San Jose, Calif. - Behind two Yonus Davis touchdowns and three Dwight Lowery interceptions, the San Jose State University football team defeated Cal Poly, 17-7, at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, September 23.
With the victory, its fourth straight at home dating back to 2005, San Jose State improves to 2-1. Visiting Cal Poly, ranked third nationally in the NCAA Division I-AA, suffers its first loss to fall to 3-1.
The teams traded punts without a first down on their opening possessions of the game. Cal Poly threatened at the San Jose State 11-yard line on its second possession following a 35-yard pass play from Ernie Cooper to fellow wide receiver Ramses Barden down the right sideline. Damaja Jones then forced freshman Mustang running back Jaymes Thierry to fumble the football, however, with Christopher Vedder recovering for the Spartans at their own 14. The teams were scoreless threw one quarter, combining for 100 yards of total offense and four first downs.
STRUBECK CONTINUES STREAK TO PUT SPARTANS ON BOARD
San Jose State’s first drive of the second quarter stalled on the Mustang 29. Sophomore placekicker Jared Strubeck’s 46-yard field goal attempt was good, to put the Spartans on the board with a 3-0 edge. It was Strubeck’s eighth consecutive made field goal dating back to the 2005 season. Sophomore running back Patrick Perry carried twice for 13 yards on the eight-play, 25-yard drive.
The ensuing Cal Poly possession resulted in Lowery’s first interception on the day, with the junior cornerback returning the ball 33 yards down the right sideline to the Mustang 12. It was Lowery’s third straight game with an interception to begin the 2006 season.
On the next play, Davis carried up the middle for a 12-yard touchdown. Strubeck’s extra point made it 10-0 in favor of SJSU with 10:10 remaining in the first half. There would be no more scoring for the remainder of the period, although Lowery picked Brennan off a second time with just 20 seconds left prior to the intermission, at the SJSU 21. All 10 points of the first half were scored by the Spartans within a span of 2:14 in the second quarter.
San Jose State’s first drive of the third quarter went 66 yards in 15 plays before stalling at the Mustang 14 after a failed fourth-down conversion attempt. Lowery then stepped on the scene for a third time on the first play of the drive, getting underneath a deep pass by Brennan at the SJSU 41. Behind a 43-yard completion from SJSU quarterback Adam Tafralis to James Jones, the Spartans got to the Mustang 33, but ultimately had to punt.
JONES BUSTS LOOSE TO SET UP FINAL SPARTAN SCORE
A career-long 49-yard punt return by Jones later in the quarter, put the ball at the Cal Poly 20. Davis’ 15-yard run around the right side gave the Spartans a first and goal. Two plays later, Davis punched it in with a one-yard run for his second touchdown of the game and third of the year. Strubeck’s kick made it a 17-0 game with 3:16 left in third.
The Cal Poly offense moved to the Spartan 10-yard line with under five minutes to go in the game, but Cordel Webb’s pass attempt on fourth and two went out of the back of the end zone, momentarily preserving the shutout. The Mustangs then went 76 yards on eight plays in 1:05 to find their way onto the scoreboard. Brennan found Barden for a 20-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone with 38 seconds showing on the clock.
Tafralis finished 20-of-31 with 152 yards passing and one interception for San Jose State. Davis had 85 yards on 16 carries. It was the second two-touchdown game of his career. Perry gained 60 yards on his eight carries. Jones and John Broussard each matched career-high catch totals with nine and eight grabs, respectively. Jones’ catches went for 92 yards while Broussard’s picked up 47.
For Cal Poly, Brennan was just nine-of-21 for 107 yards and one touchdown, with three interceptions. Barden caught seven balls for 110 yards and the touchdown. The Mustangs were held to just two-of-13 on third downs, with both successful conversions coming late in the fourth quarter. San Jose State won the turnover battle, 4-2.
San Jose State continues a stretch of four straight home games over six weeks, next Saturday, September 30, hosting San Diego State University. Game time at Spartan Stadium is set for 3:00 p.m.