BIG WEST ROUNDUP : Utah State Pulls Off Upset of Fresno State

Fresno State was upset by Utah State, 20-19, Saturday in a Big West Conference game at Logan, Utah, as Sean Jones kicked a 45-yard field goal with 51 seconds left and Donald Toomer intercepted a pass as time expired to preserve the victory.

The Bulldogs, who came into the game undefeated and ranked No. 25, continued a pattern in which they can’t seem to avoid the big upset.

Two years ago, a 45-22 loss at New Mexico was the only blemish on an 11-1 record. Last year, the Bulldogs rolled to five impressive victories before losing to Northern Illinois, 73-18.

Fresno State is 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big West. Utah State, coming off a 7-6 loss to Cal State Long Beach, is 2-6 and 2-2.

Jones, who kicks off and is used only on long field goals, was 0 for 5 this season before lining up for his last-minute attempt.

“It was the shortest one I’ve ever tried,” Jones said. “I knew it was long enough, but it barely was.”

Fresno State Coach Jim Sweeney said: “It was a hard game. Utah State has a much, much better football team than their record implies.”

The Aggies took a 17-16 lead with 28 seconds left in the third quarter when Damon Smith picked up a fumble by Lorenzo Neal and returned it 37 yards for a score.

Derek Mahoney kicked field goals of 27, 37, 37 and 42 yards for Fresno, which led 10-0 in the second quarter.

Utah State first scored on a 15-yard pass from Ron Lopez to Rod Moore with 11:15 left in the half. Lopez was a Los Angeles City Player of the Year at Franklin High and also played for Glendale College.

San Jose State 55, Las Vegas 12--Sophomore Jeff Garcia, replacing injured Matt Veatch, threw five touchdown passes for the Spartans (5-3, 5-0) at San Jose.

Garcia completed 22 of 33 passes for 277 yards and no interceptions.

Veatch, who suffered a knee injury against California in the previous, is expected to be back in the starter’s role against Cal State Fullerton next Saturday.

“I stand behind Matt Veatch; he’s our starter,” Spartan Coach Terry Shea said. “But Jeff showed he’s a hell of a quarterback.”

UNLV (3-5, 1-3) had five turnovers--four fumbles and an interception--and San Jose converted all of them into points.

Maceo Barbosa caught two touchdown passes and ran for another score and David Blakes caught seven passes for 101 yards and two scores.