Oct. 23, 1999
By TIM KORTE
AP Sports Writer
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Darnell Arceneaux passed for 266 yards and two touchdowns and Mike Anderson ran for 124 yards and two scores, leading Utah to a 38-16 victory over San Diego State on Saturday.
The Utes (6-1, 3-0 Mountain West) struck for two TDs in the final 3:08, both after the defense forced turnovers.
Defensive end John Frank sacked San Diego State quarterback Jack Hawley, forcing a fumble at the 5. The ball rolled into the end zone and tackle Garrett Smith recovered to give the Utes a 31-16 lead with 3:08 to play.
On the ensuing possession for the Aztecs (3-5, 1-3), Hawley threw a pass that was intercepted by Utah's Jason Potter at San Diego State's 37. Three plays later, Anderson ran for a 32-yard touchdown.
Utah won despite allowing San Diego State's Larry Ned to rush for a career-best 203 yards on 18 carries. Jonas Lewis added 83 rushing yards as the Aztecs gained 303 yards on the ground.
Coming in, it was a matchup of the Mountain West's top two defenses. The Utes had allowed an average 126.5 rushing yards and 300 yards per game while the Aztecs had held opponents to 282.3 yards per game.
Utah led 21-13 at halftime and the Aztecs missed several chances to make it closer in the second half.
After forcing the Utes to punt on their first possession of the third quarter, San Diego State reached Utah's 31. The drive ended when linebacker Wes Tufaga recovered a fumble by Lewis.
The Aztecs pulled within 21-16 on Nate Tandberg's 30-yard field goal with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter.
San Diego State's next drive ended when guard Ted Printy jumped offside on fourth-and-inches at the Aztecs 45. San Diego State didn't cross midfield again until the closing minute.
Utah extended the lead to 24-16 with 11:30 to play on a 32-yard field goal by Cletus Truhe.
The Utes lost starting defensive end Chuck Pine to a broken left leg late in the first half. Arceneaux, who reaggravated a sprained right foot, departed after Utah's third series in the third quarter but returned in the fourth.
Utah also played without reserve safety Patrick Dyson, who was charged with felony assault stemming from a traffic altercation on Aug. 8. Dyson was suspended after the Utah staff learned of the incident on Friday.
San Diego State's leading receiver, Damon Gourdine, reaggravated a sprained left foot in the first quarter and didn't return.