Spring Break
SJSU football to face nationally ranked Boise State
The Pocket Pass
Greg Lydon
Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: Sports
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The Spartans ended their road losing streak after they defeated New Mexico State University 31-21 and earned their first road victory since 2003.
"It's a relief to get that monkey off our back now and we don't have to hear about it or talk about it anymore," said SJSU linebacker Demetrius Jones. "It was the first time we could have fun on the flight home," Jones said.
Jones said players were teasing and joking around with one another about plays that happened it the game.
"The flight home from Seattle and Nevada was very quiet," Jones said. "We knew we let those games get away."
The Spartans now turn their attention to nationally ranked Boise State University, which comes in with an overall record of 9-0, and 5-0 in Western Athletic Conference play.
"To be one of the best, you have to beat one of the best," said SJSU tight end Jeff Clark.
Clark scored the first touchdown of his career at SJSU last weekend when running back Patrick Perry blocked the New Mexico State punt and Clark recovered the ball at the 2-yard line and scored.
"Pat did a great job on the edge making a big play for us," Clark said. "That was my first special teams touchdown ever."
The huge special teams play that helped SJSU complete the second-half comeback, earning its sixth victory of the season, also earned Perry the recognition of WAC special teams player of the week.
"The special teams made the biggest difference by making the big play in the game," SJSU coach Dick Tomey said. "It was a great win for us."
Boise State defeated SJSU 38-21 last season, but Tomey said he feels SJSU is a much different team going into this season's matchup.
"Offensively, they are just a machine," Tomey said. "It will good for us to find out where we are. We are in the conference race, and if we want to stay in the race, we have to find a way to win."
A seven-game home winning streak is on the line this weekend for the Spartans, but will have to contain Boise State playmakers quarterback Jared Zabransky and running back Ian Johnson.
"Ian Johnson is such a competitive runner, you think he's down and then all of a sudden, he's got four more yards," Tomey said. "The best quarterbacks win, and that's what Zabransky does."
The Spartans' top playmaker in the secondary, cornerback Dwight Lowery, suffered a groin pull in the New Mexico State game, but Tomey said he expects Lowery to play this weekend.
Tomey doesn't expect backup quarterbacks Sean Flynn and Chad Bozzo to play again this season. Both players only saw limited action during the season and will both apply for a medical redshirt for this season due to their separate injuries.
Flynn has been dealing with a groin injury, and Bozzo is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
Saturday's kickoff is set for 3 p.m. in Spartan Stadium.
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