San Jose State Gets a Win for Tomey

As time expired, Dick Tomey hustled onto the field to high-five his players and pat them on the helmet in an emotional display for the 67-year-old coach.

Tomey directed his team to the kind of second-half comeback rarely experienced at San Jose State in recent seasons, and this moment deserved celebration.

Adam Tafralis passed for 290 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for two scores at San Jose, leading the Spartans over Eastern Washington, 35-24.

Tomey was an assistant last season at Texas, but jumped at the opportunity to become Spartan coach. He previously was coach at Arizona and Hawaii.

“It’s just fun to be part of such a wonderful group of young people,” Tomey said. “It’s not about me, it’s about them ... and giving themselves a legitimate chance to win through their hard work and dedication, and that’s what they’ve done.”

Yonus Davis rushed for 94 yards for the Spartans.

Erik Meyer threw for 372 yards and two touchdowns for Eastern before leaving in the fourth quarter because of cramping.

The Eagles, who play in the Big Sky Conference, are expected to be among the top teams in Division I-AA and had 14 starters returning.

“They were pretty basic,” Meyer said of San Jose State’s defense. “We just missed on a couple plays and a couple throws and they got the momentum.”

Tomey has the Spartans running his high-pressure, blitzing defensive scheme -- known at Arizona as Desert Swarm. San Jose State gave up 42.6 points a game last year, most in Division I.

The Spartans were 2-9 last year and Fitz Hill resigned after a four-year record of 14-33.

Tafralis completed his first five passes, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to Rufus Skillern, the team’s leading receiver from last season. He ran for touchdowns of eight and three yards in San Jose State’s 21-point third quarter that erased a 17-14 halftime deficit.

“I’m so proud of our guys. Coach Tomey says the tougher it gets the better we play,” Tafralis said. “You’d hear that chanting on the sidelines every couple series. It was nice to hear.”

Said Tomey: “We’re a work in progress as a football team for sure.”

Troy 27, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 10 -- Carl Meadows passed for 213 yards and a touchdown and the Trojans brushed aside the Division I-AA Mustangs at Troy, Ala.

Troy held Cal Poly to 139 yards, including 68 passing yards in 15 attempts, and built a 17-0 lead in the first quarter.

Cal Poly answered with 10 points in the second quarter but was shut out in the second half.

Cal Poly converted only one of 12 third-down plays.

Matt Brennan led Cal Poly with 10 carries for 33 yards.