FINAL SCORE: San Jose State beats Hawaii, 35-24
![JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii wide receiver Jared Smart (23) tries to pull in a pass over San Jose State linebacker Dion Leonard (2) during the first half of a college football game today at Aloha Stadium.](https://staradvertiser.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/web1_120520-WEB-San-Jose-State-Jared-Smart.jpg)
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii wide receiver Jared Smart (23) tries to pull in a pass over San Jose State linebacker Dion Leonard (2) during the first half of a college football game today at Aloha Stadium.
![JAMM AQUNIO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
San Jose State leads Hawaii 21-10 at halftime.](https://staradvertiser.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/web1_120520-WEB-HawaiiFB-running.jpg)
JAMM AQUNIO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
San Jose State leads Hawaii 21-10 at halftime.
![JAMM AQUNIO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Spartans are leading 14-0 with 9:36 left in the first quarter.](https://staradvertiser.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/web1_120520-WEB-Hawaii-San-Jose-State-ball.jpg)
JAMM AQUNIO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Spartans are leading 14-0 with 9:36 left in the first quarter.
![JAMM AQUNIO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM The Warriors enter the field at Aloha Stadium to face San Jose State, a team with an unbeaten Mountain West record.](https://staradvertiser.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/web1_120520-WEB-Hawaii-San-Jose-State-intro.jpg)
JAMM AQUNIO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Warriors enter the field at Aloha Stadium to face San Jose State, a team with an unbeaten Mountain West record.
![JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii wide receiver Jared Smart (23) tries to pull in a pass over San Jose State linebacker Dion Leonard (2) during the first half of a college football game today at Aloha Stadium.](https://staradvertiser.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/web1_120520-WEB-San-Jose-State-Jared-Smart.jpg)
![JAMM AQUNIO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
San Jose State leads Hawaii 21-10 at halftime.](https://staradvertiser.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/web1_120520-WEB-HawaiiFB-running.jpg)
![JAMM AQUNIO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Spartans are leading 14-0 with 9:36 left in the first quarter.](https://staradvertiser.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/web1_120520-WEB-Hawaii-San-Jose-State-ball.jpg)
![JAMM AQUNIO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM The Warriors enter the field at Aloha Stadium to face San Jose State, a team with an unbeaten Mountain West record.](https://staradvertiser.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/web1_120520-WEB-Hawaii-San-Jose-State-intro.jpg)
Editor’s Note: Bookmark this page and refresh for live updates from the game.
UPDATE: 4:28 p.m.
Nick Starkel threw two scoring passes and Tyler Nevens rushed for two touchdowns to lift unbeaten San Jose State to its fifth victory in a row.
The Spartans are atop the Mountain West with a game remaining in this eight-week season. Boise State’s game was canceled this week, leaving the Broncos with a 4-0 record against league opponents.
>> RELATED: San Jose State knocks off Hawaii to maintain unbeaten Mountain West record
There were concerns about the status of this game all week. Santa Clara County’s coronavirus-related restrictions forced the game to relocate from San Jose. On Friday, it was learned a UH played tested positive. But the player was the only Warrior requiring isolation, and the game was allowed to move forward.
The Spartans scored on their first three drives for a 21-0 lead.
The outcome gave the Spartans’ possession of the Dick Tomey Trophy. Tomey had coached at both schools.
UH closes the season next week against UNLV. SJSU heads to Las Vegas, where it will set up headquarters of next week’s game against Nevada.
4:20 p.m.
Chevan Cordeiro scores on a 4-yard run to cut the Warriors’ deficit to 35-24 with 2:24 to play.
Time — or lack of it — is UH’s foe at the moment.
4:06 p.m.
Tre Walker goes 50 yards on a catch-and-sprint scoring play to increase the Spartans’ lead to 35-17 with 12:03 to play.
With three receivers on the right, Walker runs a drag route from the left across the field. Walker caught Nick Starkel’s pass and, finding an alley created with the Spartans’ right-side blocks, zips the rest of the way for the TD.
3:45 p.m.
The Spartans lead, 28-17, after three quarters.
The Warriors will face a third-and-6 situation from their 47 when play resumes in the fourth quarter.
3:38 p.m.
The Spartans extended their lead to 28-17 on a drive that proved extra damaging to the Warriors.
Kairee Robinson’s 2-yard run capped an 80-yard possession that used 18 plays and forced the Warriors to burn their second and third timeouts of the half.
3:14 p.m.
The Warriors open the second half with a 74-yard scoring drive, the final 11 yards coming on a pass from Chevan Cordeiro to wideout Rico Bussey.
The Warriors have scored 17 points in a row to close to 21-17 with 9:48 left in the first half.
2:50 p.m.
At the intermission, the Spartans lead, 21-10.
The Spartans scored touchdowns on their first three possessions — two by running back Tyler Nevens — but the Warriors rallied for 10 second-quarter points.
The Spartans still have a 292-174 advantage in the offense. But UH quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, who was 0-for-4 in the opening quarter, was 13-for-18 for 120 yards after that.
UH will receive the kickoff to open the second half.
2:36 p.m.
The Warriors cut their deficit to 21-10 on Chevan Cordeiro’s 10-yard pass to running back Dae Dae Hunter.
Isaiah Tufaga’s pick set up the 39-yard drive.
2Q- 3:12 | SJSU 21 UH 10
Dae Dae Hunter with a TD stretch and roll! #HawaiiFB #WinEveryDay pic.twitter.com/J1VUK3IHss
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) December 6, 2020
2:18 p.m.
Matt Shipley’s 25-yard field goal closes UH to 21-3 with 9:21 left in the first half.
The Warriors’ missed a TD opportunity when Jonah Panoke could not handle a pass from Chevan Cordeiro in the end zone.
2Q- 5:26 | SJSU 21 UH 3
Isaiah Tufaga- right place, right time!#HawaiiFB #WinEveryDay pic.twitter.com/WnKWlkycLq
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) December 6, 2020
1:57 p.m.
After one quarter, the Spartans lead 21-0 … and are driving.
The Spartans have 229 yards; the Warriors have gained 30. UH quarterback Chevan Cordeiro is 0-for-4. The Warriors have one first down in four possessions. They have punted four times.
The Warriors’ offense stalled again, leading to the fourth punt in as many drives.
1:45 p.m.
The Warriors go three-and-out for the third series in a row. This drive lasted 4 yards. The Warriors have gained 14 yards in three drives.
The Spartans lead, 21-0, with 4:25 left in the first quarter.
1:39 p.m.
After only 9 minutes, 7 seconds since the opening kickoff, the Spartans have boosted their lead to 21-0.
Tyler Nevens goes off right tackle, then sprints 10 to the end zone for his second TD of the game.
1:36 p.m.
After their second 5-yard drive, the Warriors punt again. They’re down, 14-0.
1:28 p.m.
While you went for that snack, the Spartans scored again. This time, Tyler Nevens goes 72 yards on a sweep to the left to extend the Spartans’ lead to 14-0 with 9:36 left in the first quarter.
The two-play drive took 28 seconds.
#SpartanUp makes early statement against #HawaiiFB.
Spartans lead 14-0. https://t.co/90UTaZ82cB— Mountain West Conference Football Talk (@MWCFootballTalk) December 5, 2020
1:22 p.m.
The Spartans go 75 yards in nine plays to score on the game’s opening drive.
The final 2 yards came on a toss from Nick Starkel to running back Isaiah Holiness. An H-back motioned from the right to the left, as the UH defense followed, allowing Holiness to curl to open space on the right side of the end zone.
It’s 7-0 with 11:43 left in the first quarter.
1:06 p.m.
UH wins the coin toss and defers the choice until the second half.
The Spartans will start the game on offense.
PREGAME
For the third week in a row, the Warriors face a team with an unbeaten Mountain West record.
This will be the first game in three weeks for the 4-0 Spartans. Their previous two scheduled opponents — Fresno State and Boise State — canceled because of COVID-related situations.
Public address system @AlohaStadiumHI playing "Happy Birthday" during warmups, presumably in honor of #HawaiiFB coach Todd Graham who turned 56. @StarAdvertiser pic.twitter.com/3JoJD6UmiK
— Ferd Lewis (@FerdLewis) December 5, 2020
This game also has been affected by the pandemic. It initially was to be played in San Jose, but was forced to relocate when Santa Clara County imposed restrictions on activities and incoming travel. After today’s game, the Spartans will travel to Las Vegas, where they will appear to set up shop until next week’s game against Nevada.
Things to watch:
>> SJSU QB Nick Starkel is a self-styled gunslinger with accuracy. He is a double transfer who previously played at Texas A&M and Arkansas.
>>When Starkel suffered an injury in the first series against San Diego State, Nick Nash entered. Nash excels in the read option. The Aztecs were not prepared, the Spartans produced the upset.
>>Isaiah Tufaga stepped in for Jeremiah Pritchard last week. If Pritchard can’t go today, Tufaga will be counted on to defend the run and track the QB.
Today means just a little more. 🏆#HawaiiFB #WinEveryDay pic.twitter.com/E6Ys4RwqIP
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) December 5, 2020