Long Beach Pulls Out Another on Its Final Play, 17-16

Split end Charles Lockett made a move and in a crucial instant was open in the end zone, his defender kneeling in despair.

Quarterback Doug Gaynor delivered the eight-yard pass and on their last chance of the night the Cal State Long Beach 49ers could call themselves cardiac kids for the third straight week.

And then their hearts skipped as they watched a last-second 45-yard field goal try by Boise State’s Roberto Moran sail straight toward the center of the goal posts but fall a yard short.

The 17-16 victory before 15,509 fans here Saturday night was the third comeback victory in a row for the 49ers.

“Good teams find a way to win and hopefully that means we’re a good team,” Long Beach Coach Mike Sheppard said.

But the 49ers (3-2) had not been that good most of the night against the Division I-AA Broncos (2-3), and with nine minutes to play found themselves on their own four-yard line and trailing, 16-10.

But Gaynor drove his team 96 yards with the help of an interference penalty on a third-and-goal pass from the Boise State 17.

That set up a first and goal on the two, but the 49ers lost six yards in three plays.

“We just kill ourselves,” Gaynor said.

And then they always seem to come back from the dead.

Gaynor completed 25 of 33 passes for 264 yards and 2 touchdowns. Lockett caught seven passes for 88 yards.

Long Beach led, 3-0, at halftime, but Boise State, relying on tailback Jon Francis (122 yards in 22 carries) drove 85 yards on its first possession of the third quarter to lead, 7-3, on a two-yard run by quarterback Hazsen Choates.

A nine-yard pass from Gaynor to fullback Mark Templeton put Long Beach back in the lead, 10-7.

But Choates threw a four-yard touchdown pass to fullback Dale Goodwin, and the Broncos led, 14-10.

On the ensuing kickoff, Sheldon Gaines of the 49ers was tackled in the end zone for a safety, setting the stage for the Long Beach comeback.