San Jose, Calif. - Quarterback David Fales was 27-of-34 for 370 yards and three touchdowns and Noel Grigsby set the San Jose State career-receiving record as the San Jose State Spartans defeated the Colorado State Rams 40-20 on Saturday night in Spartan Stadium.
The Spartans rolled up 568 total yards to Colorado State's 386 and got 100-yard receiving nights from three receivers. Jabari Carr led San Jose State with eight catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Grigsby had 124 yards on seven receptions and Chandler Jones had a game-high 133 yards and two touchdowns in six catches.
The Spartans (2-1) started quickly scoring on each of their first two possessions. They opened with an 8-play, 83-yard drive that featured an 18-yard run by Tyler Ervin and culminated with a 25-yard touchdown strike from Fales to Carr. It took just 3:57 and was the first first-quarter scoring drive by the San Jose State this year.
On the opening play of their next drive, Fales hit Grigsby for 51 yards. Five plays later Ervin ran to the left pylon from 10-yards out to give the Spartans a 14-0 lead.
To start second quarter, Colorado State (1-2) drove four plays and 74 yards culminating in a 15-yard run by quarterback Garret Grayson to cut the lead to 14-7.
The Rams took just 1:47 on their next possession to find the end zone going 80 yards in eight plays. Grayson, who finished the night 24-of-42 for 297 yards and two touchdowns, found Kivon Cartwright on a 28-yard strike up the seam. Colorado State however, muffed the try for the extra point and SJSU kept its lead, 14-13.
On the ensuing possession, the Spartans drove 65 yards in 14 plays, but stalled on the Rams' 9-yard line. They settled for a 26-yard field goal by Austin Lopez and led 17-13 with 4:08 to play before the half.
With the Rams driving for perhaps the final score of the half, safety James Orth stepped in front of and picked off a Grayson pass a the Spartans 10-yard line to end the threat.
Colorado State opened the second half with a 3-and-out, but a 72-yard punt by Pete Kontodiakos reversed the field position and pinned the Spartans at their own two.
Ten plays later, on 4th and one from the Rams' 23, De'Leon Eskridge ran for 3 yards the first down and two plays later Fales hooked up with Carr for a 19-yard strike. The drive covered 98 yards and pushed the San Jose State advantage to 24-13.
The Spartans controlled the ball for 12:20 in the third quarter and out gained the Rams 150 yards-to-14.
On the first play of the fourth quarter San Jose State took a 27-13 lead after Lopez got his second field goal of the night, this one from 30-yards.
Down 14 points and having to throw, Grayson was swarmed by the Spartans defense. They sacked him twice in the next three plays forcing another 3-and-out. On the ensuing punt, the ball grazed a Spartan down field. Colorado State recovered the ball on the San Jose State 43-yard line. Two plays later Charles Lovett grabbed a 38-yard scoring strike from Grayson. San Jose State's lead was cut to 27-20 with 11:27 to play.
On the fourth play of the Spartans next possession, Fales handed the ball off to Eskridge. He flipped it to Kyle Nunn on a reverse. But rather than running, Nunn threw a strike to Jones on the 19. Jones weaved his way through two defenders and found the end zone to give the Spartans a 33-20 lead.
A Vince Buhagiar fumble recovery on the next possession set San Jose State up on the Colorado State 46. Three plays later Fales hooked up with Jones on a 51-yard bomb and a 40-20 lead.
Buhagiar led the defense with 11 tackles and a sack. Damon Ogburn, Jr. was in on eight tackles and Travis Raciti had two sacks and Anthony Larceval and Travis Johnson each had one sack.
The Spartans next game is Saturday, September 22 at San Diego State. Kickoff against the Aztecs at Qualcomm Stadium is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.