San Jose State Opens 2008 With A Come From Behind Victory

The San Jose State Spartans led for only 8 seconds in their opener versus the UC Davis Aggies, but 8 seconds was all they needed.

The Aggies controlled the entire game, looking like the more confident and comfortable team, even though they were playing on the Spartans' home turf in sunny San Jose.

Starting quarterback Daniel Alfaro helped the Aggies control the football for over 34 minutes of the game. As a team, they ran 31 times for 60 yards and used short passes to eat up time off the clock to the tune of 193 yards. He and Bakari Grant connected for a catch and run touchdown in the first quarter that gave the Aggies a 7-0 lead, which turned into 10-0 before the first half was over. Grant ended up with 8 catches for 108 yards.

San Jose State, led by starting quarterback Myles Eden, couldn't muster any points in the first half even though he connected on 10 of 13 passes for 86 yards. Enter Cal transfer Kyle Reed.

Reed came in and immediately the offense started moving the football. The Spartans, who looked slow and over-matched in the first half, looked quick and inspired in the second. Reed threw a 3 yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams to put the Spartans on the board in the third quarter. The extra point was blocked making the score 10-6 and time looked to be running out on the Spartans.

Reed got them going again late in the fourth quarter, but on fourth down, head coach Dick Tomey selected to try a 44 yard field goal with senior kicker Jared Strubeck. Strubeck had missed a field goal earlier, in addition to the extra point, and he missed this one as well. The Spartans fans didn't understand the situation because a field goal would only get the Spartans within 1 point with very little time left on the clock, and booed the decision. They booed more loudly when Strubeck missed the kick. But the defense stuffed the Aggies on three plays in a row and with just over a minute left and on their own 31 yard line, Kyle Reed drove them down the field.

With no timeouts left, he hit senior wide receiver Kevin Jurovich for 37 yards.  Then on fourth down, he hit him again. But this time it was in the end zone. Threading the needle, Reed zipped his pass in between three Aggies defenders and Jurovich hung on to give the Spartans a 13-10 victory.

Reed was definitely the most productive San Jose State quarterback on the field and head coach Dick Tomey has a decision to make going into Nebraska next week. The running game wasn't effective as Reed actually led the team with 28 yards rushing, while starting tailback Yonus Davis had only 26 yards on 7 carries.

The Spartans are expected to have a better than average team with a defense that is supposed to be their strong point. After sending defensive back Dwight Lowery to the NFL, the Spartans send out Christopher Owens and Coye Francies at opposing receivers this year. UFC transfer Jeff Schweiger anchors a defensive line that is expected to be very good.

But in order to fulfill those expectations, they'll have to play a much better game than they did against UC Davis. They won't have to wait long. They travel to Nebraska next weekend to take on a Cornhuskers team who are also 1-0 after beating Western Michigan.