Fresno State enhances its bowl prospects

Chastin West’s 49-yard punt return for a touchdown gave struggling Fresno State the spark it needed, leading the Bulldogs to a 24-10 Western Athletic Conference victory Friday night at San Jose State in what might have been a bowl elimination game.

Anthony Harding had two fourth-quarter touchdown runs and 99 yards rushing for Fresno (7-4, 4-3), which beat San Jose State (6-6, 4-4) for the 14th time in the last 15 games.

Both teams came into the game with the six wins necessary for going to a bowl game but were hoping to bolster their credentials with a strong performance on national television and in front of several bowl representatives.

Florida backup is arrested

Florida backup quarterback Cameron Newton was charged with stealing another student’s laptop computer after being arrested.

Newton was suspended from the team, spokesman Steve McClain said, and was being held in the Alachua County jail. He has been charged with felony counts of burglary, larceny and obstructing justice.

Etc.

Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel and the university are close to agreeing on a contract extension. Missouri spokesman Chad Moller says an agreement is being finalized but a deal is not complete. ESPN.com reported the extension would raise Pinkel’s salary to about $2.5 million. Pinkel’s contract, renegotiated last December, guaranteed $1.85 million per year through 2012. . . . Drew Willy threw two late touchdown passes to tie it and James Starks ran 25 yards for the winning score in double overtime to give Buffalo (7-4, 5-2) a 40-34 win over Bowling Green (5-6, 3-4) in a Mid-American Conference game at Bowling Green, Ohio. . . . Morgan Williams ran for 330 yards and three touchdowns to lead Toledo (3-8, 2-5) to a 42-14 win over Miami of Ohio (2-9, 1-6) in a MAC game at Toledo, Ohio.