SAN JOSE — San Jose State, recapturing a bit of its 2020 magic, took No. 24 San Diego State to two overtimes Friday night.
But in a continuing series of 2021 disappointment, the Spartans lost 19-13.
Lucas Johnson threw TD passes to Jesse Matthews in both overtime periods as No. 24 San Diego State finally got going offensively after a rough regulation and beat San Jose State 19-13 Friday night.
Neither team scored a touchdown in regulation before Lucas Johnson connected with Jesse Mathews twice for touchdowns in overtime.
SJSU (3-4 overall, 1-2 in the Mountain West) answered the first one, tying the game at 13 on on Tyler Nevens’ 1-yard run. But the Spartans’ second possession ended with Nick Nash throwing an interception, and SDSU won on a 24-yard pass from Johnson to Matthews.
The Aztecs are 6-0 for the second time in 46 years.
San Jose State fell just short in trying to beat a ranked team for the first time since topping No. 16 Fresno State 62-52 in 2013. They have lost eight straight against ranked teams and 29 of the last 30.
The game was an offensive slog with the teams combining for 14 punts, four field goals, one fumble, one missed field goal and a turnover on downs without scoring a touchdown in regulation.
The game went to overtime when San Jose State let the clock run down and spiked the ball on third down to set up a 52-yard field goal try to Matt Mecurio with 20 seconds left.
Mecurio made kicks from 32 and 48 yards in regulation to match field goals from 52 and 26 yards by San Diego State’s Matt Araiza.
Araiza was the star of the game in regulation for San Diego State, delivering an 86-yard punt in the third quarter and backing the Spartans up to their 5 with a 53-yarder late in the fourth quarter.
The Spartans were flagged for offsides on two punt plays in the first half. The first didn’t prove costly because Jordan Brookshire lost a fumble after the drive was extended. But the second one led to points. The Aztecs opted for a field goal after that penalty and Araiza delivered a career-long 53-yard field goal to make it 3-0 early in the second quarter.
The Spartans finished with 12 penalties.
The Aztecs came into the game 10th in the nation in rushing at 244 yards per game, but could get nothing going at all against the Spartans as the offense showed it’s not at the same level as the Aztecs stingy defense. San Diego State finished with 70 yards on 36 carries.
UP NEXT
San Diego State: Visit Air Force on Oct. 23.
San Jose State: Visit UNLV on Thursday night.
