Nov. 10, 2013
Ron Caragher Post-game Interview
David Fales Post-game Interview
Keith Smith Post-game Interview
San Jose, Calif.-----The San Jose State University football team took advantage of its opportunities early, but it was San Diego State capitalized late with three fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 34-30 win over the Spartans.
Adam Muema's 12-yard run with 3:32 remaining in the game gave the Aztecs its only lead of the game capping a 22-point fourth quarter. Muema finished the night with 21 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns for the Aztecs (5-4, 4-1 Mountain West).
With plenty of time to go for the win, the Spartans' offense stalled on downs for the second straight possession and ended when David Fales' fourth down pass was intercepted by San Diego State's J.J. Whitaker at the Spartan 36-yard line in front of the Spartan bench.
For the first time in seven games, San Jose State (5-4, 4-2 Mountain West) was outgained by an opponent, 409 to 382, in a game filled with mistakes by both teams.
It was a night in which the kicking game played a prominent role for both teams. Each team blocked a field goal. San Jose State also got its hands on a pair of failed Aztec extra point tries, but also was on the short end of a 25-yard Harrison Waid punt that preceded the game-winning drive.
Perhaps the key play that got San Diego State back in the game was Damontae Kazee coming off his left side untouched to block an Austin Lopez 38-yard field goal attempt. One play later, back-up running back Donnell Pumphrey ran 34 yards around left end for a touchdown trimming San Jose State's lead to 23-20.
The Spartans did answer with a 9-play, 83-yard drive capped by Tim Crawley's second touchdown catch of the game on a 12-yard swing pass from Fales for San Jose State's fourth double-digit lead of the night, 30-20.
SPARTANS ON TOP EARLY
The opportunistic Spartans scored the first two times they had the ball turning a record-tying interception by Bene Benwikere and a fumble recovery by defensive end Sean Bacon into their first two scores of the game taking a 10-0 lead.
Benwikere's 14th career interception and fourth in four games resulted in a 44-yard Austin Lopez field goal that bounced along the crossbar before falling through and Fales hooked up with Crawley on a 13-yard corner route after Bacon's fumble recovery at the San Jose State 49-yard line.
San Diego State scored twice in the first half on a pair of 77 and 82 yard drives, respectively. Tailback Adam Muema powered his way over the left side from two yards out for the Aztecs' first score and quarterback Quinn Kaehler found wide receiver Colin Lockett in the far right corner of the end zone from 14 yards out with 41 seconds left before halftime.
Kaehler finished the game 18-of-31 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. After a sow start in the first quarter, he was 14-of-23 for the final three quarters of the game.
In between the two Aztec scores, Lopez booted his second field goal of the game and the Spartans pulled out one of its trick plays as Chandler Jones was left alone in the San Diego State secondary for a 40-yard touchdown toss from Fales who began the play with a pitch to Crawley who threw it back to the San Jose State quarterback for the completion and seven Spartan points.
San Jose State plays its final road game of the season, Saturday, November 16, at Nevada, in a 7:30 p.m. game that will be televised by ESPNU.