Utah State Wins First by Beating CS Fullerton

Before Saturday, Utah State was an ailing team, winless in four games and last in the nation in total offense and total defense among Division I teams.

But Cal State Fullerton rolled into Romney Stadium Saturday, and the Titans proved just the tonic.

Utah State scored more points than it had in its first four games combined, taking a 34-23 Big West Conference victory in beating Fullerton for the first time since 1982.

Utah State was averaging eight points a game and giving up 43, and had lost to USC, 66-10, and Illinois, 41-2.

Fullerton had scored 75 points in its past two games, a tie against San Diego State and a victory over Nevada Las Vegas.

But Saturday the Titans struggled.

Fullerton lost despite a record-setting performance by Dan Speltz, who passed for 481 yards, breaking the school record set by Tom St. Jacques in 1981 by 144 yards.

Speltz attempted 52 passes and completed 42, the latter a school and Big West Conference record.

Fullerton took a 7-0 lead on the first possession, and then Utah State took over, dominating Fullerton’s defense. By midway through the third quarter, Utah State led, 20-7.

Fullerton narrowed the lead to 20-17 just before the fourth quarter, but Utah State regained control by scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Fullerton’s final score came with four minutes left.

Speltz’s favorite target was Rocky Palamara, who caught 13 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown, setting a school record for receptions in a game and becoming the Titans’ career leader in receptions with 101, and yardage, with 1,594.

Speltz did not have a pass intercepted for the third week in a row. He had nine in the first three games.

But Speltz’s success--and the Titans’--often came between the 30-yard lines.

Fullerton (2-3-1) outgained Utah State, 510 yards to 404.

The Titans’ inability to drive deep put an end to a flawless season by freshman kicker Phil Nevin, who hadn’t missed a field goal attempt until Saturday. The Titans asked Nevin to try three field goals of 50 yards or more, and he missed each one. He made one field goal, a 35-yarder, and had another blocked.

“These things happen,” Nevin said. “No one said I would be perfect this year.”

Utah State stymied the Fullerton running game, holding the Titans to 29 yards in 20 carries.

Utah State quarterback Kirk Johnson threw for 297 yards, completing 26 of 42 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions. He also ran for two touchdowns, including a 17-yard scramble on a broken play.