Spartans Fall in Five Overtimes Against South Florida in The Hawai’i Bowl Presented by Habbas Law and CEFCU

HONOLULU – Matthew Coleman set career-highs in receptions as well as receiving yards, Lamar Radcliffe scored the first touchdown of his career while setting career-highs in rushes and yards, and Noah McNeal-Franklin recorded his first career sack while also grabbing his first career interception to lead San José State football (7-6, 3-4 MW) in a 41-39 five-overtime loss against South Florida (7-6, 4-4 AAC ) in The Hawai’i Bowl presented by Habbas Law and CEFCU on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, from Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on the campus of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.

• After five overtime periods, this was the longest FBS bowl/postseason game since overtime was established in 1996.
• Coleman stepped in and stepped up in the absence of Nick Nash and finished with 12 receptions for 119 yards and one touchdown reception in this game.
• Coleman also caught the two-point conversion to force a fourth overtime.
• Coleman set new career highs in receptions and receiving yards.
• Coleman’s touchdown reception is his second of the season and his career.
• Lamar Radcliffe led the Spartans in rushing this game with 15 rushes for 65 yards and one rushing touchdown.
• Radcliffe’s 18-yard run in the first quarter set a new career long for the freshman. 
• Radcliffe set career highs in rushes and rushing yards in this game. 
• Radcliffe’s rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter is his first of the season and his career. 
• Walker Eget went 33-for-58 with 280 passing yards and two touchdown passes.
• Eget set a new career-high in pass attempts in this game with 58. 
• The Spartans set a new SJSU single-season record for passing attempts as a team with 552.
• Floyd Chalk IV finished with 15 rushes for 60 yards and one rushing touchdown in this game. 
• Chalk IV’s rushing touchdown is his 10th of the season and 20th of his career. 
• Chalk IV’s 10 rushing touchdowns this season set a new single-season career high for the junior transfer. 
• Jackson Canaan had a 5-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, his second of the season and third of his career.
• Noah McNeal Franklin made his presence known with three total tackles, three solo, one tackle for loss, one sack, and one interception. 
• McNeal-Franklin’s sack and his interception, both coming in the fourth quarter, are his first of the season and his career. 
• The Spartans had a takeaway in every game and finished with 28 on the season, the most since SJSU had 32 in 2012. 
• SJSU now leads the nation with 21 interceptions as a team.
• Jordan Cobbs led the Spartans’ defense with six total tackles, including six solo tackles in this game.
• Kyler Halvorsen’s 4-for-4 night now gives him 83 consecutive extra points made for the senior.
• Coach Ken Niumatalolo and the Spartans’ seven wins this season are the most for a first-year head coach since Ron Turner won seven in 1992.
• SJSU has seven or more wins in a single season for the third consecutive year, the first time since 1980-82.

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