PCAA Roundup : San Jose Scores Twice in Final Minute to Upset Fresno, 45-41

Quarterback Mike Perez threw 5 touchdown passes, including a 26-yarder to Lafo Malauulu with 18 seconds remaining, as San Jose State upset 19th-ranked Fresno State, 45-41, Saturday in a Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. game at San Jose.

The Spartans (3-2) scored twice in the final 42 seconds as they ended the nation’s longest major college unbeaten streak. The Bulldogs (3-1) had won their last 11 games and hadn’t lost in 15 games, having one tie last season.

Perez completed 33 of 53 passes for 433 yards, and San Jose receiver Guy Liggins caught 15 passes for 203 yards.

Fresno State’s Kevin Sweeney, who completed 13 of 23 passes for 337 yards, had scoring bombs of 30, 45 and 84 yards to Stephen Baker to rally the Bulldogs from an early 24-0 deficit.

After Fresno scored 31 straight points, San Jose tied the score, 31-31, with 10:47 left on Kenny Jackson’s six-yard run. But on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Sweeney and Baker teamed on an 84-yard touchdown pass to give Fresno a 38-31 lead. It was 41-31 with 1:15 left after a 49-yard field goal by Barry Belli.

But Perez threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Liggins with 42 seconds left to pull the Spartans within three points. Two plays after a successful onside kick, Perez connected with Malauulu.

Utah St. 42, New Mexico St. 9--Freshman quarterback Mark Smith scored one touchdown and passed for another, and sophomore running back Timo Tagaloa ran for two touchdowns in a PCAA game at Logan, Utah.

UC Davis 45, Pacific 41--Chris Petersen completed 30 of 40 passes for 355 yards and 4 touchdowns, including 10-yarder to tight end Chris Mandeville with 39 seconds remaining, as the Aggies (3-0) won a nonconference game at Stockton.