San Jose State Surges Past Hawaii 45-38 in Thrilling Comeback

UPDATE: San Jose State just secured a thrilling 45-38 victory over Hawaii in the Tomey Legacy Game on November 4, 2023. Wide receiver Danny Scudero dazzled with a career-high 215 receiving yards and two critical touchdowns, marking the Spartans’ fifth consecutive win in this annual matchup.

Despite trailing 31-14 at halftime, Hawaii rallied fiercely, closing the gap to just one score with 1:16 left in the game. However, their last-ditch effort with an onside kick failed as it rolled out of bounds, sealing the Spartans’ hard-fought victory.

The game showcased two of the best passing offenses in the Mountain West. Hawaii’s quarterback Micah Alejado orchestrated a strong second-half comeback, starting with an 8-yard touchdown pass to running back Landon Sims, narrowing the score to 31-21. But the Spartans quickly responded, with quarterback Walker Eget connecting with Scudero for a stunning 62-yard touchdown pass.

In a game filled with momentum shifts, Alejado answered back, launching a 68-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jackson Harris, bringing Hawaii within 21-14 just before halftime. Eget then struck again, hitting Scudero for a 50-yard touchdown that extended the Spartans’ lead to 28-14.

As the game progressed, a crucial sack by SJSU linebacker Jordan Pollard halted a Hawaii drive, leading to a 24-yard field goal by Matthias Brown, pushing the Spartans ahead 31-14.

Eget’s performance was impressive, completing 20 of 40 passes for a staggering 458 yards along with two touchdowns to Scudero. He was ably supported by wide receivers Scudero, Leland Smith (113 yards), and Kyri Shoels (109 yards), all surpassing 100 receiving yards for the second time this season.

Defensively, Pollard stood out with eight tackles and two tackles for loss, including the pivotal sack. Alejado finished strong for Hawaii, completing 31 of 46 passes for 367 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

The Rainbow Warriors made a late push, trailing just 38-35 after a 20-yard touchdown from Alejado to Pofele Ashlock Harris with 9:32 left in the fourth quarter. However, SJSU responded decisively with running back Steve Chavez-Soto scoring on a 1-yard run, extending their lead to 45-35 with 5:37 remaining.

Chavez-Soto was a key player, finishing with three rushing touchdowns as he and fellow running back Lamar Radcliffe amassed a combined total of 150 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the day.

Looking ahead, San Jose State will return to action at home on November 8 against Air Force, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. Fans are eager to see if the Spartans can continue this momentum as they push for bowl eligibility.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!