The critics will point to this one.
Nevada went to San Jose on Saturday winners of the last seven against the Spartans, who were on a four-game losing streak. San Jose entered allowing 40 points per game this season. That number will drop.
The Wolf Pack mustered just one touchdown and dropped to 3-4, 1-2 in the Mountain West with a deflating 14-10 loss played in a rainstorm. San Jose State (2-5, 1-2) beat an FCS team for the first time.
Nevada has now lost all four games away from Mackay Stadium this year and dropped to 6-16 in true road games under fourth-year coach Brian Polian.
James Butler scored Nevada’s lone touchdown with 6:52 remaining when he took a Tyler Stewart screen pass 46 yards down the sideline. It was the longest reception of his career.
San Jose State then marched 84 yards on 12 plays to score the game-winning touchdown with just 50 seconds left. Quarterback Kenny Potter ran the game winner in from three yards out.
The Pack lost the time of possession battle 36:28 to 23:32 and was just 2-for-10 on third down.
Nevada returns to Mackay Stadium, where it is 3-0 this season, on Saturday to play a Wyoming team that’s been a surprise this year. The Cowboys are 4-2, 2-0.
It will be the first time this season Nevada will play a team that has a winning record. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
Postgame notes
-Alex Boy racked up 206 punting yards during the game, which gave him enough to pass David Heppe for third in career punting yards at Nevada.
-Redshirt freshman PK Spencer Pettit connected on his first career field goal attempt, a 28-yarder in the third quarter that got Nevada on the board. He made his first PAT following James Butler’s TD reception in the fourth quarter. Pettit replaced Brent Zuzo who is just 4-of-8 this season.
-With a 46-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, Butler established a career-long reception. He finished with 92 receiving yards, a career-high as well.
-Butler finished 94 rushing yards, six shy of his 15th career 100-yard rushing game.
-The Nevada defense sacked the SJSU quarterback four times, the most in a game this season.
-Senior WR Jerico Richardson had a reception for the 26th straight game.
-It was just the second time in QB Tyler Stewart’s career that he had thrown two interceptions in a game (21 starts).
-Sophomore TE Trae Wells (playing on special teams) recorded the first tackle of his career. Wells was a wide receiver at Reed.
-The Pack gave up seven points in the opening half, the third-lowest amount in a half this season.
-The seven points surrendered by Nevada through three quarters tied for the lowest amount in three quarters played this season (Buffalo was the other game).
-Despite the loss, the 14 points given up are tied for the fifth-lowest in the Brian Polian era.
-Nevada is now 19-9-2 all-time against the Spartans. San Jose State snapped a seven-game losing streak to Nevada.
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