of the game, though as they had trouble dealing with the Spartans’ defense, which allowed the Eagles to go just 3-for-14 on third downs.
Weaver had a slow start to the first half, throwing for just 85 passing yards before finding his rhythm on a four-play, 80-yard drive with 1:47 left in the first half.
Weaver connected with Hoch for a 50-yard catch. Wide receiver Jase Nix capped the drive off a 27-yard receiving touchdown.
Weaver finished the game with 316 passing yards, going 23-of-39 with three touchdowns. He also ran for 10 yards.
The final seconds of the first half ticked off as the Spartans took a 10-7 lead on a 45-yard field goal from kicker Trajan Sinatra. Eagles linebacker Marvell Eggleston put SJSU in field goal range after a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Sinatra went 2-for-2 on field goals, making them from 49 and 45 yards out, for six defining points.
The Spartans finished the first half with 240 total yards, bolstered by 61 rushing yards on 4.5 yards per carry. Bates led the way with 45 first-half yards.
SJSU led the way in penalties, committing 13 before having just one in last week’s season-opening loss to USC.
Weaver threw his first interception of the season after wide receiver Jerry McClure tipped the ball up for EMU cornerback Caleb Dobbs to intercept.
Kim capitalized with a 34-yard pass to wide receiver Harold Mack, finding the spot in SJSU’s zone defense. Mack finished the drive with the game’s opening five-yard receiving touchdown. EMU scored on six plays, going 58 yards in three minutes.
Eastern Michigan’s Kim went 24-of-43 passing for 174 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
SJSU ends its three-game losing streak against Mid-American Conference opponents and earns its first road win since 2024.
The Spartans will look to keep this momentum in their home opener next Saturday against Cal Poly SLO at 6 p.m. at CEFCU Stadium.