Gaynor Sparks Long Beach to Win Over Las Vegas

Quarterback Doug Gaynor forgot about his sore wrist and rallied Cal State Long Beach to a 28-24 victory over Nevada Las Vegas before 21,816 at the Silver Bowl Saturday night.

“It hurt, but when the adrenaline flows, you just play,” said Gaynor, who threw two touchdown passes in the second half as the 49ers came back from a 21-7 deficit to tie the game.

Martin Sartin’s touchdown on a one-yard run with 4:07 to play gave the 49ers the win after Las Vegas had taken a 24-21 lead.

Gaynor had not practiced during the week because of a sprained wrist, but he threw with his usual effectiveness. He completed 26 of 37 passes for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns, and also made two important runs that aided the final two scoring drives.

The victory gave the 49ers their first Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. victory against two defeats and made their overall record 2-2. Las Vegas fell to 0-2 and 1-3.

Long Beach is getting used to making comebacks. Last week, it defeated Hawaii, 33-30, after trailing, 23-0.

“When we were down, 21-7, we actually felt comfortable,” Gaynor said. “We knew we were not going to give up.”

The Rebels took the lead on the second play of the game when George Thomas got behind the 49er secondary and quarterback Steve Stallworth hit him on a 71-yard touchdown pass.

Las Vegas later took advantage of a nine-yard punt by Dana Ramsey (from the Long Beach 8-yard-line to the 17) to quickly increase its lead to 14-0. Stallworth scored the touchdown on a two-yard run.

Gaynor, after a slow start, drove the 49ers 66 yards late in the first quarter, hitting Charles Lockett on a 22-yard touchdown pass to cut the Rebels’ lead to 14-7.

But a seven-yard pass into the end zone from Stallworth to Thomas capped a 94-yard drive and gave Las Vegas a 21-7 halftime lead.