Big West Roundup : New Mexico St. Rally Falls Short, 29-27

A two-point conversion pass from Phil Vinson with one second left sailed harmlessly through the end zone as Texas El Paso held on for a 29-27 victory over New Mexico State Saturday night at Las Cruces, N.M.

The Miners (1-2) took a 29-6 lead late in the third quarter, but Vinson rallied the Aggies (0-3).

Vinson, who completed 24 of 42 passes for 311 yards with two interceptions, threw a 50-yard scoring pass to Bennie Thomas in the third quarter to start the Aggie surge.

Vinson them connected with Thomas on touchdown passes of 24 and eight yards to close the score to 29-27. But he could not connect on the two-point conversion.

The Miners opened the scoring in the second quarter on a 10-yard pass from Howard Gasser to Reggie Barrett. Gasser extended the lead to 13-0 on a two-yard scoring run.

The Aggies narrowed the score to 13-7 before halftime on a 10-yard run by Anthony Singleton.

UTEP added 16 points in the third quarter. Dominick Cefalone kicked a 35-yard field goal, Kevin Caldwell scored on a 42-yard run and Alan Washington had a 5-yard scoring run.

Gasser was 9 of 27 passing for 121 yards and three interceptions. Scooter Menifee rushed for 103 yards on 24 carries.

Fresno St. 27, Pacific 14--Adrian Cooks rushed for two touchdowns and kicker Steve Loop added two field goals as the Bulldogs defeated the Tigers at Stockton.

Fresno State, 1-0 in conference and 3-0 overall, was led by quarterback Mark Barsotti, who completed eight of 19 passes for 118 yards, including a 43-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Dwight Pinckens in the fourth quarter.

Pacific, 0-1 and 0-3 under first-year coach Walt Harris, trailed the entire game.

One of Pacific’s two quarterbacks, freshman Troy Kopp, finished with 10 completion in 20 attempts and two touchdown passes. The other, freshman David Henigan, went six for 15.

Fresno State took a 3-0 lead into the second quarter and scored the only 10 points in that quarter to take a 13-0 lead to halftime.

Fresno State lengthened its lead to 20-0 on the strength of Cooks’ second touchdown run. Pacific scored on a three-yard touchdown pass from Kopp to Scott Lubow and a three-yard touchdown pass from Kopp to Bryan Baldwin.