SJSU converted on all seven of its third-down situations in the first half, including its first two touchdowns. They were aided by a pass interference call on a third-and-3 and an apparent stop was negated by an offside call on a third-and-12.

The Spartans’ run reached eight in the third quarter when SJSU quarterback Kenny Potter completed a 35-yard pass on third-and-17.

"We couldn’t get off the field on third down," UH defensive coordinator Tom Mason said. "We’d get them in third-and-medium, third-and-long situations and it was first down, first down, first down. That’s what killed us."

The streak finally ended later in that drive when the Spartans were stopped 2 yards short on a third-and-5, again after an offside penalty wiped out a sack on the previous play. But the Spartans converted with an 18-yard run on fourth down and scored three plays later.

SJSU was 10-for-11 when David Manoa’s sack forced the Spartans’ first punt early in the fourth quarter. UH finally slowed the Spartans in the second half and SJSU went 3-for-8 after the break.

By comparison, UH was 4-for-13 on third downs and converted twice on fourth-and-short situations.

7s wild for San Jose State

San Jose State was remarkably consistent in the first quarter. The Spartans scored on their seventh play on all three of their possessions in the opening period, with Kenny Potter running for SJSU’s first score and throwing for two more.

The Spartans’ two second-quarter possessions were longer by comparison. They scored in eight plays on a 62-yard drive and took 11 plays while running the clock down to six seconds before Potter threw his third touchdown pass of the half.

SJSU ended up scoring on its first six drives before punting for the first time early in the fourth quarter.

Stubblefield scores off tip

After coming up empty on their first five attempts, UH receiver Devan Stubblefield and quarterback Ikaika Woolsey finally connected on a pass intended for another receiver.

Stubblefield was cutting across the field when Woolsey’s pass over the middle deflected off of Isaiah Bernard. Stubblefield snagged the ball, turned the corner and raced along the UH sideline for a 77-yard touchdown.

"Me and Isaiah both had routes that crossed over the middle of the field. The ball tipped up and it was right there, I caught it and ran as fast as I could," Stubblefield said. "I opened out pretty much to full stride and I was, ‘All right, hopefully nobody comes from behind and catches me.’ "

The play was Stubblefield’s fourth touchdown of the season, the longest completion of Woolsey’s career and UH’s second-longest pass play of the season.

Stubblefield ended the night with three receptions for 101 yards, all in the second half, and went over the century mark for the second time in his freshman season. UH gained 281 yards in the second half after being limited to 134 in the first.

"We started playing with rhythm in the second half, more so than in the first," Stubblefield said. "That’s a big thing we struggle with a lot of the time, establishing our rhythm. But when we do establish a rhythm … that’s when we start making plays as an offense in the run game and pass game."

Makoa Camanse-Stevens made his first start at slot receiver and caught a touchdown pass for the second straight game, a 5-yarder with 12 seconds left.

Defense gets a score

The UH defense posted its first score of the season when Jahlani Tavai sacked Potter in the back of the end zone for a safety with 11:41 left in the game.

Rigo Sanchez’s 54-yard punt was downed at the SJSU 2 and linebacker Lance Williams dropped running back Tyler Ervin just outside the end zone on first down. After an incomplete pass and a penalty, Tavai came off the edge and wrapped up Potter for the safety.

"First of all it was a great kick by Rigo and we were just trying to beat every block," Tavai said "It started with the get-off. … It was good team effort right there."

UH has scored twice on special teams this season, Dejaun Butler’s blocked-punt return against UC Davis and Keelan Ewaliko’s kickoff return against Air Force. UH’s previous defensive touchdown was Beau Yap’s fumble return against Northern Iowa in the third game of last season.

Onside kick works

UH recovered its first onside kick since 2009 after the Rainbow Warriors’ first score of the third quarter.

Kicker Rigo Sanchez bounced the kick toward the San Jose State sideline and reserve receiver Ryan Pasoquen ran it down at the 50. UH had gone 0-for-8 in onside kick attempts since ’09.

The gamble didn’t yield points though. UH went three-and-out on the ensuing drive and punted the ball away.

UH nearly made it two in a game after a touchdown in the final minute, but Devan Stubblefield’s recovery was wiped out by an offside penalty. Gaetano DeMattei recovered the next attempt, but after a review the officials ruled a UH player had touched the ball before it traveled 10 yards.