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LOGAN, Utah (AP) -- Frank Summers scored on an 11-yard run with 1:02 remaining and UNLV rallied to win its first road game in nearly three years, beating Utah State 23-16 Thursday in the season opener for both schools.
Quarterback Travis Dixon ran for 129 yards and a touchdown and Sergio Aguayo kicked three field goals for the Rebels, who scored 20 points in the second half and ended a 15-game road losing streak. UNLV won on the road for the first time since beating Brigham Young on Oct. 8, 2004.
The Rebels held Utah State to 98 yards in the second half and sealed it when Kevin Robinson fumbled the kickoff after Summers' touchdown.
Dixon overcame a dismal first half, when he passed for just two yards and UNLV managed only 49 yards of offense. The Rebels finally started to wear down Utah State's defense in the second half and finished with 314 yards of offense.
Dixon finished 12-for-20 for 141 yards and ran for 108 yards in the second half, including a 15-yard scoring run that put UNLV ahead 16-10 with 12:46 left to play.
Leon Jackson completed 13 of 19 passes for 137 yards for Utah State, and answered Dixon's touchdown run, scoring on a 1-yard run with 8:23 remaining to tie it at 16. Utah State missed the extra point, but UNLV avoided overtime with a game-winning drive from the Utah State 36-yard line.
UNLV drove to the 11, where Dixon handed it off to Summers and the 240-pound back broke one tackle and ran through everybody else that stood between him and the goal line.
UNLV also had to overcome 12 penalties in its first road win under coach Mike Sanford.
Utah State, which went 1-11 a year ago, led 10-3 at halftime after a 2-yard run by Aaron Lesue and a 38-yard field goal by Peter Caldwell as time ran out in the second quarter. Robinson set it up with a punt return to the 21, getting tripped up with 1 second left in the quarter.
Aguayo kicked field goals of 48, 30 and 22 yards for UNLV.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
