Sweeney Passes for 160 Yards in 36-7 Fresno State Win

Quarterback Kevin Sweeney moved closer to the NCAA Division I-A passing record Thursday night by completing 8 of 19 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown as Fresno State defeated Nevada Las Vegas, 36-7, in a Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. game.

Fresno State took a 16-0 lead with two touchdowns and a safety in the first quarter and was never in jeopardy.

Including Thursday night’s performance, Sweeney has passed for a career total of 10,276 yards, only 303 yards shy of Doug Flutie’s record of 10,579 yards set in 1984.

Junior Barry Belli kicked two field goals and four extra points to become the all-time PCAA kick scoring leader with 245 points.

The victory improved Fresno State’s record to 5-1 in the PCAA, 8-1 overall. Nevada Las Vegas fell to 1-4 in the conference, 4-5 overall.

The Bulldogs scored first-quarter touchdowns on a 31-yard run by Anthony Mosley and a 17-yard pass play from Sweeney to Gene Taylor.

The Bulldogs then recorded a safety when Rebel kick returner George Thomas downed the football in the end zone after he had already crossed the goal line.

A second-quarter field goal by Belli gave the Bulldogs a 19-0 halftime lead.

The Rebels’ only touchdown came in the third quarter on a five-yard pass play from Steve Stallworth to tight end Chris Bridges.