San José State is on the rise. Rolling into this Bay Area battle with Stanford, the Spartans feature a 6-5 record. The Cardinal simply have not looked good since their inaugural ACC win over Syracuse in New York. SJSU has a bowl game on the horizon, and a victory over their rivals from Palo Alto would enhance their post season standing. A blue-skied November day in the Santa Clara Valley welcomed a hearty crowd ready to cheer on their Spartans.
The home team maintained control for the first three quarters frequently boasting a double digit lead. Stanford, perhaps feeling some grit from a disappointing season, muscled back into the lead mid way through the fourth quarter. A lively crowd lost some of its juice, but not its hope. An impressive drive by quaterback Walker Eget capped by an 18-yard touchdown toss with under two minutes remaining sent the San José State fanatics into hysteria.
The Spartans are headed to their third straight bowl game. While SJSU has experienced spurts of success in the past, this feels different. A new head coach in Ken Niumatalolo looks to extend this streak and expand beyond above average. Spartan fans can feel it – especially with an impending move to the Pacific 12 Conference.
