April 15, 2017
San Jose, Calif.----- Wide receiver Bailey Gaither and running back Jamar Williams each scored two touchdowns and safety Chad Miller accounted for two of the defense's three fumble recoveries in the 2017 San Jose State University Spring Football Game.
The Spring Game was no different than any of the team's 15 practice sessions on the field. Less than 90 minutes were needed to run off 91 plays not including successful point after touchdown attempts by Bryce Crawford and Michael Carrizosa, a Crawford 22-yard field goal to open the scoring, seven penalties, and a goal line drill to end the Spring Game.
Gaither was the "big-play" receiver on offense with four receptions for 150 yards and scores from 45 and 95 yards away. Following Crawford's field goal, his only try of the day, quarterback Michael Carrillo connected with Gaither for 45 yards who was tackled as he went into the end zone for the offense's first touchdown.
The sophomore speedster from Paso Robles turned on the jets for the game's longest play catching a Montel Aaron pass roughly at the Offense's 40-yard line and easily outraced the secondary to the end zone.
In the battle for spots on the depth chart at quarterback, Carrillo's only pass was the touchdown to Gaither. Aaron, a redshirt freshman, was 6-of-13 for 202 yards and a touchdown. Aaron connected with three different receivers - Gaither, Rahshead Johnson and Tre Hartley - on pass plays of 30 or more yards.
None of the four quarterback candidates, which included sophomores Josh Love and Sam Allen, were intercepted. Collectively, they were 18-of-35 for 330 yards and two touchdowns.
"We're going to let them continue to slug it out (for the number-one quarterback job). Montel made a couple of exciting plays. Josh Love made throws. Michael Carrillo did some good stuff. I didn't see enough of Sam (Allen), but it's an on-going process. Each one of those guys has done really good things this spring," said San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan. "They've also taken turns throwing it to the wrong colored jersey. It's just football."
With junior Malik Roberson on the sidelines, redshirt freshman Williams, sophomore Zamore Zigler and fullback Brandon Monroe had the bulk of the rushing attempts. Williams scored on runs of 9 and 2 yards and finished with 16 carries for 69 yards. He was tackled for a loss on only one of his carries. Zigler ran eight times for 38 yards. His 20-yard run was the longest of the day for the offense. Monroe had six carries for 33 yards, not counting two runs in a three-play goal-line drill in which Allen scored from 1 yard on a quarterback run.
Defensively, safety Jonathan Lenard, Jr., had the unit's third fumble recovery midway through the Spring Game. Linebackers Jamal Scott and Malik Hayes and defensive back Tre Webb each sacked a Spartan quarterback.
More than 2,000 fans and friends of the program, the most in many years, turned out for activities connected with the Spring Game.
"It's always a learning process when you are teaching a new scheme on ball sides of the ball. The kids are learning from us and we are learning about them," said Brennan.
"I really like our offensive line and our secondary. Those are the areas with the most depth, the most maturity and the most snaps of what I've seen so far."
San Jose State is scheduled to open fall practice for the 2017 season, Monday July 31. The season opener is Saturday, August 26 in CEFCU Stadium against USF (South Florida). Season tickets are on sale and are available at www.sjsuspartans.com or by calling 408-924-SJTX during weekday business hours.
Spring Football Game Statistics
| Rushing (44-189, 2 TDs, does not include goal-line sequence) |
| Jamar Williams, 16-69, 2 TDs; Zamore Zigler, 8-38; Brandon Monroe, 6-33; Montel Aaron, 4-30, sacked once; Sage Ritchie, 5-14; Sam Allen, 2-7; Michael Carrillo, 2-5, sacked once; Josh Love, 1-(-7), sacked once. |
| Passing (18-35-0-330, 2 TDs) |
| Josh Love, 7-12-0-66 yds., 0 TDs; Michael Carrillo, 1-1-0-45 yds.-1 TD; Sam Allen, 4-7-0-18 yds., 0 TDs; Montel Aaron, 6-13-0-202, 1 TD). |
| Receiving (18-330-2 TDs) |
| Justin Holmes, 5-38; Bailey Gaither, 4-150, 2 TDs; Josh Oliver, 4-33; Rahshead Johnson, 2-38; Tre Hartley, 1-41; Ray Surry, 1-14; JaQuan Blackwell, 1-7. |
| Placekicking |
| Bryce Crawford, 3-3 PATs, 22-yard field goal; Michael Carrizosa, 1-1 PAT. |
| Fumble recoveries |
| Chad Miller, 2; Jonathan Lenard, Jr., 1. |
| Quarterback sacks |
| Tre Webb, Malik Hayes, Jamal Scott, 1, each. |
| Penalties |
| Offense, 5-40; Defense, 2-10. |