San Jose State and Washington State both feature 3-0 records and standout offensive players entering Friday night’s game at Pullman, Wash.
Nick Nash, who is the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, set the San Jose State record for receptions in a regular-season game with 17 in a 31-10 victory over visiting Kennesaw State last weekend.
He finished with 225 yards receiving and three touchdown receptions.
San Jose State’s Emmett Brown completed 26 of 38 pass attempts for 355 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Nash leads the country in touchdown receptions (six), receiving yards (485), receiving yards per game (161.7), catches (34) and receptions per game (11.3).
Nash entered the transfer portal after coach Brent Brennan left for Arizona but decided to stay because he wanted to continue within offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann’s system.
“Coach Stutzmann is a very passionate guy, he loves this offense, it’s his baby,” Nash said. “That’s why I stayed, I could see the vision and I’m happier than ever that I did.”
San Jose State’s new coach Ken Niumatalolo said of Nash: “I’m just grateful he stayed. I tell him that after every win.”
Washington State is coming off a 24-19 win over rival Washington in the Apple Cup at Seattle, a game in which John Mateer completed 17 of 34 passes for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
He also rushed for a team-high 62 yards with two scores. Mateer leads the country with 19.2 yards per completion.
“You know, he’s just getting started,” Cougars coach Jake Dickert said of Mateer, a sophomore. “This is his third start, and he’s passing and running. He’s just a warrior out there.”
Mateer became Washington State’s starting quarterback after Cam Ward transferred to Miami.
“I don’t know if it’s set in yet, but seeing all the guys super happy and excited feels good,” Mateer said after beating the rival Huskies. “I am super happy for all the coaches and myself, too. It means so much to these guys.”
