SJSU rush defense disappears in second half
Game Commentary
Matthew Kimel
Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: Sports
Before Saturday's game at Stanford, the No. 10-ranked SJSU rush defense had given up just 165 yards in three games.
After Saturday's game, Spartans head coach Dick Tomey said the numbers were a little deceiving.
Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard and running back Toby Gerhart ran for a combined 188 net yards, 40 and 148, respectively, Saturday night at Stanford Stadium.
"We haven't played good running teams," Tomey said. "This is the first time we've played a good running team."
Last week, the Spartans held San Diego State to six rushing yards for the entire game.
This week, Stanford tailback Gerhart averaged 6.7 yards per carry on 22 attempts.
"He's just a big, strong back," Tomey said.
Pritchard averaged 4.4 yards in running situations, and scored his first collegiate rushing touchdown.
"After I scored, I didn't know what to do," Pritchard said. "I always see my teammates do cool celebrations, but I just stood there and didn't know what to do."
Last week, the Spartans were one of only 15 teams in the nation that had given up less than 2.2 yards per carry. SJSU, going into the game giving up just 55.6 running yards per outing, allowed the
Cardinal to trot for 204 yards on 36 carries for an average of 5.7 yards per carry.
At the end of the first quarter, however, Gerhart was held to just two net yards and Pritchard had gained only four.
Gerhart slowly picked up the pace with 27 total rushing yards by halftime, while Pritchard scrambled around the field for a total of 45.
In the third quarter, Gerhart had begun to pick apart the Spartans' rush defense, breaking numerous tackles - notably on carries for 29 and 31 yards, both of which set up key field goals for the Cardinal.
"I think he wore us down a little bit," Tomey said.
Cardinal head coach Jim Harbaugh said he wanted his offense to finish the game with the ball to set an attitude for his offensive line and his football team.
After Saturday's game, Spartans head coach Dick Tomey said the numbers were a little deceiving.
Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard and running back Toby Gerhart ran for a combined 188 net yards, 40 and 148, respectively, Saturday night at Stanford Stadium.
"We haven't played good running teams," Tomey said. "This is the first time we've played a good running team."
Last week, the Spartans held San Diego State to six rushing yards for the entire game.
This week, Stanford tailback Gerhart averaged 6.7 yards per carry on 22 attempts.
"He's just a big, strong back," Tomey said.
Pritchard averaged 4.4 yards in running situations, and scored his first collegiate rushing touchdown.
"After I scored, I didn't know what to do," Pritchard said. "I always see my teammates do cool celebrations, but I just stood there and didn't know what to do."
Last week, the Spartans were one of only 15 teams in the nation that had given up less than 2.2 yards per carry. SJSU, going into the game giving up just 55.6 running yards per outing, allowed the
Cardinal to trot for 204 yards on 36 carries for an average of 5.7 yards per carry.
At the end of the first quarter, however, Gerhart was held to just two net yards and Pritchard had gained only four.
Gerhart slowly picked up the pace with 27 total rushing yards by halftime, while Pritchard scrambled around the field for a total of 45.
In the third quarter, Gerhart had begun to pick apart the Spartans' rush defense, breaking numerous tackles - notably on carries for 29 and 31 yards, both of which set up key field goals for the Cardinal.
"I think he wore us down a little bit," Tomey said.
Cardinal head coach Jim Harbaugh said he wanted his offense to finish the game with the ball to set an attitude for his offensive line and his football team.
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