COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Rockies Roundup : Colorado Wins on Aunese’s Pass, 27-23

Sal Aunese threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Mike Pritchard with 38 seconds left Saturday to boost unbeaten Colorado to a 27-23 victory over winless Colorado State at Fort Collins, Colo.

The touchdown capped a 10-play, 63-yard drive for the Buffaloes (4-0) that began after Colorado defensive end Alfred Williams sacked Colorado State quarterback Scooter Molander on fourth and 2 at the Buffalo 31-yard line.

On the winning drive, a pass interference penalty gave Colorado a first down at the Colorado State 17. Three plays later, Aunese rolled to his left and hit Pritchard for the game-winner.

Colorado was ranked No. 2 in the nation in rushing, but managed just 104 yards in 42 carries. Eric Bieniemy, who topped 100 yards in each of the first 3 games, was held to 67 in 21 attempts.

Colorado State is 0-4.

Texas El Paso 38, Utah 28--Substitute tailback Willie Fuller ran for 173 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Miners weathered a 463 yards passing by Utah’s Scott Mitchell for the Western Athletic Conference victory at El Paso, Tex.

Mitchell hit 40 of 65 attempts for 463 yards with 3 touchdowns for Utah, which cut a 31-10 deficit to 31-28 late in the game. But Doug Morgan intercepted Mitchell in the final minute, and Fuller’s 8-yard touchdown run iced the game.

Fuller, who filled in for the injured John Harvey, and quarterback Pat Hagerty, who threw for 226 yards, helped the Miners (4-1 overall and 1-1 in the WAC) stave off a second-half comeback by Utah (1-3 and 0-2).

Air Force 63, New Mexico 14--Greg Johnson scored 3 touchdowns and Andy Smith and Al Booker each had 2 scores to lead Air Force to the rout in a Western Athletic Conference game at Colorado Springs, Colo.

Anthony Roberson and Rodney Lewis each scored 1 touchdown for Air Force (3-2 overall and 2-2 in the WAC. New Mexico fell to 1-4 and 0-1.

Air Force scored 5 straight touchdowns, 4 in a 28-point second period, for a 42-7 halftime lead.