San Jose State pulls off huge comeback to beat Stanford

SAN JOSE, Calif. » Yonus Davis rushed 184 yards and San Jose State rallied from a three-touchdown deficit to stun Stanford 35-34 yesterday.

Adam Tafralis passed for one touchdown and ran for another as the Spartans (1-1), playing in front of the third-largest home crowd ever, won its fifth consecutive home opener.

Trent Edwards threw a career-high four touchdown passes, two of them to Evan Moore, but Stanford lost to San Jose State for the first time since 2001.

The Cardinal (0-2) took advantage of a botched kickoff return and dropped punt to help score 27 straight points in the first half.

Moore caught four passes for 84 yards as Stanford played without senior receiver Mark Bradford, who left the game early with a right foot injury.

Washington State 56, Idaho 10

PULLMAN, Wash. » Alex Brink threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Cougars (1-1) routed the Vandals (0-2), spoiling Idaho coach Dennis Erickson's return to the Palouse.

Idaho was slowed by turnovers, penalties and sloppy play to ruin Erickson's return to the Martin Stadium sidelines, where he was Cougars coach in 1987-88. He returned last spring to Idaho -- where he coached from 1982 to 1985 -- after a year's hiatus from football.

Arkansas 20, Utah St. 0

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. » Darren McFadden carried 20 times for 184 yards as the Razorbacks (1-1) defeated the Aggies (0-2), while last year's high school player of the year, Mitch Mustain, played efficiently but conservatively in his first college start.

A larger-than-expected crowd turned out to see Mustain, named the nation's top prep player by Parade magazine, USA Today and Gatorade after throwing for 3,817 yards and 47 touchdowns for Springdale High School last year.

New Mexico 34, New Mexico State 28

LAS CRUCES, N.M. » Backup Chris Nelson threw three touchdown passes, New Mexico's defense forced five turnovers and the Lobos (1-1) held off a late rally by the Aggies (1-1).

Nelson replaced starter Kole McKamey, who went out with a knee injury on the third play of the game, and delivered one big pass after another. His last touchdown, a 61-yarder to Marcus Smith with 10:44 left in the game, turned out to be the game-winner as the Aggies scored two late touchdowns behind another brilliant passing performance by sophomore Chase Holbrook.

Holbrook, who went into the game leading the nation in passing, completed a school record 37 of 56 passes for 472 yards and four touchdowns.

Alabama 13, Vanderbilt 10

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. » Freshman walk-on Leigh Tiffin hit a 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, lifting the Crimson Tide (2-0, 1-0 Southeastern) to a victory over the Commodores (0-2, 0-1).

Subbing for an injured Jamie Christensen, Tiffin became the unlikely hero as the Crimson Tide extended its winning streak over the Commodores to 18 games despite an array of drive-killing mistakes.

Vandy appeared to force another one, sacking John Parker Wilson for a 13-yard loss on third and 8.

Alabama coach Mike Shula, who had earlier called for a fake field goal rather than have Tiffin try a 41-yarder, turned to him to win the game. The son of famed former Tide kicker Van Tiffin sent a line-drive through the uprights with 7:34 left.

Iowa State 16, UNLV 10

AMES, Iowa » UNLV players, angry that officials ruled Shane Steichen's pass into the end zone on the final play incomplete, refused to leave the field for about 15 minutes following Iowa State's victory.

The Rebels (1-1) congregated at midfield, yelling at officials and shaking their helmets before coaches were finally able to convince them to head to the locker room.

The bizarre sequence of events began on the game's second-to-last play, when UNLV's Casey Flair recovered his own fumble on the Iowa State 11 following a catch. The Cyclones (2-0) asked for a replay to determine whether Flair had even made the catch, but the call was upheld and the Rebels had one last shot with 7 seconds left.

Steichen threw the ball into a gaggle of players at the back of the end zone. The players from Iowa State acted as if the game was over, but Aaron Straiten then came out of the end zone holding the ball.

Officials ruled that the pass was incomplete, setting off the protests from UNLV.

Purdue 38, Miami (Ohio) 31, OT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. » Kory Sheets scored four touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Boilermakers (2-0) beat the Redhawks (0-2).

Sheets scored his final touchdown of the game on an 11-yard run during Purdue's only overtime possession, giving the Boilermakers the 38-31 lead. Miami got to the Purdue 8-yard line on its OT possession, but Purdue's defense held for the win.

E. Illinois 31, Indiana St. 21

CHARLESTON, Ill. » Micah Rucker caught six passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Panthers (1-1) past the Sycamores (0-2).

The Sycamores were up 9-3 in the third quarter when Eastern Illinois scored three times to take command of the game.