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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) -- Sophomore quarterback Matt Brennan threw a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to rally No. 5 Cal Poly to an 18-14 victory over Southern Utah in a Great West Football Conference opener Saturday night.
Cal Poly improved to 4-1 on the season, while Southern Utah fell to 3-2.
Brennan completed six of 16 passes for 116 yards and two scores. Mustang running back James Noble rushed for 130 yards on 27 carries, his third 100-yard game of the season and 11th of his two-year Mustang career.
Cal Poly overcame a 14-3 deficit on Brennan's 38-yard scoring pass to Tredale Tolver with 12:08 to play and a 19-yard scoring pass from Brennan to Ramses Barden with 3:00 to go.
Southern Utah's Johnny Sanchez rushed for 49 yards on 14 carries and Kyle Coop added 41 yards on 12 trips. Quarterback Wes Marshall completed nine of 29 passes for 116 yards and one score, but was intercepted three times and sacked four times. Joey Hew Len caught four passes for 38 yards for the Thunderbirds.
Cal Poly jumped to a 3-0 lead on Nick Coromelas' 26-yard field goal with 6:45 to go in the first quarter.
But Southern Utah answered with a 31-yard scoring pass from Marshall to Larue Burley with 1:08 to go in the second quarter, taking a 7-3 lead at halftime.
The Thunderbirds increased their lead to 14-3 when Brian Kofoed blocked a Coromelas punt and Rob Takeno scooped up the loose ball and scampered 11 yards for a touchdown with 1:29 remaining in the third period.
Cal Poly's comeback was sparked by two Southern Utah turnovers.
Mark Cordes recovered a Thunderbird fumble and, on the next play, Brennan hit Tolver with the 38-yard scoring pass.
Joe Wighton intercepted a Marshall pass to set up Brennan's 19-yard winning touchdown pass to Barden.
Other Mustang interceptions were recorded by Cordes and Randy Samuel.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-09-30-06 2246MDT
