SJSU's Johnson wins defensive honor for second time

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For the second time this season, senior defensive end Travis Johnson has been named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Johnson recorded eight tackles including three for a loss of 15 yards in SJSUs shutout 12-0 victory over Navy on Saturday. Johnson also forced a first-quarter fumble at the SJSU nine yard line, the deepest Navy drive into Spartan territory of the entire game. What impresses me the most about Travis Johnson is every day he comes to work, head coach Mike MacIntyre said Monday. He shows up every Saturday. I dont think there has been a Saturday since Ive been here he hasn't shown up. Hes the heart and soul of our defense. Johnsons performance heavily aided the Spartans to their first shutout in nine years when they beat Grambling State 29-0 in 2003 at Spartan Stadium. It was their first road shutout victory since a 42-0 win at UNLV in 1988 and is the seventh road shutout in school history. Anytime you shut out someone its pretty amazing in todays football with all the scoring points you see all the time, MacIntyre said. Its looks like the total if youre holding somebody until 50 youre doing a good day the way this weekend went.Johnson has recorded a tackle for a loss in 11 straight games, the most by any active FBS player. He ranks second in the nation with 7.5 sacks and third in tackles for a loss with 12.5. An SJSU player has now been recognized by the WAC for the fourth consecutive week. First it was Johnson in week two, then linebacker Vince Buhagiar the following week for defensive performances and kick returner Tyler Ervin took special teams honors last week.Freshman kicker Austin Lopez was nominated for Special Teams Player of the Week for converting 4-of-4 field goals and scoring all of SJSUs points on Saturday. Junior tight end Ryan Otten was nominated for Offensive Player of the Week. Otten caught eight passes for 94 yards. INJURY REPORTBoth linebacker Keith Smith (ankle) and wide receiver Jabari Carr (turf toe) did not play in Saturdays win but should be able to use this weeks bye to recover in time for Utah State on Oct. 13. MacIntyre said Carr could have played Saturday but said he wasnt quite there. He added that if the team would have suffered an injury, Carr could have seen some time.As for Smith, MacIntyre said the team decided he was ready to go on Saturday but said Smith was walking around on it fine Monday and should get back to football activities by the end of this week.We came out of the game with some bumps and bruises, some guys have to take it off here for a few days to give them some rest but theyll be able to go Sunday, MacInyre said.RANKING SJSU received four votes in Sundays USA Today Poll Coaches Poll and is now ranked 38th in the country. The team is 4-1 for the first time since 2006, the year the team went on to win the New Mexico Bowl.

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