Las Vegas, Nev. – For the first time in 29 years, San José State University is a conference champion.
On a brisk afternoon at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, the nationally-ranked Spartans (7-0) jumped out to a 19-3 lead over Boise State (5-2) and never looked back. The final score was 34-20, and the result was written all over the faces of the jubilant, trophy-parading Spartans.
“That celebration was everything,” said quarterback Nick Starkel after the victory. “It was the culmination of this whole season. We sang ‘Lean On Me’ in that locker room together because they’s how this team plays – we lean on each other.”
Starkel and defensive lineman Cade Hall (Defensive MVP) led SJSU in the victory as the Spartans stayed undefeated in 2020.
Starkel, the championship game Offensive MVP threw for 453 yards and touchdowns to three different receivers. Wideout Tre Walker was the top target, making seven catches for 137 yards and scoring on a 50-yard play giving the Spartans a 7-0 they would never relinquish.
In a game full of heroes, sophomore Matt Mercurio came up just as big as anyone. The kicker was 4-for-4 on field goal attempts in addition to making each of his point-after tries, netting San Jose State some huge points when the offense wasn’t able to find the end zone.
Mercurio’s day was a historic one as his four field goals in the second stanza matched an NCAA record for made field goals in a quarter.
Boise State inched its way back into the game in the second half on an Avery Williams’ 69-yard punt return and quarterback Hank Bachmeier’s 2-yard run to close the deficit to a one-score game on two occasions.
Each time, however, San Jose State was able to respond. First, it was Starkel connecting with wide receiver Isaiah Hamilton on a 30-yard touchdown pass at the start of the fourth quarter and two possessions later, it was Derrick Deese, Jr., on a 1-yard reception with 3:48 to go for the final score in the game.
“That gives me supreme confidence as a quarterback,” Starkel said. “I know that whoever is in the game is going to go up and make a play.”
In a fitting end for such a dominant performance, the SJSU defense stood tall on Boise State’s final two possessions of the day.
A four-and-out resulted in a turnover on downs with 3:04 to play, and a historic game and regular season came to an end with an incomplete pass thrown by Bachmeier three minutes later.
The Spartans ended the contest with a 498-233 advantage in total yards and out-gained its opponent 453-221 through the air. Hall, the game’s Defensive MVP, led a ferocious effort from the SJSU defense with two of the team’s three quarterback sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss. The Broncos gained just 12 yards rushing on 24 attempts – the fifth fewest in Boise State football history.
The 14-point victory over the Broncos allowed San Jose State to end the regular season with all seven victories coming by double digits.
“It has just been a beautiful journey,” said Spartan head coach Brent Brennan. “It’s been magical.”
San José State now awaits its bowl destination, where it will look to complete its first undefeated season since 1939. Also on the line is the programs bowl winning streak, a streak that dates back to the 1990 California Raisin Bowl.