San Jose State Spartans vs UNLV Rebels Box Score on Oct 10, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Oct 11, 2015

LAS VEGAS -- Senior running back Tyler Ervin scored on a 2-yard run to give San Jose State a 33-27 overtime win over UNLV in a Mountain West Conference game Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Ervin's winning score came four plays after UNLV kicker Nicolai Bornand, who had sent the game into overtime, had a 43-yard attempt blocked by junior defensive end Isaiah Irving on the opening possession of overtime.

Ervin, who finished with 73 yards on 18 carries and also caught eight passes for 74 yards and a TD, carried the ball four straight times for the Spartans (3-3, 2-1) on their overtime possession -- the last one a 2-yarder off right tackle to win it.

Junior quarterback Kenny Potter completed 30 of 48 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns to lead San Jose State, which snapped a seven-game road losing streak dating back to a 27-20 loss at Wyoming on Oct. 18, 2014.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for UNLV (2-4, 1-1). Sophomore quarterback Kurt Palandech, making his first college start in place of injured starter Blake Decker, threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns, but he completed just 15 of 30 passes and threw two interceptions.

San Jose State appeared to have won the game late in regulation when Potter hit Ervin with a 21-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-10 play with 1:08 remaining.

But UNLV drove 43 yards in nine plays to tie it on Bornand's 49-yard field goal with 11 seconds left.

UNLV used a strong running game while building a 10-0 first-half lead and dominated action for most of the first 25 minutes, at one time holding a 163- 30 edge in yards.

But momentum swung in a big way when San Jose State sophomore safety Maurice McKnight picked off Palandech's pass and returned it 54 yards to the Rebels' 11-yard line. Potter then hit junior tight end Billy Freeman over the middle on the next play to tie it at 10-10.

After a three-and-out by the Rebels, the Spartans came right back with a five-play, 75-yard drive, highlighted by a 42-yard pass from Potter to junior wide receiver Tyler Winston. After a fake to senior running back Tyler Ervin that drew the entire Rebels defense to him, Potter ran 20 yards untouched off left tackle to give San Jose State a 17-10 halftime lead.

NOTES: UNLV was looking to snap a five-game losing streak to San Jose State dating back to a 23-10 win in 1994 in Las Vegas when both teams were still in the Big West Conference. ... San Jose State entered the contest with 13 rushing touchdowns, two more than the Spartans had in the 2014 season. ... Spartans punter Michael Carrizoza entered the game leading the nation in punting with a 52.2 average on 18 punts, including nine inside the 20.