Ags let 4th-quarter lead slip away

Tafralis spread the ball around with four different receivers recording four grabs or more.

David Richard, who hauled in the game-winning touchdown, finished with 10 catches for 180 yards.

In the first quarter alone, Tafralis threw for 150 yards on 8-of-10 passing. His previous season-high was 134 yards in a loss to Kansas State. By halftime he had passed for 243 yards.

San Jose State led 9-0 before Utah State's Kevin Robinson returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 9-7.

Later, Tafralis connected with David Richmond for a 24-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 16-7.

Utah State freshman kicker Peter Caldwell added field goals of 22 and 37 yards in the final three minutes of the half to trim the lead to 16-13.

The Aggies squandered a 53-yard punt return by Robinson that put the Aggies on the SJSU 35 when Leon Jackson III was intercepted on the first play following the nice run.

The Aggies managed just 94 yards of offense in the first half and five first downs, while the Spartans had 17 first downs, three shy of their season-high.

Speight, who touched the ball 10 times in the Aggies' drive to take the lead, finished with 99 yards rushing on 22 carries, while Robinson had 276 all-purpose yards.

Jackson completed 11-of-21 passes for 78 yards and was intercepted twice.

The Aggies travel to Utah next week for the first of two straight road contests.

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E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com