SJSU passing game to lead favored Spartans on Saturday

Last Saturday in San Antonio, the San Jose State University football team captureda decisive 52-24 victory over UTSA while assuming the role of the favored teamand battling a large crowd at the Alamo Dome. This Saturday, the team will faceanother longhorn opponent in Texas State for the first timein school history and like a week ago, the Spartans are the favorite towin.I dont know if the kids knowif theyre favored or not, thats all done by bookies, head coach Mike MacIntyre said. All wecare about is what we do on the football field. We are excited about playing Texas State.Whether the team or coachesrealize the team is favored or not, the notion of being the better team on thefield is something the Spartans will have to recognize not only this weekendagainst the Bobcats but over the next three weeks with games against Idaho and NewMexico Stateto follow.I hope thats something theyrenot thinking about, MacIntyre said about the idea of the team resting on itslaurels while playing a somewhat inferior opponent. If they are, thats notwhere we want to be.Games like the one against UTSA,the 45-13 trampling of UC Davis or even the 40-20 win over Colorado Stateon Sept. 15 are giving the Spartans the opportunity to keep their feet on theiropponents throats while maintaining the large lead.Weve been very fortunate thisyear to have a couple games in hand and our kids have Put on more steam tomake sure we kept it in hand, he said. Thats something we try to talk about,try to work on, try to enforce because in the past we didnt always do that.This Saturday at Spartan Stadiumwill most likely shake out as another opportunity for SJSU to jump out to anearly lead and pin their opponents to the ground while continuing to amasspoints on the scoreboard. The Bobcats are an FCS team playing their first roadgame within the Western Athletic Conferencetheres no surprise SJSU is thefavorite to win.MacIntyre, though, gives creditto the Texas State offense that ranks fifth in theconference in yards per game, adding that the SJSU will need to be in good formto stop the Bobcats.Their option offense is veryformidable and can make a lot of things happen, he said. Our defense is goingto have to be very sharp and on top of its game to be able to slow them down.Offensively, Texas Stateis led by quarterback Shaun Rutherford, who ranks fifth in the conference andtwelfth nationally in pass efficiency with a rating of 161.7. SJSU, however,counters and one-ups the Bobcats with its own prolific quarter back in DavidFales, who leads the conference and is tenth in the nation in the samestatistical category with a 166.4 passer rating.MacIntyre had nothing but praisefor Fales, who was sacked 13 times in SJSUs 49-27 loss to Utah State,for not allowing the hits to get to his head even though he was not sacked oncelast week against UTSA.When asked if Fales mindsetbehind center changed after being sacked so many times two weeks ago, MacIntyreresponded: Not one bit.Its interesting because youdthink he might (change his mindset) but it didnt change him whatsoever,MacIntyre said. He never batted an eye in the game, not one time. Never showedany disgust or even think about it, he just went back into the game. I thinkthats a credit to his toughness and how humble a leader he is. Hes not an ego guyat all and he just wants to do whatever he can to win. The kids the reallyrespect him and I think that really helped the offensive line because he trustand believes in them.MacIntyre is concerned that Texas Statespass rush may be able to get to Fales on Saturday despite ranking last in theconference in sacks.Offensively, we have to containtheir pass rush, he said. They do a good job of getting to the quarterback.Along with its star quarterbackto counter Texas States,the Spartans have the best pass defense in the WAC to help stop Rutherford. SJSUs 40th-ranked pass defense in the nationis allowing just 211.1 passing yards per game.MacIntyre is confident that theSJSU passing game can once again take over the game if the running gamestruggles. SJSU averages 100 yards rushing per game, compared to Texas States162. The Spartans gained just 91 yards on 32 rush attempts and were outgained onthe ground by UTSA.Of course wed like to run theball better and hopefully we can but theyre good on defense so if they stopthe run well throw the football, he said.Expect the running backs to takea back seat to both teams passing attacks Saturday. The ball is sure to beaired out quite a bit and look for Fales to outperform his counterpart.