By Ernie Gonzalez (@superego1012):
It hasn’t been a season to remember for San Jose State (2-11, 1-7 MW) on paper, but for the players on that team, Saturday’s thrilling, wire-to-wire, 20-17 season-finale victory over Wyoming (7-5, 5-3 MW) will be a hard one to forget.
The Spartans picked up their first win against not only against an FBS school, but a conference foe in Wyoming Saturday thanks to their defense.
Cornerbacks Dakari Monroe and Jermaine Kelly guided the SJSU defense and a 44-yard rushing stamp late in the fourth quarter by DeJon Packer secured the team’s second win this year.
Monroe was the first Spartan all season with multiple interceptions in a game. He got his hands on his second with under a minute left in the first half as Wyoming was marching down the field, keeping the Spartans up by three at the break.
After the game, Monroe said his effort Saturday was for his older brothers on the team.
“I can credit all my success to them … it feels great to send them off with a win.”
One of them is senior corner Andre Chachere, who’s collegiate career was cut short after a being called for targeting with just under 12 minutes to play. Chachere galloped off the field blowing kisses and thanking fans on his way out.
On the other side of Monroe, Kelly was also phenomenal in his final game as a Spartan, something that carried over from last week’s shutdown performance on Colorado State’s Michael Gallup.
Jermaine finished with four tackles, two pass breakups and made his presence felt on special teams, being the first man to the opposing punt returner on multiple occasions.
“Jermaine Kelly played the best game of his life tonight,” said head coach Brent Brennan.
The term “Money team” wasn’t passed around this season all that much for the Spartans, but Kelly said after Saturday’s win, the secondary played great thanks to the seven guys in front of them.
“I really thought our front played extremely well,” Kelly said. “Our linebackers, they were outstanding the whole game.”
Brennan said postgame he saw bright spots during the fourth quarter of the Colorado State loss, but told his team the result of its final game will be determined by the effort given in the final frame.
“I told them, we will beat Wyoming based on how you guys play in the fourth quarter.”
Brilliant defense and Packer’s 44-yard jolt put the Spartans up 10 late. The Cowboys scored with a minute remaining and attempted an onside kick, but SJSU recovered the ball to win it.