CS Long Beach Wins, 7-6, When Beach Has Off Day

Utah State kicker Doug Beach missed an extra-point attempt and then slipped and fell as he attempted to kick a go-ahead field goal late in the game Saturday night, and Cal State Long Beach hung on for a 7-6 Big West Conference victory at Veterans Stadium.

Long Beach, 2-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference, scored with 5:20 left in the first quarter on an eight-yard pass from Todd Studer to Mark Seay. The 10-play, 62-yard drive was highlighted by a 30-yard run by tailback Reggie Webb.

Sean Cheevers, who kicked the extra point for Long Beach, missed a 30-yard field-goal attempt 33 seconds before halftime.

Utah State defensive tackle Rob VanDePol intercepted Studer’s pass with 1:23 remaining in the third quarter and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown. But Beach, an all-Big West first-team selection last season, was wide to the left on the extra-point attempt.

With nine minutes remaining, Utah State began its final drive at its one-yard line. The drive stalled at the 49er 24 with 3:23 left, and that’s when Beach set up for a 40-yard field-goal try. But as he approached the ball, Beach slipped and fell on his back. The kick fell short of the goal line.

“It wasn’t his fault,” said Long Beach Coach Willie Brown. “He’s a good kicker. It was the weather. Anytime it rains at Veterans Stadium it’s in our favor.”

Utah State fell to 1-6 and 1-2.