Utah State was a touchdown behind an injury- and controversy-wracked UNLV early in the second quarter Saturday night, and the Aggies, who had lost five straight games after being named the Big West Conference's preseason favorite, had just lost a fumble near their own goal line.
"We got in our goal line stance, and Jermaine Younger caused a fumble," said Aggie defensive back Michael Coe, who eventually tracked down the loose ball and ran 75 yards for a touchdown to spark Utah State to a vitally needed victory.The Aggies, who have been no good at winning close games, had to hang on by their fingernails after going 20 points ahead, but they did finally win, 33-26.
Late in the fourth quarter, UNLV converted three straight fourth-down plays, scored, recovered an onside kick, converted a fourth straight fourth-down play and kicked a field goal to cut the lead to seven with 1:58 to play.
Just like in last week's loss to Nevada, USU just needed to run the clock out. Last week, the Aggies couldn't do it. Saturday they managed to hold on just long enough, getting down to a fourth-and-1 situation but able to let the clock run out.
"We'll take the win. That was a hard-fought football game," said Aggie coach Charlie Weatherbie, whose team moves to 2-1 in Big West play to keep alive its chances of returning to the Sam Boyd silver Bowl, where this game was played, on Dec. 18 for Silver Bowl II. "Our kids found a way to win a close one. They let them get back in the game there a couple times and shouldn't have, but the kids fought hard, wanted to win and won the game."
"It was ugly, but I'll take it any way I can get it," said linebacker Younger, who also had an interception as turnovers were UNLV's eventual downfall.
Aggie running back Profail Grier rushed 29 times for 209 yards, 11th-best game total in USU history, and scored two touchdowns. "The offensive line told me before the game that they didn't get me 200 yards last week, but they were going to get me 200 this week," said Grieg. "I give all the credit to the offensive line." Grier was again the featured running back because James Dye, with whom he alternates, sat out with a hip pointer.
Grier's two touchdowns gave USU a 23-10 halftime lead that jumped to 30-10 early in the second half when quarterback Anthony Calvillo (20-for-40-181 yards) threw his only TD pass of the game, 30 yards to Kevin Alexander. That was at 12:24 of the third quarter, and USU managed only a 30-yard Nate Morreale field goal in the fourth quarter after that while UNLV sprang to life.
San Jose State 31, La. Tech 6
In San Jose, Calif., a school-record six interceptions, including three by safety Troy Jensen, sparked San Jose State to victory over Louisiana Tech and to sole possession of the Big West lead.
SW Louisiana 33, N. Illinois 19
In De Kalb, Ill., Tim Sensley's 59-yard interception return for a touchdown started a 17-point fourth quarter that carried Southwest Louisiana to victory.
Arkansas St. 15, Mississippi St. 15
At Starkville, Miss., Jeff Caldwell kicked a 22-yard field goal with nine seconds to play to give Arkansas State a tie.