WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ROUNDUP : San Diego State Rallies, Edges Texas El Paso

Dan McGwire, plagued by interceptions throughout the night, scored on a one-yard run midway through the fourth quarter Saturday to give San Diego State a 34-31 Western Athletic Conference victory over Texas El Paso.

McGwire, who entered the game ranked ninth in the nation in passing efficiency, had six passes intercepted, including three that led to UTEP scores.

But his winning touchdown, with 8:17 left, capped a 14-play, 80-yard drive.

San Diego State improved to 4-3-1 overall, 2-2 in the WAC. UTEP is 2-7 and 1-4.

The Miners’ Dominick Cefalone was short on a 58-yard field-goal attempt that would have tied it with 1:44 remaining.

UTEP led 21-7 after one quarter. Howard Gasser passed 62 and 45 yards to Reggie Barrett for two touchdowns, and linebacker Ken Sale returned an interception of a pass from McGwire 27 yards for another.

But San Diego State answered with 17 second-quarter points, starting with McGwire’s nine-yard pass to Robert Claiborne. Andy Trakas kicked a 35-yard field goal and Darren Wagner scored from the five-yard line.

The Aztecs amassed 554 yards of total offense but had seven turnovers.

Wyoming 24, New Mexico 23--Quarterback Tom Corontzos threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to halfback Dabby Dawson in the fourth quarter and the Cowboys held on for the win at Albuquerque, N.M.

The Cowboys’ victory wasn’t secure until New Mexico quarterback Jeremy Leach, passing for the two-point conversion attempt, hit the crossbar. Leach had thrown an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Terance Mathis as time ran out to close the score to one point.

The touchdown pass was tipped by Wyoming linebacker Vaughn Henderson, but Mathis, who became the all-time National Collegiate Athletic Assn. leader in career receiving yardage, grabbed the ball in the middle of the end zone.

New Mexico, which has lost four games this season by seven points or fewer, went for the victory, but Leach could not find an open teammate and finally fired a pass that sailed into the crossbar.

Wyoming improved to 3-5 overall and 3-2 in the conference. New Mexico, losing its seventh in a row, is 1-8 and 0-5.

Mathis finished with eight catches for 110 yards to move past Marc Zeno of Tulane in all-time receiving yardage. Mathis now has 3,772 yards. Zeno had 3,725 yards from 1984-87.

Leach, who completed 26 of 50 passes for 343 yards, threw an 82-yard touchdown pass to Eric Morgan, and wide receiver Mike Henderson scored in the first half on a 33-yard reverse.

Colorado State 50, Utah 10--Tony Alford ran for a WAC record 310 yards and three touchdowns as the Rams won at Salt Lake City.

Alford scored on runs of 54, 42 and 63 yards and broke the conference rushing record of 302 yards, set by Kevin Lowe of Wyoming against South Dakota State in 1984.