Sept. 16, 2000

Final Stats

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Jason Gesser threw four touchdowns passes to lead Washington State to a 38-21 victory over Utah on Saturday night.

The sophomore quarterback, who completed 11 of 18 passes for a career-high 211 yards without an interception, sparked the Cougars (1-1) with three first-quarter TD strikes for a 21-0 lead.

Gesser also scrambled for 37 yards, including several third-down conversions, and was sacked just once.

After trailing 21-7 at halftime, Utah (0-3) rallied with two touchdowns in a 21-second span in the third quarter. Cliff Russell scored on a 24-yard pass from Darnell Arceneaux, and cornerback Andre Dyson picked up Dave Minnich's fumble and ran untouched into the end zone to cut the lead to 28-21 with 9:43 left in the period.

After Utah botched its fourth field-goal attempt of the game with a bad snap, Washington State's Nick Lambert kicked a 32-yard field goal with 12:51 left in the game.

Minnich, who had a career-high 118 yards rushing, sealed the victory with a 36-yard touchdown run with 2:11 remaining.

Washington State converted five of six third downs and scored its first three possessions to stun Utah, which dropped to 0-3 for the first time since 1986.

First, Gesser bootlegged on fourth-and-2 and found Josh Shavies behind the defense for a touchdown. Then Gesser added two more long touchdown passes to Curtis Nettles and Milton Wynn.

Russell put Utah on the scoreboard with a 47-yard TD reception with 11:10 left in the half. The Utes lost other first-half scoring chances with three missed field goals and a penalty that nullified Steve Smith's 63-yard punt return.

Washington State led 28-7 at the half after Gesser hit Wynn again for a 57-yard touchdown play. Wynn had five catches for 119 yards in the first half.