San Jose State WR Nick Nash sets record in win over Kennesaw State

SAN JOSE — Senior Nick Nash caught three touchdowns and set a new school record with 17 receptions in San Jose State’s 31-10 win over Kennesaw State on Saturday at CEFCU Stadium.

Nash had touchdown catches of 24, 3, and 9 yards, helping to establish a new career high with 225 yards receiving. The Spartans’ previous record for most receptions in a game was 15, shared by Guy Liggins (1986), Steven Pulley (1999), and Tauti Wooden (2003).

“Best receiver I’ve been around,” San Jose State coach Ken Niumatalolo said of Nash.

Nash was the favorite target of redshirt sophomore quarterback Emmett Brown, who threw a career-high four touchdowns and 355 yards for San Jose State, which improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2020 when it captured the Mountain West Conference title.

With the win, Niumatalolo became just the second first-year San Jose State head coach in nearly 50 years to start 3-0. Lynn Styles also did it in 1976.

Brown entered Saturday among the top 25 quarterbacks in the country, with an average of 280 yards passing per game. San Jose State had 417 yards of offense for the game compared to Kennesaw State’s 192.

Leading the Spartans’ defense was reigning Mountain West defensive player of the week, Jordan Pollard, who had 11 tackles, a sack, and an interception.

Kennesaw State (0-3) committed 11 penalties for 95 yards, making it difficult to sustain drives. The Spartans were also far from perfect, with three lost fumbles.

Still, San Jose State had eight plays of over 20 yards, including one on arguably the game’s biggest play.

With 4:31 left in the third quarter, Justin Lockhart caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Brown to give the Spartans a 24-10 lead after the extra point. Just 43 seconds earlier, Kennesaw State’s Preston Daniels had capped an 18-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run that cut SJSU’s lead to seven points.

Lockhart finished with four catches for 106 yards.