What others are saying: Utes bring act to San Jose for clash with Spartans

Editor's note: In order to give greater depth to our coverage, deseretnews.com will showcase what other writers and cities are saying about our local college football teams. Here is what Seatllepi.com is saying

San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - The nation's longest win streak is on the line once again this weekend as the 17th-ranked Utah Utes hit the field in San Jose to challenge the Spartans in a non-conference bout.

Thanks to a 35-32 postseason win against Navy in the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl and a perfect run through the 2008 campaign, the only team to do so, the Utes are riding what has become a 15-game win streak. Last week, the team took care of in-state rival Utah State at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, 35-17.

As for the Spartans, they are facing a four-game slide after losing to fourth- ranked USC in an ugly 56-3 decision. Oddly enough, SJSU had reason to show some enthusiasm early in that meeting over the weekend as it forced a pair of turnovers and actually led 3-0 early in the second quarter thanks to a 41-yard field goal by Tyler Cope, but after that the game belonged to the hard- charging Trojans and one of the most devastating rushing attacks in the nation.

"For a while, it looked like we could compete," said San Jose State head coach Dick Tomey after the affair. "Obviously, it was an illusion. In the final analysis, they were much better and much better coached than we were. Coach Carroll has another good football team. I've seen them do that to too many good teams."

In the end, the Spartans managed just eight first downs and nine net rushing yards on 31 attempts. Quarterbacks Kyle Reed and Jordan LaSecla did little to distinguish themselves as leaders for the squad, combining to convert just 14- of-27 passes for 109 yards, while being sacked a combined five times, which is what brought the team's rushing total down so much.

"I don't think either one did great, but we'll have to wait and see," coach Tomey said of the battle for the starting quarterback position at USC. "We are still looking for someone to make a bunch of good decisions and that's a tough group to go up against. We'll figure this thing out."

To read the rest of the story, including more about the Utah Utes, please visit www.seattlepi.com