Nov. 1, 2014
San Jose, Calif. - The Colorado State Rams scored touchdowns on each of its first three second-half possessions and turned a 17-14 halftime lead into a 38-31 win over the San José State Spartans on Saturday night in Spartan Stadium.
Down 38-24 with 5:09 to play, San José State (3-5, 2-2 Mountain West) quarterback Joe Gray authored a 91-yard, 15 play scoring drive which culminated in a four-yard touchdown scamper up the middle by the signal caller.
The Spartans seemingly recovered Austin Lopez's ensuing onside kick attempt, only to have it nullified by an offside penalty. On the next attempt Lopez executed a drag kick, which went off a Rams defender and was recovered by Chris Kearney on the SJSU 39.
On third and eight from their 41, Gray appeared to hook up on a 59-yard game-tying score with Jabari Carr. But after reviewing the play, officials determined that Carr was out of bounds when he made the catch. Gray's fourth down pass was incomplete. San Jose State turned over on downs and Colorado State ran out the clock.
Gray completed 26 of 51 passes for 308 yards and touchdowns of nine yards to Carr and 20 to Tyler Winston. Winston led the team with six catches for 76 yards.
Tyler Ervin rushed 18 times for 149 yards including an 89-yard touchdown dash early in the second quarter, which gave San Jose State a 14-7 lead. It was Ervin's second 80-plus yards touchdown run of the year and the fourth longest in San José State history.
Colorado State's Dee Hart scored on touchdown runs of six, one and two of seven yards to lead the Rams. He scored three times in the second half and finished the night with 104 yards on 24 attempts.
Garrett Grayson, the Mountain West's leading passer, was 22-for-28, 290 yards and one touchdown, to Rashard Higgins who finished with 8 grabs for 143 yards for Colorado State.
The teams traded first quarter touchdowns, a nine-yard carr reception and a Hart six-yard run. After Ervin's touchdown scamper, Colorado State got a second quarter field goal and touchdown to take a 17-14 lead.
The Spartans then drove to the Rams 25-yard line. Austin Lopez pushed his 42-yard field goal attempt right and the team's went to the locker rooms with the Spartans trailing 17-14.
Lopez tied the game at 17-17 on a 21-yard attempt with 9:37 left in the third quarter. But Colorado State had touchdown drives of 64, 50 and 88 yards on their next three possessions and had a 38-24 before the Spartans final minute comeback.
San Jose State travels to Fresno State next Saturday, November 8 to play the Bulldogs. Kick off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.