Sports

College football

Nevada tops No.16 Fresno State

Associated Press
Published November 27, 2005

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RENO, Nev. - Robert Hubbard ran for 146 yards and three touchdowns and Jeff Rowe hit Nichiren Flowers for a 12-yard score with 1:29 left as Nevada upset No.16 Fresno State 38-35 Saturday to claim at least a share of the Western Athletic Conference title.

Paul Pinegar threw a 3-yard touchdown to Matt Rivera, then a two-point pass to Joe Fernandez to make it 38-35 with 31 seconds left, but Nevada's Anthony Pudewell recovered an onside kick.

Pinegar completed 30-of-45 passes for 405 yards and four touchdowns a week after Fresno State put a scare into top-ranked USC before falling 50-42. The Bulldogs already have accepted an invitation to play in the Liberty Bowl.

Fernandez had nine catches for a career-record 150 yards.

Nevada (8-3, 7-1) forced two turnovers in the final seven minutes to overcome 17 straight points in the second half by Fresno State (8-3, 6-1). The Bulldogs close the season Friday hosting Louisiana Tech.

The victory snapped Fresno State's 12-game WAC winning streak and guaranteed the Wolf Pack a bowl berth in its first winning season since 1998.

UTEP loss sets up UCF vs. Tulsa in C-USA title game

DALLAS - Jerad Romo threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns as Southern Methodist beat Texas-El Paso 40-27, costing the Miners a trip to the Conference USA Championship Game.

UTEP, which had seven turnovers, lost its second straight after needing one victory to clinch a share of C-USA's Western division. Instead, Tulsa plays at Central Florida for the conference title on Saturday in Orlando.

DeMyron Martin rushed for 117 yards for SMU, which had 24 consecutive points in one stretch and scored more than 30 for the first time this season.

Jordan Palmer was 27-of-44 for 360 yards and threw three touchdowns for UTEP, but also threw four interceptions and fumbled twice, setting up 10 Mustang points.

MEMPHIS 26, MARSHALL 3: DeAngelo Williams surpassed 100 yards rushing for the 33rd time for Memphis, tying him with Tony Dorsett of Pitt and Ohio State's Archie Griffin for the most career 100-yard games in NCAA history. Williams rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns as the host Tigers became bowl eligible. Marshall (4-7) finished its first losing season in 22 years.

E. CAROLINA 31, UAB 23: James Pinkney threw for two touchdowns and scored on a 24-yard keeper in the fourth quarter for the host Pirates, who denied the Blazers a shot at bowl eligibility.

SOUTHERN MISS 26, TULANE 7: Dustin Almond threw for 276 yards and a touchdown and Darren McCaleb kicked four field goals to help the host Golden Eagles become bowl eligible in a game pushed back from Sept.4 by Hurricane Katrina.

UTAH ST. 24, NEW MEXICO ST. 21: Justin Hamblin hit a 32-yard field goal with 1:16 left for visiting Utah State, leaving New Mexico State (0-12) one of two Division I-A teams to finish the season winless. Temple finished its 0-11 season on Nov.19.

HOUSTON 35, RICE 18: Kevin Kolb became Houston's all-time offensive leader as the host Cougars beat their crosstown rival to become bowl eligible. Kolb, a senior, has 9,530 career all-purpose yards, surpassing the 9,327 by quarterback David Klingler (1988-91).

GRAMBLING ST. 50, SOUTHERN 35: Bruce Eugene threw for 418 yards and six touchdowns and ran for a score to lead Grambling State over its rival in the Bayou Classic. The game, normally played in the Louisiana Superdome, was played in Houston.

Division I-AA playoffs

FURMAN 14, NICHOLLS ST. 12: Former Florida quarterback Ingle Martin overcame a sluggish passing game and Brandon Mays had 61 yards rushing to lead the host Paladins. Martin scored from the 1 with 8:06 left and finished 5-of-12 for 68 yards and one interception.

NEW HAMP. 55, COLGATE 21: Ricky Santos threw for three touchdowns and ran for a career-high 176 yards and a score to lead No.1 New Hampshire into the second round.

TEXAS ST. 50, GA. SOUTHERN 35: Host Texas State scored the final 34 points, 27 in the fourth quarter, to erase a 35-15 deficit. Barrick Nealy had four touchdowns passing and one rushing for Texas State.

CAL POLY 35, MONTANA 21: James Noble rushed for 188 yards and a touchdown in each quarter for visiting Cal Poly.

S. ILLINOIS 21, E. ILLINOIS 6: Arkee Whitlock ran for three touchdowns for the visiting Salukis.

APP. ST. 34, LAFAYETTE 23: Williams threw two fourth-quarter touchdowns to Daniel Bettis, breaking a 20-20 tie, for host Appalachian State.

[Last modified November 27, 2005, 01:18:21]