Oct. 4, 2014
The San Jose State racked up a season-high 542 yards of total offense and its defense held UNLV to just 221 as the Spartans won their first Mountain West game of 2014, 33-10 on Saturday night in Spartan Stadium.
Quarterback Joe Gray went 20-of-30 for 265 yards, had a rushing touchdown and completed his first TD pass, a 51-yard strike to Hansell Wilson on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
On the night, Gray connected with nine receivers. Jabari Carr led the way with five grabs for 51 yards. Tyler Winston, Andrew Vollert and Tyler Ervin had three receptions each.
Ervin had the most exciting play of the night, an 83-yards touchdown scamper midway through the third quarter. He finished the game with 133 yards on 11 carries. It is the first 100-yard rushing game of his San Jose State career.
After holding the Spartans (2-3, 1-1 MW) to a three and out on their opening possession, UNLV (1-5, 0-2 MW) took the ball and marched 60 yards in 11 plays. The drive culminated in a Blake Decker one-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead for the Rebels.
The Spartans had an eight play, 64-yard drive end in a missed Austin Lopez field goal on the ensuing possession, but from that point on San Jose State controlled the game.
They scored on their next six possessions. Gray dove over the pile from a yard out on the first play of the second quarter and Lopez kicked three field goals, the last coming with five second to go in the half for a 16-7 Spartans lead as the teams went to the locker rooms.
Lopez had his fourth field goal of the game on the Spartans opening possession of the second half and Ervin scored his long touchdown on the San Jose State's next possession. The Spartans led 26-7 at the end of the third.
After Wilson's touchdown made the score 33-7 with 14:51 to play, UNLV went on an eight play, 40-yard drive that ended in a field goal making the score 33-10.
The Spartans defense held UNLV, which came into the game averaging 394 yards, to just 221. Between the Rebels opening touchdown and field goal late in the fourth quarter, San Jose State stopped the UNLV on nine straight possessions, four of which were three and outs. The Spartans controlled the clock 38:41 to 21:19.
The Spartans have a bye next week and return to action on October 18 at Wyoming.