San Jose State dealt gut-punching 16-13 overtime loss to Wyoming

San Jose State suffered a gut-punching 16-13 loss Friday night after Wyoming kicker Erik Sandvik’s 21-yard field goal in overtime ruined the Spartans’ homecoming night.

The winning field goal came after San Jose State (3-3, 1-1 Mountain West) chose to go for it on fourth-and-1 from Wyoming’s 25-yard line instead of attempting a field goal. SJSU quarterback Luke Weaver was pressured and his pass intended for wide receiver Carson Clark fell short.

“A lot of it was just the gut feel. I was just looking at it, and we had a hard time stopping them,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “Obviously, you take the chance if you don’t get it. All they have to do is kick a field goal.”

The Spartans opened the overtime period running the ball twice to Jabari Bates for a combined four yards. On third-and-6, Weaver’s pass to Jordan Anderson picked up 5 yards, setting up the Spartans’ fateful final play.

With the game deadlocked at 13-all and 3:12 left in regulation, the Spartans gained 40 yards before stalling at midfield and punting with 45 seconds remaining. Wyoming (3-4, 2-1 MW) ran the clock out to send the game to overtime.

Wyoming scored its only touchdown to tie the game at 13-all with 6:25 left when quarterback Tyler Hughes found tight end Jake Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone on third down.

SJSU led 7-6 at halftime and the Cowboys opened the second half by committing their second turnover when Wyoming wide receiver Markell Holman fumbled on his own 41 after getting hit by safety Brian Dukes Jr. after a 14-yard catch.

SJSU took advantage after Weaver found Clark for a 26-yard catch. The Spartans’ drive stalled on Wyoming’s 4-yard line, and kicker Trajan Sinatra made a 22-yard field goal for a 10-6 lead.

Despite the loss, the Spartans’ defense had a standout performance. In addition to holding Wyoming to just one touchdown, the Spartans had six sacks by six different players and nine tackles for loss.

Linebacker Dylan Lee stood out, having nine tackles, a sack and a second-quarter interception.

“The defense did a lot of good things. The only thing I wish was that it wasn’t so time-consuming,” Niumatalolo said. “The defense has been playing well; we’ve got to play better on offense. We’ve got to put more points on the board.”

Wyoming got its second field goal from Sandvik – a 29-yarder – to cap a 16-play, 64-yard drive that chewed up 7:25 on the clock.

The Cowboys dominated time of possession in the first half, controlling the ball for 26:31 compared to SJSU’s 8:07, yet the Spartans took a 7-6 lead into halftime.

Wyoming ended the game with a massive edge in time of possession – 37:42 to SJSU’s 22:18.

Despite an interception in the final minutes of the first half, Weaver managed the game well, finishing with 251 passing yards on 26-of-38 passing. Clark led the team with eight catches for 91 yards receiving.

The Spartans denied Wyoming on their own goal line on the team’s second drive, going on a 9:55 drive converting on four third- or fourth-down attempts. Wyoming, though, finished the game going 5-of-6 on its fourth-down tries.

After denying Wyoming, SJSU’s offense took the momentum and ran with it, scoring a touchdown on an 18-yard rush by running back Jabari Bates. This was Bates first touchdown of the season, and capped off SJSU’s 88-yard drive that lasted eight plays.

Bates finished the game with 16 carries for 69 yards, his lowest rushing total of the season.

Wyoming finished with a whopping 231 yards rushing, led by Hughes as the senior quarterback gained 92 yards on 27 carries.

In a sign of what was to come, Wyoming’s first play from scrimmage was a 28-yard run by running back Samuel Harris to SJSU’s 15. The Cowboys’ initial drive stalled, and Sandvik made a 38-yard field goal.

The Spartans found momentum on their second drive after Weaver found Cooper Hoch for a 35-yard reception. SJSU’s Sinatra missed a 44-yard field goal, though.

Sinatra went 2-for-3 on field goal tries and has misfired on kicks in back-to-back games.

“Well, he’s got to make those; hopefully we make that one,” Niumatalolo said. “Hopefully I don’t mismanage the clock at the end. We should’ve been up by six at halftime.”