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LOGAN, Utah (AP) -- Freshman quarterback Riley Nelson threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Robinson with 55 seconds remaining Saturday to lead Utah State to its first victory, 13-12, over Fresno State in the Western Athletic Conference.
Nelson, who graduated from Logan High School, made his first start for the Aggies (1-5 1-1).
The winning touchdown came after Clint Stitser's 29-yard field goal gave Fresno State (1-4, 1-1) a 12-7 lead with 3:56 to play.
Nelson marched the Aggies to Fresno State's 18 with 1:28 left. He hit Robinson in the end zone for what appeared to be the go-ahead score, but the touchdown was scratched when the receiver was called for pass interference.
But Nelson got another chance, hitting Robinson on a third-and-22 play to win the game.
In the first quarter, he threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Cross on a screen play, giving the Aggies a 7-0 lead.
Fresno State tied the score in the third quarter on a 60-yard pass from Tom Brandstater to Chastin West. The Bulldogs also got a safety when Utah State's Ryan Wilson snapped the ball over the head of punter Leon Jackson III, who kicked the ball out of the end zone.
Stitser missed two field goals for Fresno State, from 42 yards and 27 yards.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-10-07-06 2145MDT
Fresno St. 0 0 7 5 --12 Utah St. 7 0 0 6 --13 First Quarter USU--Cross 54 pass from R.Nelson (Hamblin kick), 1:32. Third Quarter Fre--West 60 pass from Brandstater (Stitser kick), 9:04. Fourth Quarter Fre--Safety, 11:59. Fre--FG Stitser 29, 3:56. USU--K.Robinson 30 pass from R.Nelson (run failed), :55. A--10,701.
Fre USUFirst downs 15 11 Rushes-yards 34-164 36-147 Passing 155 120 Comp-Att-Int 13-27-0 9-19-0 Return Yards 12 37 Punts-Avg. 7-38.4 8-29.4 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards 6-49 6-75 Time of Possession 32:41 27:19
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING--Fresno St., Wright 26-138, Brandstater 3-16, Harding 4-6, Smith 1-4. Utah St., Cross 20-93, R.Nelson 14-76, K.Robinson 1-8, Team 1-(minus 30). PASSING--Fresno St., Brandstater 13-27-0-155. Utah St., R.Nelson 9-19-0-120. RECEIVING--Fresno St., West 5-91, Fernandez 3-39, Pascoe 2-26, Ciccone 1-9, Tapia 1-0, Wright 1-(minus 10). Utah St., Cross 5-71, K.Robinson 3-45, O.Nelson 1-4.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-10-07-06 2147MDT
