Donnel Pumphrey, Jacobi Owens, Zack Greenlee and now Kenny Potter.
Potter, the San Jose State junior quarterback, added his name to the ever-growing list of players to torch Hawaii on its own home field this season, accounting for five first-half touchdowns in the Spartans’ 42-23 dismantling of the Rainbow Warriors on Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.
Seven days after Fresno State’s Greenlee threw for a career-high six touchdowns against Hawaii, Potter handed UH its largest halftime deficit since USC led UH 41-0 in 1999 in June Jones’ first game as Hawaii coach.
The 6-foot-2 transfer from Long Beach City College couldn’t have made it look easier, scoring touchdowns on all five drives and converting all seven third downs to build a 35-0 halftime advantage.
"We knew what was at stake and it was time to buckle down," said Potter, who was 23-for-32 for 312 yards. "We were dialed in and had to get ready for the game and the leaders stepped up. This was important. We knew how much was at stake."
San Jose State stopped an eight-game losing streak in November and kept its bowl hopes alive. The Spartans (5-6, 4-3 Mountain West), who had lost their previous two games by four points, need to beat Boise State at home next week to continue their season.
"After the two tough losses, and the second one in particular, I didn’t want to let that negative hangover carry on and cause (a negative) effect this week," San Jose State coach Ron Caragher said. "These guys are resilient and really pleased how they came out and played really good football from the get-go."
Potter led the charge, completing 16 of his first 21 passes in a brilliant first half.
He became the first Spartans quarterback in 30 years to rush for more than 100 yards in a game in last week’s overtime loss to Nevada and broke off a 49-yard run on SJSU’s second play from scrimmage Saturday.
He ended the opening drive with the first of two rushing touchdowns and proceeded to throw three TD passes, ending the half with a 1-yard dump off to Brad Kuh with seven seconds on the clock.
"Kenny was just on fire — just making play after play, and that really stood out to me the most," Caragher said. "That’s the best first half of football we’ve played in three years."
Potter spread it around to seven different receivers and the Spartans had four players with at least four catches for 60 yards.
The Rainbow Warriors scored on their opening drive of the second half, but Potter ended any comeback hopes on his first possession.
He dropped a dime over the top of a defender to Justin Holmes for 35 yards on third-and-17 to keep alive a 12-play, 79-yard drive that ended with another touchdown.
"We have everybody across the board that can catch the ball and make plays after the catch and it’s nice to have a bunch of weapons," Potter said.
The Spartans are the fourth straight visiting team to win by at least two touchdowns at Aloha Stadium.
In Hawaii’s past four home games, the Rainbow Warriors have allowed three players to rush for at least 100 yards and two scores and two quarterbacks to account for at least five touchdowns in a game.
