Oct. 2, 1999

Final Stats | Post-game Notes & Quotes

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - Steven Pulley tied a school record with 15 receptions, including touchdowns of 54 and 15 yards, as San Jose State overcame the loss of tailback Deonce Whitaker to defeat Stanford 44-39 Saturday.

It was the second straight victory for San Jose State (3-2) over Stanford (3-2), which leads the Pac-10 with a 3-0 record but is winless in two non-conference games.

Pulley, who had 255 yards in receptions, tied the Spartans' record of 15 receptions by Guy Liggins in 1986 against Fresno State.

Troy Walters, who had scoring catches of 25 and 7 yards for Stanford, broke the Pac-10 career record with 3,331 yards receiving. Walters, who had 10 catches for 186 yards, surpassed the mark of 3,201 yards by Southern California's Johnnie Morton in 1990-93 on a 35-yard reception in the second quarter.

San Jose State turned to the air to overcome the loss of Whitaker, who had rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the Spartans' first four games this season. He missed the game with a sprained right ankle.

Chris Kasteler was 24-of-43 for 368 yards for San Jose State. Joe Borchard, filling in for the second straight game for injured Todd Husak, was 19-of-37 for 313 yards for Stanford.

Ron Ockimey returned a fumble 38 yards for a touchdown for San Jose State, which has won three straight after opening the season with losses at LSU and Colorado, and Casey LeBlanc went 19 yards with a reverse for a score.

Patrick Battle had a 15-yard scoring run, Darian Morton had a 4-yard touchdown run and Tim Morgan kicked a 44-yard field goal for the Spartans - who had lost six straight to Stanford before winning the last two.

Mike Biselli kicked three field goals for Stanford, which got scoring runs of 39 yards by Brian Allen and 2 yards by Coy Wire. The Cardinal also got a safety when a punt was blocked out of the end zone.

Battle scored 2:05 into the game, completing a 65-yard game-opening drive. After Biselli kicked a 41-yard field goal, Morton scored to complete a 79-yard drive and give the Spartans a 14-3 lead with 4 1/2 minutes left in the first quarter.

Stanford responded with 12 straight points. Biselli kicked a 21-yard field goal, Colin Branch blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety and Wire scored to complete the ensuing drive. Morgan's field goal with 2:13 left in the second quarter gave San Jose State a 17-15 halftime lead.

Pulley's 15-yard scoring catch made it 24-15 midway through the third period, before Walters' 25-yard scoring catch pulled the Cardinal within two points again.

The Spartans increased the lead to 31-22 when Samson Sherrod sacked Borchard and forced a fumble that was picked up by Ockimey and returned for a touchdown.

Allen broke through the middle of the line to score 64 seconds later, on the last play of the third period, to make it 31-29, and Biselli's 29-yard field goal with 11:20 left in the fourth quarter gave Stanford its only lead of the second half.

The Spartans responded with LeBlanc's scoring run, on which he scooted around the left side and then cut back inside to go untouched into the end zone with 5:28 remaining.

Pulley caught the 54-yard bomb with 2:33 left to give San Jose State a 44-32 lead. Stanford then marched 59 yards in 47 seconds to Walters' 7-yard scoring catch to pull within 44-39, but an onside kick was recovered by the Spartans and they ran out the clock.

By ROB GLOSTER
AP Sports Writer