SAN JOSE — Unexpected showers and high winds didn’t stop San Jose State from gaining bowl eligibility as the Spartans defeated San Diego State 24-13 on Saturday night at Spartan Stadium.
With the win, the Spartans (6-5, 5-2 Mountain West) gained bowl eligibility after starting the season 1-5. They are eligible for a bowl game, but not guaranteed an invitation.
Chevan Cordeiro completed 15 of 20 passes for 174 yards and threw a touchdown. Quali Conley rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown. Kairee Robinson closed the scoring with a touchdown, his 16th of the season, breaking the school record shared by Johnny Johnson (1988) and Deonce Whitaker (2000).
The Spartans lone touchdown in the first half came when Cordeiro found tight end Dominick Mazotti in the back corner of the end zone for a 10-yard score to give SJSU to tie the game at 7 in the second quarter.
At halftime, the game was tied at 10.
SJSU came out of halftime finding its groove offensively. Conley gave the Spartans their first lead of the game in the third quarter after rushing in for a 20-yard touchdown to put SJSU up 17-10.
High winds and heavy rain poured onto the field to start the fourth quarter.
San Diego State had to settle for a field goal to cut the deficit to 17-13 after Jaylon Armstead’s two-yard touchdown was called back because of a holding penalty with just under 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
On the ensuing possession, SJSU drove 94 yards in six plays that was capped off by a Robinson five-yard touchdown run to put the Spartans up 24-13.
The Spartans will play their final game on the road next week when they travel to UNLV next Saturday. UNLV defeated conference-leading Air Force 31-27 earlier today.
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