BIG WEST ROUNDUP : Fresno State Routs New Mexico State

Aaron Craver ran for three touchdowns as No. 24 Fresno State defeated New Mexico State, 45-5, Saturday in a Big West Conference game at Las Cruces, N.M..

The victory was Fresno’s 17th in a row; and New Mexico State has lost 16 consecutive games.

Fresno State (10-0 and 7-0) had already clinched the Big West title and a berth in the California Raisin Bowl. The 17 victories is the second-longest streak in the nation behind Notre Dame’s 22 in a row.

New Mexico State (0-10 and 0-6) has the longest losing streak in Division I-A. The Aggies must beat Pacific next week to avert the school’s first winless season since 1954.

Fresno State was the first nationally ranked team to play at Aggie Memorial Stadium in its 11-year history.

Fresno State gained 343 rushing yards. Craver, a 215-pound junior from Compton, scored on runs of 19, three and 41 yards and gained 132 yards in 13 carries.

Myron Jones, from Chatsworth, scored on a 24-yard run and had 118 yards rushing.

Dwight Pickens returned a punt 75 yards for another touchdown. Craver’s replacement, Tim Lewis, scored on an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter.

San Jose State 33, Utah State 7--Quarterback Ralph Martini threw for 288 yards and one touchdown to lead the Spartans to a Big West victory at Logan, Utah.

San Jose State (5-4 and 4-1) broke the game open early in the fourth quarter when defensive back Paul Franklin intercepted a Kirk Johnson pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown to put the Spartans up 19-7.

Utah State is 3-6 and 3-2.

Nevada Reno 45, UNLV 7--Fred Gatlin, a freshman from Carson, passed for 323 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Wolf Pack over the Rebels in a nonconference game at Reno.

Treamelle Taylor returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown and scored on a 43-yard pass play for Nevada Reno (6-4).

Las Vegas fell to 4-5.