Defense dominates Spring Football Game
San Jose, Calif.-----The San Jose State defense stopped the offense 16 of 17 times and came up with three pass interceptions and a fumble recovery in the team's annual Spring Football Game.
| Fitz Hill liked what he saw from the defense in the Spring Game. |
Junior safety Gerald Jones came up with two of the defense’s three interceptions and scored the defense’s one touchdown on the second possession of the 57-play scrimmage. Jones also ended the offense’s first possession when he intercepted a Marcus Arroyo pass. Safety C.J. Arnold had the defense’s other interception on the 15th offensive possession.
"I was really pleased with the defense. They ran hard to ball," said San Jose State head coach Fitz Hill. "At the same time, our offense was plagued with the same problem of last year – turnovers.
"The defense was more aggressive and more physical. That’s encouraging. In order for us to bring a WAC championship home, we’ve got to build a championship defense."
"We put it together in the Spring Game. Gerald Jones stepped up real big today. It’s the first time we took control," said senior linebacker Luke LaHerran.
The offense, which gained just 188 yards, did not score until the next to last series of the Spring Game. Quarterback Scott Rislov connected with wide receiver Tuati Wooden on a 25-yard pass play. Wooden, a returning starting receiver, was the leading pass catcher with four receptions for 53 yards.
"We weren’t clicking. There were a lot of missed assignments," said Wooden, who had 37 receptions in 2001.
Kicker Nick Gilliam had a perfect scrimmage converting all five of his field goal tries. The Spartan senior made attempts from 20, 32, 39, 46 and 53 yards.
Statistics
Rushing
Lance Martin, 9-50; Beau Pierce, 2-26; Charles Pauley, 1-14; Anthony Ferrera, 4-8; Jonathan McDaniel, 6-(-3); Dale Rogers, 1-(-6), Clarence Cunningham, 3-(-8).
Passing
Marcus Arroyo, 2-6-0-11; Charles Pauley, 0-1-0-0; Scott Rislov, 4-10-2-26; Beau Pierce, 4-10-0-49; Dale Rogers, 1-3-0-11
Receiving
Tutai Wooden, 4-53; Charles Pauley, 3-18; Rufus Skillern, 1-30; Cory Rainwater, 1-11; Jonathan McDaniel, 1-0; Debin Cowell, 1-(-5).
Field Goals
Nick Gilliam, 20 yards., good, 32 yards, good, 39 yards, good; 46 yards, good; 53 yards, good.
Michael Carr, 20 yards., good; 37 yards, no good.
Creig Nakano, 20 yards, good; 33 yards, good; 37 yards, no good.
Interceptions
Gerald Jones, two; C.J. Arnold, one.