Yonus Davis certainly savors the chance to line up in the San Jose State backfield on game nights.

In fact, there isn't much Davis doesn't appreciate when it comes to being a part of the Spartans program as he takes his second shot at a senior season.

“;It's a blessing to be able to get this year back,”; Davis said. “;Every practice, every film, everything I do right now is going out and attacking it the best way I know how.”;

Davis, who ran for 1,007 yards in 2006, was granted a sixth year of eligibility after an ankle injury ended his 2007 season after just three carries.

He's been in the program since 2003 and is looking forward to his final chance to score a win over Hawaii (1-2) when the Spartans (2-2) visit Aloha Stadium tomorrow for a Western Athletic Conference clash.

Davis ran for 66 yards on 11 carries and scored a touchdown in a breakout performance against UH in 2005, though UH pulled out a 45-38 win in San Jose.

He was then held to 29 yards the following year in Honolulu, a 54-17 Warriors rout, and the injury kept him out of last year's overtime thriller won by UH.

So far in his comeback season, the 5-foot-8 Davis is the Spartans' leading rusher with 293 yards, and his career average of 5.9 yards per carry ranks fifth in the nation among active players.

“;They missed Yonus last year,”; Hawaii linebacker Adam Leonard said. “;He's a real good scatback who makes people miss, and if he gets a corner he can take it all the way to the house.”;

Davis remains the feature back in a Spartans offense that underwent a makeover in the offseason. San Jose State is running from a single-back spread formation this year, a shift from the two-back West Coast system of previous years.

“;(The SJSU coaches) want to put people in space, match them up with linebackers and DBs and let them make plays,”; Davis said.

The offense has also benefited from the emergence of quarterback Kyle Reed. Since taking the reins in SJSU's opener against UC Davis, the California transfer has been the most accurate passer in the nation, completing 79.4 percent of his throws, and rushing for four touchdowns.

Not too shabby considering he hadn't played in three seasons, missed spring practice with a broken bone in his foot and entered fall camp third on the depth chart.

“;His performance and his progress have been quite startling to everyone,”; San Jose State coach Dick Tomey said.

Said Davis: “;I would say he puts the defensive coaches under pressure every week.”;

Davis and Reed will try to ignite a Spartans attack that has endured an uneven start to the season.

The Spartans piled up 476 yards in total offense, 143 covered by Davis, in a win over San Diego State. But they struggled in the second half of a 23-10 loss at Stanford last week.

“;It's a game-by-game thing,”; Davis said. “;You put it behind you and just keep improving.”;

Davis was a teammate of former Hawaii receiver Davone Bess at Skyline High School in Oakland, Calif., and continues to keep in contact with Bess, now the Miami Dolphins' primary kick returner.

“;I've talked to him some; he's doing real well over there,”; Davis said.

Davis said it had been a little while since he touched base with Bess, but “;he'll probably call me some time this week.