Zac Champion threw for three touchdowns in the first quarter and Danny Horwedel added two field goals and all three extra points as Louisiana Tech beat San Jose State 27-23 Saturday night.

The Spartans (4-7, 3-4 Western Athletic Conference) rallied from a 24-6 halftime deficit with 17 unanswered third-quarter points against Tech (5-6, 4-3) to end the quarter down one point, 24-23. But the Bulldogs' defense held in the fourth quarter, and Horwedel kicked a 41-yard field goal for the final margin.

Tech fumbled the ball away on the first play of the game, and San Jose State scored five plays later on a 28-yard field goal by Jared Strubeck, who finished with three field goals.

It was the Spartans' only lead, and it was short-lived. Less than four minutes later, Champion hit Shane Womack with a 3-yard pass to put the Bulldogs ahead for good, 7-3.

Champion's next two scores, a 49-yard pass to Phillip Livas, who finished with 129 yards on four catches, and a 6-yard toss to Philip Beck, gave Tech a 21-6 lead after one quarter. Horwedel's 20-yard field goal was the only score in the second quarter.

Then Tafralis hit James Callier with a 23-yard touchdown pass and ran four yards for another score, and Strubeck kicked a 22-yard field goal to keep the Spartans' hopes alive.

Tafralis finished 28-of-47 with 369 yards; Callier had 46 yards receiving and six rushing. Kevin Jurovich led San Jose State's receivers with 156 yards on 11 catches; Jacob French had 41 yards rushing on nine carries.

Champion was 22-for-36 with one interception for 261 yards; he had a net two yards rushing. Tech's rushers were led by Patrick Jackson, who had 77 yards on 16 carries, and William Griffin, with 63 yards on 10 carries.