WR Tommy Manus scored on a 20-yard TD reception for MSU's first score of the game.
Boxscore
SAN JOSE, Cali. -- San Jose State scored 10 points with 55 seconds left in the second quarter at the Annual Read-To-Lead Football Classic in front of 11,361 fans at Spartan Stadium.
The visiting Bears, a I-AA school, was holding its own against its I-A opponent before the Spartans changed the momentum of the game on its way to winning 47-28.
Morgan was trailing 17-14 with 3:44 minutes remaining in the half when the Bears decided to try some trickery on its first play of its next possession. MSU running back Jason Jackson took a handoff right and attempted to throw a pass across the field to quarterback Bradshaw Littlejohn. Unfortunately for MSU, Spartan cornerback Brian Nunez had already sniffed out the play and came away with an interception. The Spartans scored two plays later when Adam Tafralis tossed a 39-yard TD strike to wideout Miranda Casey. The Bears trailed at halftime 24-13.
SJSU poured on the points in the second half as they would go on to score 21 unanswered points. The Spartans opened the 3rd quarter scoring when Dale Rogers connected with James Jones for a 67-yard touchdown, and Tyson Thompson burst through the middle of Morgan's defense for a 52-yard TD dash. The Spartans' defense added to the scoring when Larry Collins forced a safety during an MSU punt attempt from its own endzone.
Standout running back Craig Nelson left the game in the first quarter due to injury. Backup Jason Jackson did a solid job against the Spartans as he gained 127 yards on 27 carries, including a 42-yard TD run with 7:41 remaining in the game.
SJSU (1-1) built a 40-14 lead by the middle of the third quarter and overcame a late spurt by the Bears to win their first game of the season.
Littlejohn once again played a big role in Morgan's offensive output. The senior rushed for 96 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns, but on the flip side he was held to just 30 passing yards, completed 5-of-17 passes, and was sacked three times.
SJSU quarterbacks Dale Rogers and Adam Trafralis combined for 204 yards and two touchdowns.
The Spartans racked up 417 yards in total offense, while MSU finished with 291.
SJSU wwent on top first, turning an MSU miscue into a 1-yard touchdown run by Lance Martin with 12:56 to play in the first.
MSU answered with its first score in the first quarter when Littlejohn hooked up with wideout Tommy Manus to cap a 10-play, 48-yard drive to tie the score at 7-7.
The teams traded scores midway through the second quarter as Spartan running back Tyson Thompson found paydirt on an 18-yard TD run. The Bears tied the ballgame in the second quarter, when Littlejohn capped off an 80-yard drive with a three-yard option keeper with 5:22 remaining in the half. It would be the closest Morgan would be for the rest on the contest.
SJSU went to its ground game in the 4th quarter and ate up the clock.
Ezekial Staples led the Spartans on defense Saturday, collecting nine total hits (4 solo). Brian Nunez finished with 8 tackles and an interception, while standout Tony Ficklin collected 2 sacks and had 6 tackles and 4 for losses.
Linebacker Vincent Brown had a busy afternoon as he led Morgan State with 12 stops, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and a sack. Sean Garris finished with 7 tackles, while Shannon Maynard recorded 6 tackles and a forced fumble.
Morgan State standouts Tommy Manus (1-20 yds) and Kelvin Dickens (2-12 yds) saw limited action as they combined for three catches during the contest.
Morgan State's next game will be in the Meadowlands, NJ when they take on Hampton on Saturday (Sept. 25) in their first MEAC match-up of the season.
