Titans Might Get a Break, but Need More : College football: San Jose State’s starting quarterback might miss tonight’s game. But backup has been outstanding, too.

There’s a chance San Jose State quarterback Matt Veatch, who missed last week’s game because of a knee injury, will sit out tonight’s Big West Conference game against Cal State Fullerton.

A glimmer of hope for Titan coaches, perhaps?

Hardly. Even with sophomore reserve Jeff Garcia, who has made only one major college start at quarterback, the defending conference-champion Spartans would still be heavily favored against the Titans.

All Garcia did in his debut last week was complete 22 of 33 passes for 337 yards and five touchdowns to lead San Jose State to a 55-12 victory over Nevada Las Vegas. Garcia was named the conference’s offensive player of the week, sharing the honor with Pacific’s Troy Kopp.

“It won’t matter who plays quarterback,” Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy said. “It’s not going to be easy either way.”

Nothing is for the Titans, who have been outscored, 267-87, this season.

Scoring hasn’t been easy. Fullerton is on pace to become the lowest-scoring team in school history. Defense hasn’t been easy. Even though Fullerton appears improved over last season, the Titans are still giving up points in bunches.

Keeping spirits up hasn’t been easy.

“It’s not like Times Square at 11:59 on Dec. 31 around here,” Murphy said of the mood. “But we’re hanging in there.”

One small piece of good news for Fullerton: The Spartans probably won’t be at full strength for tonight’s game. The San Jose State sports information office issued a full-page injury report this week, listing the status of 16 injured players.

Besides Veatch, offensive linemen Todd Ranney and Mike Fortino are doubtful because of knee injuries. Tackle Peni Iosefa, the team’s best offensive lineman, hurt his knee last week and is probable. Tight end Bryce Burnett, the Big West’s best tight end, tore ligaments in his knee in September and is out for the season.

But the Spartans still have Garcia and running back Maceo Barbosa, who has rushed for 657 yards and six touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 193 yards. And they still have one of the best receiving corps in the conference, led by Bobby Blackmon (28 catches, 460 yards), David Blakes (26 for 413 yards) and Walter Brooks Jr. (21 for 483).

And they still have a solid defense, which includes standout safety Hesh Colar and rover Anthony Washington, and a pass rush that accounted for seven sacks against UNLV last week.

San Jose State might not be as dominant as it was last season, when it went 9-2-1 and was ranked 20th in the final UPI poll, but the Spartans are still undefeated in five conference games.

“To me, everyone looks as good as last year,” Murphy said. “They may not be, because they were a great team last year, but they’ll be playing for the conference title. They don’t have (tailback Sheldon) Canley, but Barbosa is a heck of a running back. They have excellent team speed and some guys who can throw the football.”

Notes

Inside linebacker Chad Lindsay, the Titans’ leading tackler who injured his shin last week, isn’t expected to play tonight. Cornerbacks B.B. Hudson (wrist) and Michael Brown (achilles tendon) are doubtful because of injuries. . . . With 1,885 career yards in less than two seasons, Fullerton senior Reggie Yarbrough ranks fourth on the Titans’ all-time rushing list behind Rick Calhoun (2,646 yards from 1983-86), Mike Pringle (2,223 from 1988-89) and Obie Graves (2,212 from 1977-78). . . . Fullerton has lost 18 consecutive games against Division I-A opponents dating back to a 28-14 victory over San Jose State in the 1989 season finale. . . . San Jose State rolled up 670 total yards, including 500 passing, en route to a 44-6 victory over the Titans last season. . . . San Jose State has scored 50 points or more in its past two Big West games, 64 against Pacific Oct. 19 and 55 against Nevada Las Vegas last week.

CAL STATE FULLERTON TITANS

TONIGHT’S GAME

Opponent: San Jose State

Site: Spartan Stadium, San Jose

Time: 7 p.m.

Records: San Jose State 5-3, 5-0 Big West; Fullerton 1-7, 0-4

Radio: KMNY (1600)

TV: None