Spartans Crush NMSU, 51-17
SAN JOSE, CA (AP) – Adam Tafralis threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns, setting a school record for career total offense in San Jose State’s 51-17 win over New Mexico State on Saturday.
Tafralis, who also ran for a touchdown, recorded 316 yards in total offense for a career total of 7,363, passing Jeff Garcia on the Spartans (4-6, 3-3 WAC) all-time list. Receiver Kevin Jurovich caught 10 passes for 233 yards and a pair of scores. Dante Collins scored two rushing touchdowns.
Chase Holbrook set his own school record for the Aggies (4-7, 1-5 WAC) by passing for 318 yards, completing 30 of 49 tries. He has 7,795 in his career. Brandon Allen caught a pass for the 42nd straight game, a New Mexico State record and the second-longest current streak in the NCAA.
Dwight Lowry intercepted his fifth pass of the season — and 13th in two years — as the Spartans ended a three-game losing streak and extended their streak over the Aggies to four games and 13 of 15 overall. Chris Owens picked off his team-leading sixth pass to end an Aggies drive in the fourth quarter.
Allen finished with four receptions for 76 yards as New Mexico State lost its third straight and sixth consecutive on the road.
The Aggies took an early lead when Holbrook engineered an 8-play, 79-yard drive that led to Paul Young’s 27-yard field goal. Holbrook completed a 50-yard pass to Derek Dubois in the drive, the play that gave Holbrook his school mark.
A 49-yard pass from Tafralis to Jurovich set up San Jose State’s touchdown less than two minutes later. Jurocich caught TD passes of 36 and 45 yards.
The Aggies were also within 13-10 after Holbrook and Allen combined on a 46-yard scoring toss.
The Spartans scored 31 unanswered points before Holbrook threw a 24-yard touchdown to Wes Neimann early in the fourth quarter.
Jared Strubeck kicked consecutive field goals of 42, 41 and 38 yards in the first half. The Spartans had missed 10 straight tries before Strubeck connected on his first-quarter attempt.
San Jose State’s Cameron Island added a 14-yard touchdown run late in the game as the Spartans recorded a season-high in points, and the most under coach Dick Tomey.
San Jose State improved to 3-0 against teams which use Aggies as its nickname, beating Utah State and UC Davis earlier.
