Last Play Spoils the Day for Long Beach, Graham

Jeff Graham, trying to add a final touch to an illustrious career at Cal State Long Beach, had a 2-point conversion pass tipped away Saturday with 12 seconds left as Nevada Las Vegas held on to defeat the 49ers, 42-41, in front of 2,014 in Veterans Stadium.

Graham, who had thrown his 42nd touchdown pass to draw Long Beach to within 1 in the Big West Conference finale, failed to complete the potential game-winning play when Las Vegas’ Gerald Robinson knocked away a pass intended for receiver Brian Browning.

Against the Rebels, Graham, a 6-foot 4-inch quarterback from Costa Mesa, completed 33 of 47 passes for 396 yards and 3 touchdowns. For his career, he surpassed Todd Dillon and Doug Gaynor to become the 49ers’ all-time leader in pass attempts, completions, passing yardage and total offense.

And when he hit Kelly Ryan from 4 yards to culminate a 97-yard march in the last-minute rally, he overtook Jack Reilly, who had thrown 41 touchdown passes.

But victories were more difficult to achieve for Graham and the 49ers, who were hurt by not having a recruiting season 2 years ago when the school almost dropped football.

The team finished 3-9 overall and 3-4 in conference play, its worst record since 1981.

“Even with the loss there’s a bright future,” Coach Larry Reisbig said. “Our program is starting to come back, starting to build.”

Finishing a lackluster season, Las Vegas (4-7, 3-4) rallied twice in the second half. After Stan Davis’ 83-yard kickoff return that gave the 49ers a 28-24 lead, the Rebels drove 71 yards for a touchdown, then took advantage of a fumble to kick a field goal for a 34-28 lead.

Graham put the 49ers back on top, 35-34, when he hit Derek Washington in the end zone, but the Rebels scored again with a 63-yard drive late in the fourth quarter, capped by Tommy Jackson’s 7-yard sweep around right end.

Las Vegas scored a 2-point conversion on a pass from Richard Williams to Darin Brightmon with 1:51 left, a play that proved crucial.

“I messed up early; if I don’t, we win,” said Graham, whose fumble and interception led to 2 first-half touchdowns for Las Vegas.