COLLEGE FOOTBALL : San Jose State Clinches PCAA Title, 42-17, and Trip to California Bowl

Mike Perez threw for 435 yards and 3 touchdowns in his last home game Saturday as San Jose State beat Pacific, 42-17, and clinched a trip to the California Bowl.

San Jose State, which closes out its regular season at Cal State Long Beach next week, is 9-1 overall and 6-0 in the PCAA.

The Spartans will be the host team Dec. 12 in Fresno at the California Bowl. It will mark the third bid in seven years for San Jose State and its second in a row.

Perez, who completed 20 of 36 attempts, threw 2 touchdown passes to Guy Liggins, who set a school record with 1,070 yards in receptions this season. Liggins caught 8 passes for 178 yards.

Kenny Roberts had 171 yards in 7 catches, 1 for a touchdown.

Perez’s first touchdown pass was a 16-yarder to Liggins and completed an 80-yard, 6-play drive. The Spartans made it 14-0 on a 65-yard Perez-to-Liggins play.

Pacific, 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the PCAA, cut it to 14-7 when halfback Anthony Simien leaped over the top from one yard out. The Tigers got 91 yards rushing from Simien, whose 77-yard run set up his touchdown three plays later.

San Jose made it 21-7 on Perez’s third touchdown pass, to James Saxon, and a 43-yard-field goal by Mark Grand cut the score to 21-10 at the half.

Perez was intercepted three times, with Pacific linebacker Mark Roberts returning one 79 yards for a touchdown.