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LOGAN, Utah (AP) - Matt Austin scored on a 21-yard pass from Adam Kennedy with less than a minute remaining as Utah State came from behind to top San Jose State 34-33 Saturday.
Utah State (4-5, 2-2 WAC) outscored San Jose 27-13 in the second half to clinch its third consecutive win over the Spartans (3-7, 2-4).
USU scored two touchdowns late in the game on pass plays after turning the ball over three times early in the fourth quarter with two fumbles and an interception. USU blocked a 67-yard field goal attempt by San Jose with five seconds remaining in the game to seal the comeback win.
Robert Turbin scored two touchdowns for USU, one in each half, and Michael Smith added a third running touchdown for the Aggies on a 77-yard run late in the third quarter. Kennedy amassed 255 yards on 21 of 27 passing.
San Jose was led by quarterback Matt Faulkner who passed for 340 yards on 27 of 49 attempts. Jens Alvernick kicked a school-record four field goals for San Jose.
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The Spartans had a difficult time running the ball, gaining a paltry 54 yards on 30 carries.
Tyler Ervin gave San Jose a 13-7 lead early with a 95-yard kickoff return for touchdown, the Spartans' first since 2005. San Jose led 20-7 at halftime.
The Spartans scored first in the game when Alvernick hit a 27-yard field goal on the Spartan's first possession.
After a 42-yard kickoff return by Chuck Jacobs, Kennedy fumbled on USU's first offensive series while stretching for a first down on a running play. USU had five turnovers in the game.
San Jose scored a second field goal after the turnover. Turbin, though, scampered 39 yards to put the Aggies up 7-6, a lead they quickly relinquished to the Spartans when Ervin scored on the ensuing kickoff return.
San Jose continued their first-quarter scoring spree when Brandon Rutley scored on a 5-yard run, ending the first quarter with a 20-7 lead.
Neither team scored in the second quarter as USU squandered a 90 yard-plus drive with a missed field goal and surrendered an interception to San Jose.
Ryan Otten caught four passes for 64 yards in the first half for six overall. Otten came into the game leading the nation with catches by a tight end.
Kennedy made his first career start for USU after replacing injured Chuckie Keeton in the second quarter at Hawaii last Saturday. USU topped Hawaii 35-31 after the Kennedy-led Aggies overcame a 28-7 deficit.
The field at Romney Stadium had to be cleared by snowplows to begin the game. Though sunshine had broken through by halftime, conditions remained cold and slippery.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APTV-11-12-11 1733MST
