A blocked punt from the special teams, a 177-yard effort from Yonus Davis and an impressive second-half effort from the defense lifted the Spartans to a 31-21 win over New Mexico State in Las Cruces, NM Saturday night.
The win improves the Spartans record to 6-2 this season and makes them eligible to play in a post-season bowl game for the first time in six years.
The play-of-the game became the turning point for the Spartans as they clinched their first road win in three seasons. Trailing 21-18, the Spartans defense forced the high-powered Aggies into a punting situation at their own 25-yard line.
After a Spartan timeout and a personnel adjustment, running back Patrick Perry blocked the punt and Jeff Clark recovered at the two-yard line and raced into the end zone for the score, giving San Jose State its first lead of the second half with 12:57 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Spartans iced the game on a one-yard touchdown plunge by Adam Tafralis with 2:35 remaining for the final points of a 31-21 victory.
The New Mexico State offense lived up to its reputation. Quarterback Chase Holbrook threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns, but his damage was done in the first-half. The Spartans defense rattled the Aggies signal caller in the second-half, sacking him three times and forcing a fumble.
Tafralis completed an efficient 9-of-16 for 105 yards and one touchdown, an eight-yard toss to James T. Callier in the second-quarter.
Davis had a 25-yard touchdown run and with a Waylon Prather to James Callier, Jr., two-point conversion in the first-quarter, San Jose State had its only first-half lead, 8-7.
Next up for the Spartans is a Saturday, November 11 WAC contest against Boise State that is televised live nationally on ESPN 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 PST.
SPARTAN POST-GAME NOTES
*The New Mexico State game marks the fourth time this season the Spartans have shutout an opponent in the second half.
*In last year’s game against New Mexico State, Yonus Davis gained 150 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns. In the first half of this year’s game with New Mexico State, Davis rushed for 150 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown.
*John Broussard extended his streak for consecutive games catching a pass to 30 with a first-quarter reception.
*With his 8-yard reception in the first half, James Jones has caught a pass in 21 consecutive games.
*San Jose State recovered its first onside kick attempt of the season following the Davis touchdown.
*Jared Strubeck’s 48-yard fourth-quarter field goal is his longest field goal as a Spartan. He had kicked a 46-yard field goal as a freshman in 2005 and another 46-yard field goal earlier this season.
*The punt block was the first time since the 2000 game against the University of Southern California that San Jose State scored a touchdown off a blocked punt. In the 2000 USC game, the Spartans scored on a 10-yard punt return by Jarmar Julien after a combined block by current Chicago Bears wide receiver Rashied Davis and Casey Le Blanc.
*San Jose State has seven sacks in the past two games, including a season-best four vs. New Mexico State.