Last-Second Field Goal Gives Utah State Upset Over Long Beach, 19-17

Utah State took advantage of a late fumble and defeated favored Cal State Long Beach, 19-17, on a 17-yard field goal by Dene Garner with three seconds to play Saturday night before 8,621 at Veterans Stadium.

With 1:35 to play and the 49ers trying to protect a 17-16 lead, fullback Mark Templeton caught his 14th pass of the game but was hit and fumbled at the Long Beach 19.

The Aggies quickly drove to the 1, where they were stopped twice before calling on Garner, who had already kicked three field goals.

Long Beach quarterback Doug Gaynor, who completed 41 of 52 passes for 354 yards, took the blame for Templeton’s fumble.

“I threw it too high,” Gaynor said. “He didn’t see it coming and just got nailed.”

Aggie linebacker Al Smith, who had 15 tackles, did the nailing and also recovered the fumble.

Templeton said: “It was a decent pass, I guess I wasn’t ready for it.”

Templeton’s fumble was one of five 49er turnovers.

“We hurt ourselves,” said Long Beach Coach Mike Sheppard, repeating the words he used throughout most of last season.

“We thought he (Templeton) would be the least likely to give it up. I feel so sorry for him because he’s a solid and dependable person.”

Utah State, down 10-3 at halftime, took a 13-10 lead on a 39-yard run up the middle by Glen Crawford.

Trailing 16-10, the 49ers overcame numerous penalties and took the lead late in the fourth quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Gaynor to Troy Ory.

Gaynor’s 41 pass completions broke the school record of 35 that had been held by Todd Dillon and Paul McGaffigan.