San Jose, Calif. - David Fales set a San Jose State school record for pass completions in a regular-season game, threw for a season-best 467 yards and three touchdowns but was sacked 13 times in a 49-27 loss to Utah State.
In the WAC opener for both teams, Fales completed 38-of-50 pass attempts for 467 yards and three touchdowns.
The Spartans jumped on the scoreboard first after taking the opening kickoff on a 25-yard Austin Lopez field goal. San Jose State (4-2, 0-1 WAC) became the first team this season to score on Utah State (5-2, 1-0 WAC) in the first quarter.
The Aggies took the lead for good scoring the first four times they had the ball. Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton matched Fales with three touchdown tosses. The first two went to went to wide receivers Chuck Jacobs for 17 yards and Matt Austin for 5 yards. Keeton completed 26-of-35 for 273 yards and three first-half scores.
Running back Kerwynn Williams also had a big day scoring three times. He rushed for 176 yards on just 15 carries. His 50-yard touchdown scamper off left-tackle was part of Utah State's first-half offensive explosion and preceded an 86-yard burst to open the second-half scoring.
Williams' 12-yard touchdown run with 2:44 remaining in the game was the excalamation point on the Aggies' fourth win in a row over the Spartans.
Despite being down 28-3 with just over nine minutes left before halftime, the Spartans rallied on the arm of Fales. A 35-yard reception by tight end Peter Tuitupou was the big play in a 7-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 3-yard pass to Kyle Nunn for San Jose State's first touchdown of the game.
After forcing a three and out on Utah State's next possession, Fales hooked up with Grigsby on the first play of the drive for 50 yards down to the Aggies 12 yard line. Four plays later, Lopez kicked his second field goal of the half, 26 yards, to cut the lead to 28-13.
The Spartans defense again forced Utah State to punt and with 1:18 to play in the second quarter, Fales drove the team 85 yards in nine plays and 54 seconds to a touchdown. Fales completed all eight passes on the drive, the last a 20-yard strike to Grigsby who made a diving catch over the middle. The teams went to the locker room with the Spartans down 28-20.
Williams' 86-yard touchdown run on the third play of the third quarter turned the momentum back in Utah State's favor. He picked up 148 of his yards on three carries, all for touchdowns.
Keeton then added a 28-yard touchdown run on the Aggies next possession, an eight-play, 68-yard drive to push their advantage to 42-20 with 9:55 to go in the third.
San Jose State's final scoring drive went six plays in 2:28 culminating in a 4-yard scoring pass to Grigsby. The big play on the drive was 28-yard pass over the middle to Ryan Otten, which gave the Spartans a first down on the Utah State 15.
Utah State, who came into the game with 14 sacks on the season, got at least one from nine different players. Current WAC Defensive Player of the Week linebacker Kyler Fackell had two of the sacks and finished with a team-high 11 tackles.
Ronnie Yell and Bene Benwikere each were eight tackles for the Spartans.
San Jose State's next opponent is UTSA. The Spartans play in the AlamoDome on Saturday, October 20 with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (CDT)/11:00 a.m. (PDT).