Fresno State Athletics
Carr, Asparuhov Help Keep No. 8 Football's Dream Alive
10/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 14, 2001
By AARON J. LOPEZ
AP Sports Writer
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) - Fresno State appeared to be finished, its BCS aspirations all but gone.
With 27 seconds remaining and the Bulldogs down by a field goal against Colorado State, Fresno State's bid to play among the nation's elite in the Bowl Championship Series did not look good.
Bulldogs quarterback David Carr had other ideas.
"The game was on the line and I didn't care how much time was on the clock," Carr said. "All that was on my mind was to go the distance."
Inspired by seeing John Elway on the sideline, Carr directed a game-tying scoring drive in the final seconds, 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 Rams (2-4) had taken a three-point lead on a 21-yard touchdown catch by Pete Rebstock on fourth-and-9.
"This is why you play football," Carr said. "I didn't have any doubts. When they scored, I thought about coming back."
The Bulldogs (6-0) remained undefeated through a tough early schedule that included victories over No. 14 Colorado, Oregon State and Wisconsin.
Rice (5-1) is the toughest opponent left on Fresno State's schedule. If the Bulldogs can handle the Owls and avoid an upset in the Western Athletic Conference, they can finish the season 13-0.
If Fresno State can run the table, its two games in Colorado will surely be among the most memorable victories.
The Bulldogs intercepted a pass in the end zone in the game's final minute to preserve a two-point victory over Colorado on Aug. 26, and escaped against Colorado State thanks to Carr's poise and Asparuhov's accuracy.
"We work every Thursday and Sunday on one-minute, one-timeout drills from the 35-yard line," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. "Usually in one minute we score a touchdown. Twenty-seven seconds? All we needed was a field goal, so it was half the drill."
