Spartan Daily

Spartan football team best Navy on senior day in first meeting between teams

20111119_SJSUvNavy2_JJ001 Spartan linebacker Keith Smith tackles Navy Midshipmen running back Aaron Santiago in the Spartans 27-24 win over the Midshipmen on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

20111119_SJSUvNavy_JJ006 Defensive end Travis Johnson and defensive tackle Andrew Moeaki celebrate after tight end Ryan Otten gets the final first down that would seal the victory for the Spartans. The defeated the Navy Midshipmen 27-24 on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

20111119_SJSUvNavy_JJ005 Navy Midshipmen punter Pablo Beltran mishandles the snap of the what would be game tying field goal for the Midshipmen. Navy would lose the game 27-24 to the Spartans on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

20111119_SJSUvNavy_JJ004 Wide receiver Jabari Carr catches the game winning touchdown to put the Spartans up 27-24 against the Navy Midshipmen on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

20111119_SJSUvNavy_JJ003 Running back Brandon Rutley runs in for a 1-yard touchdown during the Spartans 27-24 win against the Navy Midshipmen on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

20111119_SJSUvNavy_JJ002 Wide receiver Chandler Jones hurdles a tackler to get a first down during the Spartans 27-24 win against the Navy Midshipmen on Saturday at Spartan Stadium. The next play would result in a Rutley 1-yard touchdown.

20111119_SJSUvNavy_JJ001 Quarterback Matt Faulkner throws a pass to running back Brandon Rutley during the Spartans 27-24 win over the Navy Midshipmen on Saturday at Spartan Stadium. Rutley would catch a career best eight receptions for 101 yards.

The SJSU Spartans defeated the Midshipmen of Navy 27-24 in the first ever meeting between the two teams Saturday afternoon on senior day at Spartan Stadium.

In the last home game of the season, senior running back Brandon Rutley recorded two touchdowns and senior place kicker Jens Alvernik made two field goals to tie the school record for single season field goals with 16.

Senior quarterback Matt Faulkner completed 33 of 44 passes for 345 yards with one touchdown.

Junior tight end Ryan Otten and Rutley both had 8 catches for over 100 yards receiving.

SJSU led 20-14 going into halftime, and the Spartans trailed by four heading into the fourth quarter.

On the first play in the fourth quarter, Faulkner passed to freshman wide receiver Jabari Carr in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown pass.

The Spartans were able to hold onto the lead for the rest of the game to seal the victory.