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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, September 21, 2008

No. 25 Fresno State stops Toledo in OT

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Fresno State's Ryan Mathews (21) is stopped just short of the end zone during the first overtime against Toledo. Fresno State won, 55-54, in double overtime.

J.D. POOLEY | Associated Press

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TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo's Tom Amstutz could see that his players didn't have much left.

That's why he decided to go for a two-point conversion and the victory against No. 25 Fresno State at the end of two overtimes.

It didn't work.

Nico Herron knocked down Aaron Opelt's pass and the Bulldogs held on to beat Toledo, 55-54, last night.

Amstutz decided to go for the win after the Rockets scored on Opelt's 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end John Allen on fourth down to make it a one-point game.

Opelt was pressured on the final play and forced the ball into coverage.

"Our players were tired," Amstutz said.

Players were cramping up and Amstutz worried it was getting too risky to continue on, he said.

"It was time to decide the game," Amstutz said. "I would do it again just the same way, other than we would catch it."

Opelt agreed with his coach.

"I loved it," the quarterback said. "If he gives us that confidence, it makes us feel good as an offense."

In the first overtime, the Rockets (1-2) needed just two plays to jump in front 48-41.

Receiver Nick Moore caught a lateral and then threw a strike to a leaping Stephen Williams at the 1. Opelt then dived over for a touchdown.

Tom Brandstater answered with his fourth touchdown pass, a 6-yard throw to Isaac Kinter that tied it at 48.

The Bulldogs (2-1) from the Western Athletic Conference got the ball first in the second overtime and took just three plays to go in front 55-48. Anthony Harding's 23-yard run took the ball to the 2 and Brandstater then dived in on a 1-yard sneak.

Toledo's Alex Steigerwald sent it into overtime with a 33-yard field goal with 15 seconds left.

Fresno State will host Hawai'i Oct. 4.

WAC TEAMS

UTAH STATE 42, IDAHO 17: Robert Turbin ran for 123 yards on 15 carries and scored one of three fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead the Aggies (1-3, 1-0) over the Vandals (1-3, 0-1) at Logan, Utah. Utah State will host Hawai'i Nov. 1, while Idaho will play at Hawai'i Nov. 22.

NEW MEXICO STATE 34, UTEP 33: Chase Holbrook passed for 329 yards and five touchdowns, including three TD tosses to wide receiver Marcus Anderson, as the Aggies (1-1) edged the Miners (0-3) at El Paso, Tex. NMSU hosts Hawai'i Nov. 8.

STANFORD 23, SAN JOSE STATE 10: Tavita Pritchard passed for 159 yards and rushed for a touchdown as the Cardinal (2-2) rallied to beat the Spartans (2-2) in the Bill Walsh Legacy Game at Stanford, Calif. SJSU plays at Hawai'i on Saturday.

LOUISIANA TECH 41, SE LOUISIANA 26: Daniel Porter caught a 44-yard touchdown pass and scored on a 23-yard run to help the host Bulldogs (2-1) pull away from the Lions (2-2) at Ruston, La. LaTech plays at Hawai'i Oct. 11.

UH OPPONENTS

WASHINGTON STATE 48, PORTLAND STATE 9: Third-string quarterback Marshall Lobbestael came off the bench to throw two touchdown passes as the Cougars (1-3) crushed the Vikings (1-2) at Pullman, Wash. WSU plays at Hawai'i Nov, 29.

CINCINNATI 45, MIAMI (OHIO) 20: Junior quarterback Tony Pike, making his first career start, passed for 241 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Bearcats (2-1) over the RedHawks (1-3) at Cincinnati. The Bearcats play at Hawai'i Dec. 6.

WEBER STATE 32, SACRAMENTO STATE 27: Cameron Higgins, a Saint Louis School alum from Hawai'i, threw for 380 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Wildcats (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky) past the Hornets (2-2, 0-1) at Sacramento, Calif. Weber State lost to Hawai'i, 36-17, on Sept. 9.