Long Beach Is Beaten by Fresno

Cal State Long Beach lost its first Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. game of the season, falling to Fresno State, 25-12, Saturday night before 34,283 at Bulldog Stadium.

Barry Belli kicked four field goals, and tailback James Williams rushed for 171 yards to lead Fresno State, which led, 22-0, before Long Beach scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

The Bulldogs are 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the PCAA. The 49ers are 3-3 and 2-1.

Fresno State quarterback Kevin Sweeney, in pursuit of Doug Flutie’s NCAA career passing record of 10,579 yards, completed 15 of 23 passes for 164 yards and 1 touchdown to boost his total to 9,927 yards--652 behind Flutie with four games left.

The Bulldogs scored first on a 44-yard field goal by Belli with 4:37 left in the first quarter. Fresno made it 9-0 when Sweeney hooked up with tight end Paul Pflug on a 42-yard scoring play in the second period. Belli’s extra-point kick was blocked.

Belli’s 29-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the half gave the Bulldogs a 12-0 lead.

Belli added a 38-yarder with four minutes left in the third quarter for a 15-0 lead.

In the first minute of the fourth quarter, James Williams scored from the five to make it 22-0.

The 49ers countered when quarterback Jeff Graham connected with Kwante Hampton on a four-yard scoring pass and, with seven minutes left, Graham found wide receiver Tyrone McCulloch on a 22-yard touchdown pass play. Both of Long Beach’s two-point conversion efforts failed.

Belli kicked his final field goal with 59 seconds left.

The 49ers were limited to minus 36 yards on the ground while the Bulldogs rushed for 275 yards.

Long Beach had minus 19 yards on offense in the second quarter but came back gain 245 yards in the second half.

The Fresno defense sacked Graham seven times. The Bulldogs have 51 sacks this season.

Graham, completed 21 of 45 passes for 361 yards with 3 interceptions. Charles Lockette had 6 receptions for 197 yards.