SPARTANS WIN! BEAT SMU AT HOMECOMING!

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Scott Rislov passed for 289 yards and Leon Pinky caught two touchdown passes as San Jose State beat winless Southern Methodist 31-14 Saturday night.

Damarcus Ingram rushed for 104 yards and a score, and he also caught six passes for 61 yards for the Spartans (2-4, 1-2 WAC), who jumped to an early 24-point lead in their first victory since their season opener seven weeks ago.

After SMU closed within 24-14 on Richard Bartel's two touchdown passes in the third quarter, Rislov led a lengthy scoring drive culminating in tight end Pinky's 23-yard ramble past several defenders with 9:11 to play. Rislov was 23-of-41.

Despite a second-half rally, the Mustangs (0-6, 0-3) hit another low under second-year coach Phil Bennett, who's 3-15 overall.

Derron Brown and Reynaldo Pellerin caught TD passes from Bartel, who passed for 198 yards. But SMU's 116th-ranked offense got going far too late, and the defense couldn't stop San Jose State's barrage of screen passes.

Keylon Kincade, the Mustangs' star running back, rushed for just 91 yards.

Neil Parry again played on special teams in his third game since returning to San Jose State nearly three years after part of his right leg was amputated.

After making no significant contributions during three plays in his first two games back, Parry finally had an impact: He committed a holding penalty that negated Jamall Broussard's long punt return to inside the SMU 5 with 1:13 left in the first half.

San Jose State coach Fitz Hill grabbed Parry's jersey to deliver a lecture after the play. The Spartans settled for Jeff Carr's 45-yard field goal and a 24-0 halftime lead.

San Jose State dominated the first half, outgaining SMU 277-77. The Mustangs were held to four first downs and less than 2 yards per rush against a defense that allowed more than 150 yards rushing in each of its last four games - including 297 by Rice last week.

The Spartans made a 93-yard drive in the second quarter culminating in Ingram's 1-yard scoring run. Broussard added a 10-yard TD run on a clever reverse late in the half.

Injuries to note:

Jeff Gordon (OT-back) was Questionable for Saturday's game against SMU.

Josh Powell (TE-foot) Expected to miss the remainder of the season.

Joshua Smith (DT-ankle) Expected to miss the remainder of the season.

QUOTE TO NOTE:

"Our third-down conversions by opponents has been our nemesis all year." -- San Jose State coach Fitz Hill after his team allowed Rice to convert two third-and-longs on the game-winning drive.

(*)SpartanThunder.com congratulates Coach Hill and the boy's in blue for beating SMU, and keeping SJSU out of the WAC cellar.