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LOGAN, Utah (AP) -- Utah State scored 17 second-half points behind 114 rushing yards from running back Derrvin Speight and topped New Mexico State 27-22 Saturday.
Utah State (3-6, 1-4 Western Athletic Conference) took its first lead of the game with 9:07 to play in the game when quarterback Diondre Borel pitched to Eric Moats on an option run for a 12-yard score, giving USU a 24-20 edge. On its next possession, USU opted for a 24-yard field goal by Peter Caldwell rather then attempt a fourth-down play on the 2-yard line, to make the score 27-20.
New Mexico State (2-7, 1-4) tried to tie the game on a fourth-down play with 57 seconds to play, but USU's Quinton Byrd knocked down the pass attempt. NMSU's scoring in the second half came on a career-long 48-yard field goal by Tyler Stampler and a last-second safety as USU ran out the clock.
USU tied the game on a 3-yard run by Borel with 2:50 left in the third quarter, his sixth running TD of the season. The bulk of USU's running game, however, was carried by Speight, who carried the ball 19 times with a six-yard average per run and scored USU's only first-half touchdown.
Quarterback Matt Christian was responsible for two NMSU scores in the first half, running seven yards for a touchdown on NMSU's first possession. Later in the first quarter, he found Todd Lee on a 32-yard pass for a score, giving the visiting Aggies a 17-10 halftime edge.
Speight's 114 yards was the first 100-plus yard game of the season for a USU running back. USU also benefited from 201 kick return yards from Kerwynn Williams, including runs of 84 and 68 yards.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
