San Jose State lays an egg in Potato Bowl

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Eastern Michigan running back Samson Evans (22) stiff arms San Jose State linebacker Alii Matau (8) on a run in the first half of the Idaho Potato Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)

Brent Brennan has taken San Jose State to a bowl game twice in three years, a rare feat, but he’s still looking to win one.

The Spartans flopped Tuesday in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, losing 41-27 to Eastern Michigan on the blue turf of Boise State’s stadium.

Two years ago, in the Arizona Bowl, SJSU lost 34-13 to Ball State. In that game, the Spartans were wiped out by Covid, losing several key players and both their offensive and defensive coordinators in the days leading up to the game.

In this game, the Spartans (7-5) were simply wiped out. After taking a 13-0 lead, they gave up 33 unanswered points to Eastern Michigan (9-4).

Turnovers played a key role. SJSU, which had turned the ball over only six times all season, turned it over three times Tuesday. It was the first time this season that the Spartans had multiple turnovers in a game.

Eastern Michigan had won only one bowl game in its history — also against San Jose State in the 1987 California Raisin Bowl in Fresno.

After San Jose State’s second touchdown, Sterling Miles blocked the extra point attempt and Tristen Hines scooped up the ball and raced 87 yards for a 2-point defensive PAT.

That was the spark Eastern Michigan needed. The offense that had consecutive three-and-out possessions had touchdowns on its next four drives, all but putting the game out of reach.Samson Evans scored from 1 yard out to cut the Spartans’ lead to 13-9 at end of the first quarter.

EMU quarterback Taylor Powell passed for 298 yards and two touchdowns. The first of them, from the 1-yard line, put the Eagles in the lead 16-13. Powell threw another one, from 28 yards out, to make it 30-13 at halftime.

Cordeiro threw TD passes to Nick Nash and Isaiah Hamilton in the second half for the Spartans. Cordeiro led the Spartans offensively, completing 26 of 44 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. He had been intercepted only four times all season.

Cordeiro will be back next season, as will every other offensive starter, except star receiver Elijah Cooks.

The Spartans open next season at USC on Aug. 26.

Check back after 7 p.m. for a report from the postgame lockerroom.

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