CS Fullerton Ties San Diego St., 41-41, on Last-Second Field Goal

Phil Nevin gave up a six-figure contract offer from the Dodgers this summer in order to play for the Cal State Fullerton football team.

More difficult choices have been made, but few have resulted in a stranger finish than what Nevin brought to Saturday night’s 41-41 tie between the Titans and San Diego State.

Nevin kicked a 22-yard field goal as time expired to give the Titans their first tie since 1976.

The field goal was Nevin’s fourth in four attempts and concluded a rally in which the Titans twice came from behind in the fourth quarter.

Earlier, Nevin, a freshman from Placentia El Dorado High School, connected on field goals of 25, 24 and 42 yards in the first half.

Fullerton elected to go for the tie, calling its final timeout after a last-minute drive reached the San Diego State five with four seconds left.

While the crowd of 15,721--the smallest for the Aztecs in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium since the last game of the 1985 season--mustered what noise it could, Nevin calmly kicked the ball through the uprights.

“It’s just like any other field goal,” said Nevin, a shortstop who was selected in the third round of the June free-agent draft by the Dodgers. “You’ve got to put it through the uprights.”

Asked if he would have made the same choice as Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy and kick a field goal, Nevin replied: “I’m not sure. But I’m ready anytime he needs me.”

Murphy said he was not happy with the tie but was pleased with his team’s play.

“We improved light years from a week ago (a 42-14 loss at Colorado State),” he said. “We played a cerebral game and played like we’re capable. We kept our breakdowns to a minimum.”

The field goal ended a drive that began at the Fullerton 39 after a squib kick by the Aztecs, who had taken a 41-38 lead on freshman running back Darrin Wagner’s six-yard touchdown run with 2:34 to play.

Nevin’s kicking was the difference in a game otherwise dominated by two running backs.

Wagner was the leader for the Aztecs (0-2-1), rushing 22 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Pringle was the all-around star for the Titans (1-2-1).

Pringle rushed 25 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns and caught six passes for 34 yards and one touchdown. He also returned three kickoffs for 110 yards.

“The numbers are hollow because they are not backed up with a win,” Pringle said. “I’m not really happy with (the tie). We played San Diego State better than they played us.”

The Aztecs did their best to give the game away, committing five turnovers. They fell behind, 20-7, early in the second quarter and trailed, 23-21, at the half.

“It was despicable,” San Diego State Coach Al Luginbill said. “I don’t even have the words to explain that performance. I will do everything in my power not to allow it to happen again.”

During one stretch covering the end of the first half and beginning of the second, the Aztecs turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions--on a fumble by running back Ron Slack and two interceptions from passes thrown by quarterback Dan McGwire.

But when the Titans did not convert any of those scoring chances, it left an opening for the Aztecs.

McGwire pushed over from the one-yard line with 3:59 left in the third quarter to give the Aztecs a 27-23 advantage.

The Aztecs added to that on their next possession when McGwire completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to flanker Dennis Arey, a junior from Fountain Valley High School. The touchdown gave the Aztecs a 34-23 lead with 14:45 left.

Fullerton did finally take advantage of the Aztec turnovers when it eventually converted a fumbled snap from center by McGwire early in the fourth quarter into a 10-yard touchdown pass to Pringle from quarterback Dan Speltz.

Speltz then passed to wide receiver Rocky Palamara for the two-point conversion to draw the Titans within 34-31 with 7:52 left.

The Titans didn’t have to wait long for the next gift. On the Aztecs’ next play from scrimmage, Wagner fumbled and the ball was recovered by linebacker Shawn Forristall at the Aztec 20.

On the next play, Pringle, now wearing the No. 30 jersey of teammate Dan Briones because his was ripped on the previous touchdown, ran 20 yards for the touchdown and a 38-34 lead.

The fumble could have ruined what was an otherwise strong game from Wagner.

But on the next series he rushed six yards for the second touchdown with 2:34 to play.