Juan Villa / The Collegian

With a sea of red and “David Carr Nightâ€Â as a backdrop, the Fresno State Bulldogs trounced the Sacramento State Hornets 24- 3 in their season opener Saturday night at Bulldog Stadium.

The Fresno State defense held the Hornets to just 102 yards of total offense. Sacramento State̢۪s offense did not get a single first down in the first quarter of play.

“Except for the first drive of the second half, our defense played pretty darn good,â€Â said Coach Pat Hill. “We put our defense in a couple of bad field positions but I thought they did a great job in making sure they put the clamps down on Sacramento State’s offense.â€Â

The ‘Dogs’ offense didn’t look so bad either gaining 475 yards of total offense. Silencing his critics Saturday night was junior quarterback Tom Brandstater, who completed 16 of 27 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. Brandstater also showed some speed, rushing for 49 yards.

“I thought Tommy had great command of the passing game and did a good job with the ball,â€Â Hill said. “He ran the ball well too.â€Â

Brandstater̢۪s touchdown pass came towards the end of the first quarter when he hit junior tight end Bear Pascoe on a 27-yard, post-corner route to the back of the end zone to put Fresno up 7-0.

“One of the things we were concentrating on was getting back to playing physical Bulldog football,â€Â Pascoe said. “Watch our defense in how they played tonight. I hang my hat on being physical. It works out for me.â€Â

Pascoe ended his night with three receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Brandstater̢۪s favorite target Saturday was sophomore wide receiver Marlon Moore who caught seven balls for 70 yards.

On the ground, the Bulldogs gained a total of 280 yards. Hill went with a “tailback-by-committeeâ€Â approach against the Hornets; four running backs carried the ball for Fresno State.

“Everyone can see we have good running backs in the stable,â€Â Hill said. “When you rush the ball for 280 yards and throw it for right around 200 yards that is a good night.â€Â

Starting running back Lonyae Miller made the transition from Dwayne Wright seem minor. Miller ran the ball with authority, powering his way through the Hornet defense.

After Juan Gamboa made a field goal in the second quarter for the Hornets, Miller put the Bulldogs up 14-3 when he made an overpowering push up the middle for a 3-yard score. He ended the night with 58 yards rushing on 14 carries.

Also contributing on the ground was true freshman running back Ryan Matthews. The Bakersfield native carried the ball 11 times for 77 yards to lead the Bulldogs in rushing. Matthews would have broken 100 yards rushing had it not been for a penalty in the fourth quarter that brought back a 30-yard scamper.

“I needed the first carry to get my nervousness out of me, but after that I was real comfortable,â€Â Matthews said. “I have something to prove and I am going to keep doing what I know how to do.â€Â

Senior running back Clifton Smith got in on some of the action, rushing for 50 yards on seven carries with a touchdown. Smith looked like he had gained back the form he had in 2005 before his knee injury.

In the third quarter, Smith busted free on a 30-yard draw play down the field to put Fresno up 21-3. Senior kicker Clint Stitser would add a 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give the Bulldogs the 24-3 edge.

Fresno State accomplished their goal and didn̢۪t play down to the Division 1-AA level, but the Bulldogs̢۪ first true test will come this Saturday against No. 25 Texas A&M (1-0).

Not all was peachy keen. The Bulldogs had trouble with ball-handling, losing three of four fumbles and penalties, six for 43 yards.

“We need to get over the growing pains fast,â€Â Hill said. “We will need to improve for week two when we go into that hostile environment in College Station.â€Â