The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
64°F
Current Conditions
Overcast clouds
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Fresno does it again

Fresno State's Stephen Spach rolls over Virginia's Tony Franklin and into the end zone for the winning TD in overtime. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Tim Korte Associated Press
Fresno State's Stephen Spach rolls over Virginia's Tony Franklin and into the end zone for the winning TD in overtime. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

BOISE – Paul Pinegar shrugged off midseason criticism and kept throwing for touchdowns.

Pinegar had five TD passes, including the game-winning 25-yarder to Stephen Spach in overtime, as Fresno State beat No. 18 Virginia 37-34 in the MPC Computers Bowl on Monday.

“Winning feels great, especially against a Virginia team that has a great defense,” Pinegar said.

He was fabulous, completing 23 of 36 passes for 235 yards without an interception, helping the Bulldogs (9-3) erase a 21-7 second-quarter deficit and notch another win against a big-name team.

Fresno State, the third-place team in the Western Athletic Conference, added the Cavaliers (8-4) of the Atlantic Coast Conference to a list of victims that has included Colorado, Oregon State, Wisconsin, Washington and Kansas State in recent years.

Pinegar’s five touchdown passes were a record for the game, formerly known as the Humanitarian Bowl.

Virginia got the first possession of overtime, taking a 34-31 lead on a 26-yard field goal by Connor Hughes.

It didn’t take Pinegar long to end it, though. He froze the defense with a play-action call and zipped a pass inside the 5 to Spach, who fought off a pair of would-be tacklers and rolled over cornerback Tony Franklin and into the end zone.

“We ought to be able to cover a post pass when we know it’s a post pass situation,” Virginia coach Al Groh said.

The Bulldogs stormed off the sideline in celebration while the Cavaliers were left dazed.

“When you catch the ball in that situation, you’re just looking for the end zone,” Spach said. “You just keep on running. I knew I was really close.”

Virginia took a late seven-point lead when Wali Lundy followed his blockers and rumbled across the blue turf at Boise State’s home field on a 20-yard TD run that put the Cavaliers up 31-24 with 6:20 remaining.

But Pinegar wasn’t finished. He started on the 17, turning to the ground game and working the clock to give Fresno State a chance to tie.

On fourth-and-goal from the 3, Pinegar rolled right and connected with Jaron Fairman for a TD with 11 seconds to go. The PAT tied it at 31.

“My last option was to tuck it and run, but that would have been tough sledding to get in,” Pinegar said.

“We never panicked when we were down 14 points,” said Pinegar, who was harshly criticized when Fresno State lost three straight games after a 3-0 start. “We knew we just needed to stop making mistakes.”