HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i football team got off to a slow start and couldn't recover in a 35-24 loss to San Jose State Saturday afternoon at Aloha Stadium. UH fell to 3-4 with its third loss in its last four contests.
 
San Jose State (5-0), meanwhile, remained undefeated and kept its hopes alive for its first-ever berth into the Mountain West title game. The loss was UH's first to SJSU in the last five meetings as the Spartans gained possession of the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy. 
 
Tyler Nevens finished with 152 yards rushing and two touchdowns to lead a Spartan ground attack that finished with 288 yards. Kaire Robinson also went over 100 yards with 111 yards and one touchdown. 
 
San Jose State scored on each of their first three possessions to race out to a 21-0 lead less than 10 minutes into game, including a 72-yard scoring scamper by Nevens. The Spartans out-gained a stagnant Rainbow Warrior squad 204-14 in that early portion of the game. 
 
Despite falling into a deep hole, UH didn't fold easily. UH scored 17 straight points to get back into the game early in the third quarter. The Warriors cut the deficit to 21-10 by halftime then scored on its first possession of the second half to make it 21-17.
 
But the Spartans shifted the momentum back in their favor with an 18-play touchdown drive that took up nearly half the quarter and extended their lead back to double-digits. After forcing UH to punt on its ensuing possession, a 50-yard scoring reception by Tre Walker early in the fourth quarter ultimately dimmed Hawai'i's hopes of a comeback.
 
The Spartans gained 468 total yards, the second-most by a UH opponent this year. Chevan Cordeiro passed for 238 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for a score to lead the UH offense, while Rico Bussey had a season best eight catches for 69 yards and his first touchdown as a Rainbow Warrior. 
 
UH will close the season next Saturday, Dec. 12 when it hosts UNLV at Aloha Stadium. Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m.