SAN JOSE – Ken Niumatalolo’s first game as coach of the San Jose State football team didn’t start well.

After an interception on their first possession Thursday night and a botched snap to open their second drive, the Spartans trailed Sacramento State 14-0 after just 10 minutes as the new coach, the inexperienced quarterback leading a brand-new offense.

A familiar face helped them regain control of the game: Nick Nash caught two touchdowns and threw another, helping San Jose State come back to beat the Hornets 42-24 at CEFCU Stadium.

“It was the worst start we could have had,” Niumatalolo said. “The exciting thing is we can play better.”

Here’s what we learned about the Spartans in victory:

A NEW CONNECTION

For weeks, there was speculation about who would be San Jose State’s starting quarterback to replace 2023 all-Mountain West honoree Chevan Cordeiro. Washington State transfer Emmett Brown ultimately got the job, but Nash proved Thursday night that as long as they give him the ball, everything will be fine.

The sixth-year student had 10 receptions for 170 yards and two touchdowns.

There wasn’t a member of the Hornets’ secondary who could keep up with Nash, even calling him “too small” after one of his touchdowns.

“I felt like a big kid on campus,” Nash said.

He even reminded the SJSU faithful of his early college quarterback days by throwing a touchdown to Jacob Stewart on a trick play in the first half, making it two years in a row that Nash has three touchdowns in the opening week of the season.

Nash is expected to push for an All-Mountain West first-team year after testing the transfer market in the offseason.

“I’m grateful he stayed,” Niumatalolo said.

PASSES AND STARTS

Brown, who had never started a game at Washington State, was tasked with leading the so-called “Spread N’ Shred” offense under new coordinator Craig Stutzmann.

He went 20-for-34 for 298 yards, three touchdowns and the opening-drive interception. His dual-threat ability set him apart from Walker Eget in the quarterback competition, but he didn’t show his running on Thursday. The Hornets, who opened the season ranked No. 8 in the FCS, made an effort to close the edge and prevent option plays.

They challenged SJSU to pass, and stacked the line of scrimmage. Floyd Chalk IV, a junior transfer from Grambling State, had 87 yards rushing and two scores, but the Spartans finished with just 63 yards on the ground as a team, as the Hornets caught Brown behind the line of scrimmage.

The second turnover was a snap over Brown’s head, which the Hornets recovered and converted for a touchdown.

“It’s been a couple years and, you know, (I had) some nerves going back out there,” Brown said. “Just finding a little bit of a rhythm was the key for us. This offense is very communication-oriented.”

When the offense shredded, it shredded. The average SJSU completion went for 15-plus yards. But when it wasn’t shredding, the drives were short. The Hornets held the ball for 29-plus of the game’s first 45 minutes before the Spartans took control in the fourth quarter.

CONVERSIONS MAKE IT FINISH

Sacramento State certainly had its chances, taking a 17-14 lead into halftime. In the second half, Kaiden Bennett had multiple opportunities to hit open receivers, but he just couldn’t connect. Bennett completed 17 of 32 passes for 134 yards and two interceptions.

San Jose State’s defense forced five turnovers. Cornerback Michael Dansby said after practice Tuesday that the message in the cornerbacks room was to get a turnover, “no matter what.”

His display resulted in an interception in the fourth quarter. The defense’s five turnovers were the most the Spartans committed since they last played Sacramento State in 2013, when they won in Ron Caragher’s debut as coach.

“Our goal was to score four, so to score five is great,” safety Robert Rahimi said.

Rahimi transferred to SJSU last winter, before Niumatalolo was announced as the new head coach. After more than a year out of the game, he is happy to have found a home.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he said.

Niumatalolo also was the head coach in a game for the first time in more than a year, and he said he hopes to build on the Spartans’ win.

“I can’t do a lot of things,” he said. “If there’s something wrong with the sink, my wife does it. But I can do this. I know how to bring people together.”

INJURIES