Reaching bowl eligibility for the third straight season wasn’t easy for San Jose State.
After starting the season 4-1, the Spartans lost two of their next three games. But SJSU clinched a bowl berth on Saturday, rallying in the fourth quarter for a 24-13 victory at Oregon State.
Momentum wasn’t in the Spartans’ favor, either. SJSU was down 13-10 when quarterback Walker Eget hit wide receiver Nick Nash for a 39-yard touchdown that was immediately called back for offensive pass interference.
Spartans coach Ken Niumatalolo was visibly upset on the sideline and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on SJSU’s bench was added to the penalty yard count.
That left the Spartans (6-3, 3-2 Mountain West) in a third-and-38 situation and led to a punt on fourth down.
But the tide turned on Oregon State’s next possession.
Defensive back DJ Harvey scored on a 16-yard pick-6 to give the Spartans a 17-13 lead with 11:02 to play.
SJSU all but iced the game on its next offensive series as running back Floyd Chalk IV crossed the goal line on an 11-yard run with 6:22 to play, capping a six-play, 46-yard drive.
The Spartans’ defense finished with with three turnovers (one fumble recovery, two interceptions).
Nash had his eighth straight game with a touchdown reception. He scored on a 36-yard catch in the second quarter, the first SJSU touchdown of the game, and finished with six receptions for 161 yards.
Eget was 18-of-35 passing for 395 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
