Warriors‘ Late Push Not Enough in 45-38 Loss to San Jose State
SAN JOSE, CA – A late rally by the University of Hawai’i football team fell short Saturday as they lost a high-scoring contest to san Jose State 45-38.Despite a spirited second-half comeback,the Warriors were unable to overcome a notable first-half deficit fueled by a dominant performance from Spartans quarterback Walker Eget.
The defeat marks a setback for Hawai’i as they seek to build momentum in Mountain West Conference play. San Jose State’s victory solidifies their position as a contender in the league, while the Warriors will need to regroup and address defensive vulnerabilities exposed in the first half.The loss underscores the challenges facing head coach timmy Chang as he continues to rebuild the program.
San Jose State seized control of the game early, building a commanding 31-14 lead by halftime.Quarterback Walker Eget,living up to his nickname inspired by Chuck Norris’s Cordell Walker,orchestrated a potent passing attack,completing 13 of 30 passes for 290 yards despite six dropped receptions by his teammates. Wide receiver Danny Scudero proved a favorite target, amassing 150 receiving yards on five first-half catches, including a 43-yard reception that set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Lamar Radcliffe.
Hawai’i attempted to respond, connecting on a 68-yard touchdown pass from Micah Alejado to Jackson harris, but Scudero quickly answered with a 50-yard touchdown reception from Eget, extending the Spartans’ lead to 28-14.A 24-yard field goal by Mathias Brown completed the first-half scoring.
The Warriors struggled with discipline in the first half, committing seven penalties, including four offsides infractions. Two consecutive offsides penalties gifted San Jose State a first down without needing to run a play.
Hawai’i chipped away at the deficit in the second half. Kansei Matsuzawa’s 24-yard field goal with 1:16 remaining brought the score to 45-38, but their attempt to regain possession with an onside kick failed as Matsuzawa’s kick went out of bounds.
Eget finished the game with 290 passing yards, while Scudero lead all receivers with 150 yards.For Hawai’i, Alejado and Harris connected for a long touchdown, and Matsuzawa contributed a late field goal.
