San Jose State Spartans

In a Battle of Football Startups, Spartans top Jaguars

September 9, 2017

Game Report Posted: October 09, 2020 22:34  

Coaches Noah Micek and Jeff Linden both took over the reigns at their respective programs in 2013, and it has been all uphill from there for both schools. Both coaches have had strikingly similar journeys; both losing a national title as BCS buster underdog before accepting an invite to a power five conference in 2017. This crash course game was inevitable enventually, and an early season neutral site game was the perfect setting for a fantastic game.

After heading in to the half with a 28-14 deficit, coach Noah Micek relied on seasoned veterans along with star QB Brandon Jones. "We've been down at halftime before. Last year (vs. Florida in the title game), we made the mistake of panicking, which dug us in a hole too big to climb out of. We had to do it different this time around", says Micek.

That they did. After a strong 79 yard option run by Brandon Jones, the Spartans erased a 14-pont deficit at the end of the 3rd. The Jaguars would answer back, scoring a last second touchdown to close the quarter. The game was far from over though. The Spartans scored again, and got a key red-zone interception the next drive, allowing the offense to set senior kicker Joel Mills up to be the hero with 20 seconds left. He answered the call, and the rest is history.