Skip to content

NCAA Game Summary - San Diego State at San Jose State

San Jose, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Quinn Kaehler passed for 235 yards and two touchdowns as the San Diego State Aztecs engineered a fourth quarter comeback to defeat the San Jose State Spartans, 34-30, at Spartan Stadium.

Kaehler finished 18-of-31 with an interception for San Diego State (5-4, 4-1 MWC), which trailed by 11 points as the game entered the fourth quarter. Adam Muema contributed 113 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Donnel Pumphrey rushed 10 times for 78 yards and a score while Colin Lockett reeled in six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown.

David Fales passed for 301 yards and three touchdowns on 27-of-48 efficiency to lead the Spartans (5-4, 4-2), who had won their previous four games. Chandler Jones made 11 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown while Jarrod Lawson paced the team on the ground with 78 yards on 17 carries. Tim Crawley made two touchdown receptions as San Jose State was prevented from becoming bowl eligible.

The Spartans scored the first points of the contest at the 7:49 mark of the first quarter as Austin Lopez connected on a 43-yard field goal attempt. They extended their lead to 10-0 with just under five minutes remaining in the opening period as Fales completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Crawley.

After being held scoreless through the first quarter of play, SDSU put some points on the board as Muema concluded an 11-play, 77-yard drive with a two- yard touchdown run. Seamus McMorrow had his extra point attempt blocked, which left SJSU with a 10-6 lead.

The Spartans responded with a 10-play, 56-yard drive that resulted in a 27- yard field goal by Lopez. After forcing the Aztecs offense to go three-and- out, SJSU put together another scoring drive as Fales completed a 40-yard strike to Jones that gave the hosts a 20-6 advantage with 3:25 remaining before the intermission.

SDSU answered just before the conclusion of the second frame as Kaehler completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Lockett. Wes Feer attempted the extra point, but he was also blocked which gave SJSU a 20-12 lead at halftime.

Lopez provided the only score of the third quarter with a 46-yard field goal that made it an 11-point game as the contest progressed into the final period.

The Spartans were in position to add another three points at the start of the fourth quarter, but SDSU blocked Lopez's 38-yard field goal try and Nat Berhe scooped up the loose ball and returned it 56 yards. The Aztecs ended their drought on the next play from scrimmage as Pumphrey broke away for a 34-yard down the sideline for a touchdown. Kaehler caught his own pass and made his way across the goal line on the ensuing two-point conversion try to narrow the deficit to 23-20 with just under 14 minutes remaining in regulation.

SJSU countered with a nine-play, 83-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Fales to Crawley. Lopez sent his extra point try through the uprights to give the Spartans a 30-20 edge on the scoreboard with 9:51 left to play.

The Aztecs then rallied back as Kaehler completed a one-yard touchdown pass to Adams Roberts to narrow the deficit. McMorrow converted the ensuing extra point to mark the first successful kick by the team in the game. Muema scored on a 12-yard touchdown run with 3:32 left to play to give SDSU a 34-30 lead.

The Spartans could not answer as Fales was picked off by J.J. Whittaker on their next drive. SDSU then picked up a crucial first down on fourth down which allowed it to run out the clock for the decision.

Both teams finished with 21 first downs in the very tightly contested matchup.

Advertisement

RELATED NEWS