Defense delivers against BYU
Cougars’ rally ends as blitz produces sack and fumble
SAN JOSE — San Jose State’s offense has grabbed much of the attention during this breakthrough season. But an underrated defensive unit has also been key.
In front of a national television audience Saturday night, the defense had its coming- out party to nail down a 20- 14 victory over BYU.
“Last time we had a big game at home against Utah State, the defense didn’t perform as well,” linebacker Keith Smith said of a 49- 27 defeat. “It’s always good to bounce back on national TV.”
Smith delivered the play that will live on highlight reels.
The Spartans were clinging to a 20- 14 lead — a blocked PAT on their first touchdown possibly devastating. BYU recovered an onside kick and moved to the SJSU 21- yard line.
On first down with less than a minute and a half to play, Spartans defensive end David Tuitupou helped kick out the right tackle as Smith blitzed through the gap. Smith hurdled running back Jamaal Williams’ attempt to block him and delivered a blindside hit on BYU’ s left handed quarterback Riley Nelson, who was winding up to throw.
The ball shot back 5 yards where SJSU’s Vince Buhagiar covered it up for dear life.
“What a great blitz there to hit the ball and recover it,” Spartans coach Mike Mac Intyre said.
SJSU ( 9- 2), which took a 20- 7 lead early in the second quarter and nursed it the rest of the way, finally was able to celebrate the victory with three kneel downs.
There have been strong defensive performances this season, including the shutout of Navy and a near shutout of New Mexico State last week. The Spartans entered the game ranked No. 21 in the nation in total defense, an often overlooked fact.
Considering the opponent and the stakes, this was the best the defense has played this year.
“It was just the way we were able to stop them over and over and over and keep giving the ball to our offense,” Tuitupou said. “They have some playmakers on offense. The quarterback is shifty, he’s fast, he gets things done. The wide receivers were huge, that freshman ( Williams), he can run. I don’t know what it was. We came together as a family and we played as a team and we were able to stop them.”
SJSU will have two opportunities to reach the 10- win mark for the first time since 1987. The first will come when the Spartans host Louisiana Techin the regular season and home finale at 7: 30 p. m. Saturday, again on national TV on ESPN2.
The next will inevitably be in SJSU’s first bowl game since 2006. Before this victory, there was still some thought that the Spartans, with a historically small fan base, could be denied an at- large bowl bid. This win, which makes SJSU 3- 2 against bowl- bound teams, erases any doubt.
“It would be phenomenal for us to get 10 wins in a year and then we might be bowling some-where really special,” MacIntyre said.