Fresno, Calif.-----San Jose State started effectively against Fresno State with its highest scoring first quarter of the season holding a 14-7 lead after 15 minutes of action.
Then, a 24-point second-quarter outburst propelled the Bulldogs to a 41-21 win over the Spartans in a Western Athletic Conference game.
Tailback Ryan Matthews, the nation's leading rusher, paved the way for Fresno State (3-3, 2-1 WAC) with 233 yards on 20 carries. His 59-yard touchdown run with 1:48 to go before halftime upped the Bulldogs' lead to 28-14. Matthews had 194 yards on 13 carries in the first half.
The Spartans took advantage of a Fresno State fumble on the Bulldogs' first play of the game and turned the Justin Cole recovery into a 7-0 lead. Quarterback Jordan La Secla connected with wide receiver Jalal Beauchman who eluded one Fresno State defender and raced 20 yards for the game's first touchdown.
San Jose State (1-5, 0-2 WAC) and Fresno State ended up trading scores for the first quarter and a half. After Bulldog quarterback Ryan Colburn threw the first of his two touchdown passes, the Spartans responded with an 11-play, 70-yard drive. A pair of Beauchman first-down receptions preceded halfback Brandon Rutley's score on a 7-yard draw play.
"I believe the first quarter was our best quarter this season," said La Secla who followed up his statement with a comment on the team's inability to take advantage of some later opportunities available to them. La Secla was 7-of-11 in the first quarter and 17-of-27 for 143 yards for the game.
Fresno State took the lead for good when Colburn hooked up with Marlon Moore on a 23-yard scoring play for a 21-14 lead with 5:21 left before halftime. Moore was alone in the end zone on a busted coverage after runs of 17 and 28 yards by Matthews and two Spartan penalties.
"A lot of credit to Fresno State. We just couldn't handle Ryan Matthews. He's been too much for a lot of people. He's so strong and so fast," said San Jose State coach Dick Tomey. "We missed a lot of tackles, but that's what good backs do in the open field."
The Bulldogs added 10 points in the fourth quarter before San Jose State closed out the scoring a 59-yard pass play from Kyle Reed to wide receiver Josh Harrison.
For the game, Fresno State outgained San Jose State, 426-345. The Spartans did surpass the 100-yard rushing mark for the second time this season with 124 yards on 31 carries.
"We had a lot of guys play tonight who haven't played much. I thought Jordan (La Secla) did some good things. I thought Kyle (Reed) came in and did some nice things. Again, I think Fresno State is a better team. We've lost to a bunch of good teams and Fresno fits right in with them."
San Jose State has its second bye week the week ending October 24 and returns to action October 31 against nationally-ranked Boise State. Game time is 1:00 p.m. (MDT).