Titans Close, but Not Close Enough, in Loss to Pacific

STOCKTON —  That anyone could second-guess Cal State Fullerton’s play-calling in the final minutes is a sign of progress for the Titans, who have won five football games in the last three seasons and haven’t been in position to win many others.

Victory was there for the taking Saturday in University of the Pacific’s Stagg Memorial Stadium. The Titans simply failed to take it.

Pacific, which couldn’t stop Fullerton for much of the afternoon, had two defensive stands in the final eight minutes to hold off the Titans, 23-20, in a Big West Conference game before 7,412.

Eddie Ausherman’s third field goal of the day, a 25-yarder with 8:24 to play, broke a 20-20 tie.

Quarterback Troy Kopp, in his first start in more than a month, completed 22 of 35 passes for 295 yards and a touchdown to lead the Tigers, 3-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference.

Fullerton (2-7, 0-4) had excellent field position at its 41 after Ausherman’s last field goal, but failed to gain a first down in three plays and punted.

The Titans then stopped Pacific, forced a punt and took over on their 25-yard line with 3:59 to play.

Three running plays up the middle netted six yards and cost more than a minute.

On fourth and three from the 32, Trendell Williams’ pass over the middle intended for tight end Gerry McDonald was intercepted.

“It wasn’t one of those games we could have won--we should have won,” Titan Coach Gene Murphy said. “We had been successful running up the middle and were trying to do it again on the last possession. I wanted to get the first down and then go (for a touchdown), similar to what we did (in a 14-10 victory on Oct. 17) against Southwestern Louisiana.”