SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Dick Tomey directed his team to the kind of exciting second-half comeback rarely experienced at San Jose State in recent years.
Adam Tafralis passed for 290 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for two scores, leading the Spartans over Eastern Washington 35-24 in Tomey's coaching debut at the school Saturday.
Rufus Skillern had seven catches for 138 yards and a touchdown for San Jose State in the first meeting between the schools. Ulisese Liua intercepted a pass and ran it 6 yards into the end zone in the third quarter before recovering a fumble moments later as the Spartans ushered in the Tomey era with an impressive defensive effort.
Tomey knows many challenges lie ahead in the rebuilding process of a program determined to become respectable again in the competitive Western Athletic Conference. As time expired, he hustled onto the field to high-five his players and pat them on the helmet.
Erik Meyer threw for 372 yards and two touchdowns for Eastern and Eric Kimble became the school's career receptions leader with his 13th 100-yard game, catching nine passes for 118 yards in the season opener for both teams. Raul Vijil had five catches for 121 yards and a TD.
The Eagles, who play in the Big Sky Conference, are expected to be among the top teams in Division I-AA and have 14 starters back from their 9-3 2004 squad.
Tafralis completed his first five passes, including a 20-yard TD strike to Skillern, the team's leading receiver from last season. He ran for touchdowns of 8 and 3 yards in San Jose State's 21-point third quarter that erased a 17-14 halftime deficit.
Yonus Davis rushed for 94 yards for the Spartans, including a career-long run of 43 yards in the second quarter that helped set up a 20-yard TD pass from Tafralis to John Broussard.
Tomey has the Spartans running his high-pressure, blitzing flex eagle defensive scheme - known at Arizona as Desert Swarm. San Jose State allowed 42.6 points per game on defense last year, most in Division I.
Tomey begins his 25th season as a college head coach, taking over his third program four years after resigning at Arizona. He replaces Fitz Hill, who resigned after the Spartans went 14-33 the past four seasons and 2-9 last year. The 67-year-old Tomey, the winningest coach at Arizona and Hawaii, was an assistant at Texas last season.
Isaiah Trufant recovered two fumbles for Eastern.
Former Spartan Neil Parry, who played again after breaking his leg while making a tackle during the 2000 season and having his right leg amputated just below the knee, did color commentary for the radio broadcast.
San Jose State inducted former 49ers and Stanford coach Bill Walsh into the school's athletic Hall of Fame along with seven others during a halftime ceremony.
A moment of silence was held before the game for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
