Fresno State scored first, when Utah placekicker Cletus Truhe had his field goal attempt blocked. It was recovered by Fresno State cornerback Payton Williams and returned 75 yards for a touchdown, to make it 7–0 Fresno State. Running back Mike Anderson scored on a 34-yard touchdown run later in the 1st quarter to tie it at 7. He would finish the game with a Las Vegas Bowl record 254 yards rushing, and the game's MVP award. The second quarter would provide no scoring.
Kicker Jeff Hanna gave Fresno State a 10–7 lead in the third quarter with a 27-yard field goal. Mike Anderson would give the lead back to Utah with a 5-yard touchdown run, making it a 14–10 Utah lead. Fresno State scored in the fourth quarter, on a 2-yard touchdown run by Derrick Ward, but the all important extra point was blocked, leaving Fresno State with a 16–14 lead. Utah would later win it on a 33-yard Cletus Truhe field goal.
