Fresno State Athletics
Spach To Play in East-West Shrine Game
1/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 14, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. - Bulldog tight end Stephen Spach, who will be recognized in Fresno State football history for scoring the overtime game-winning touchdown against No. 18 Virginia in the 2004 MPC Computers Bowl, has been added to the roster for the East-West Shrine game to be played Saturday at San Francisco's SBC Park.
Spach, a former walk-on from Clovis High School, finished a fabulous career with the Bulldogs in which he was selected Academic All-WAC three times. He is expected to be honored again when the 2004 team is announced later this month.
A three-year starter, Spach was well known for his blocking prowess and ability to make big plays. None were bigger in the 2004 season than his 25 yard touchdown catch and run on the final play of the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise. Spach caught a pass over the middle from quarterback Paul Pinegar and bowled over a defender at the goal line to score the game-winning touchdown in Fresno State's dramatic come-from-behind win over the 18th-ranked Cavaliers. That win catapulted the Bulldogs to a final ranking of No. 22 in the national polls.
"Stephen Spach is the epitome of a Bulldog," said head coach Pat Hill. "I'm so pleased he is getting another chance to prove himself. He was a self-made player, who did everything we needed. He is a great student, a very football player who was a big factor in our programs' success over the last five years."
The East-West Shrine Game will be shown live Saturday on ESPN at 11 a.m. Tickets are available to the game at SBC park.
