Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Colorado State
No. 8 Football Keeps BCS Hopes Alive
10/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 13, 2001
By AARON J. LOPEZ
AP Sports Writer
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Seconds away from being booted from Bowl Championship Series consideration, Fresno State found a way to keep its dream season alive.
David Carr led a game-tying drive in the final seconds of regulation and Asen Asparuhov kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime to give No. 8 Fresno State a 25-22 victory over Colorado State on Saturday night.
The win kept the Bulldogs (6-0) breathing in their improbable bid to crash the BCS. Playing in the watered-down Western Athletic Conference, Fresno State must go undefeated to have a chance at an at-large BCS berth in January.
"We have hopes," Carr said. "Right now I am enjoying this. Tonight took a lot of guts for us to do what we did. I thought before the game we were a BCS team. I still think we should be Top 5."
Carr, a senior who grew up dreaming of playing at Fresno State, completed three straight passes for 49 yards to set up Asparuhov's game-tying 48-yard field goal as time expired in regulation.
The drive came in front of a sellout crowd that included former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, who had 47 game-saving or game-winning fourth-quarter drives in his 16-year career.
"I saw him standing there the whole time," Carr said. "It was awesome. It picked me up being in this atmosphere."
After winning the coin toss heading into overtime, Fresno State's defense held Colorado State on downs, and Asparuhov again split the uprights for the victory.
"They came back us at the end and made some big plays, but our team has the heart of a champion," Bulldogs coach Pat Hill said. "This was a tough game to win for us."
Colorado State (2-4) appeared to have pulled off the upset when Bradlee Van Pelt capped an 83-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Pete Rebstock on fourth-and-9 with 27 seconds left.
The Rams converted the 2-point conversion to take a 22-19 lead, but the Bulldogs rallied behind Carr, who finished 28-for-37 for 389 yards and two touchdowns.
Fresno State, which has played its way into the national conscious by scheduling top teams on the road, has won four road games for the first time since 1991 and has few obstacles remaining as it plays out the season against the likes of Boise State, Utah State and San Jose State.
"I think we justified our ranking," tight end Alec Greco said. "You win a game on the road you deserve your ranking. We don't talk about the BCS. We come to win every week. That is all that matters to us."
Seven weeks after escaping with a season-opening two-point victory at Colorado, the Bulldogs found themselves in another tight game against Colorado State.
Fresno State trailed 14-13 before Carr found Greco all alone near the goal line to cap a 69-yard drive with 8:19 remaining.
Van Pelt, a first-year starter prone to making mistakes, brought Colorado State back, setting up the go-ahead touchdown with a 34-yard run. He finished with 141 yards on 14 carries to become the first Rams quarterback to rush for 100 yards since 1989.
Duan Ruff added 108 yards on 27 carries, and Colorado State finished with 322 yards on the ground. The Rams ran for 61 yards in a 7-2 loss to Louisville on Oct. 4.
"We played one of our better games," Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick said. "Van Pelt played better, and he made a couple of good runs. He gets better each game."
Asparuhov's 24-yard field goal gave Fresno State a 10-7 lead 3:12 into the third quarter, but Colorado State took a 14-10 lead on Van Pelt's 53-yard, tackle-breaking touchdown run 3:13 later.
The play became even more costly for Fresno State when starting defensive lineman Jason Stewart hit his head on the ground while trying to chase down Van Pelt. He was taken off the field in an ambulance and later diagnosed with a concussion.
Fresno State, playing for the first time in two weeks, scored on its first drive, with Paris Gaines' 57-yard run setting up a 3-yard touchdown catch by Stephen Spach.
The Rams, whose only points nine days ago came on a safety, tied the game 5:44 later when Henri Childs scored on a 5-yard run. The touchdown came one play after Fresno State jumped offsides on a Colorado State field-goal attempt.
Colorado State had 73 yards rushing in the first quarter, 12 more than in its loss to Louisville.
