Oregon Survives Overtime To Beat Fresno State

Pacific-10

Tony Graziani hit Josh Wilcox on a 25-yard touchdown on Oregon’s first play in overtime to give the Ducks a 30-27 victory Saturday night against Fresno State in Fresno, Calif.

Fresno State had the ball first in overtime but settled for a 35-yard field goal by Armen Torigian.

Graziani, who had three touchdown passes in the game, led the Ducks on a last-minute drive from the Oregon 1 to tie the game with 42 seconds left on a 31-yard field goal by Joshua Smith. Graziani passed for 316 yards.

Oregon took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on an 88-yard pass from Graziani to Pat Johnson. Less than 2 minutes later, Oregon’s Kenny Wheaton picked off Jim Arellanes’ pass and returned it 70 yards for a 14-0 lead.

Michael Pittman, who ran for 151 yards and two scores, got Fresno State on the scoreboard with a 3-yard run 45 seconds into the second quarter. Fresno State had a chance to tie the game before halftime only to fumble at the Oregon 1 with less than a minute remaining in the half.

Arizona 23, Texas-El Paso 3

Quarterbacks Keith Smith and Brady Batten each led the Wildcats to a touchdown, and Matt Peyton kicked three field goals without a miss as Arizona opened the season with a victory over the Miners in Tucson, Ariz.

Smith, Batten’s backup for the time being, scored on a 5-yard keeper early in the second quarter, and Batten threw a 17-yard scoring pass to Mike Metzler late in the period as the Wildcats led 17-0 at halftime.

UTEP gained 166 yards in the game, 147 in the second half.

Arizona led 20-0 before Jon Olsen kicked a 49-yard field goal for the Miners with 6:11 left in the third quarter.