Bryan Cole / The Collegian

FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS 28, NEVADA WOLF PACK 41

Fresno State̢۪s inability to stop run, mistakes results in loss

The Bulldogs knew how much this game meant.

Fresno State desperately needed a win against the Nevada Wolf Pack Friday night to stay in the top half of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and to become bowl eligible.

The Bulldogs were unable to slow down their conference foe and fell to the Pack 41-28 at Bulldog Stadium.

With the loss, the Bulldogs dropped to 5-4 (2-3 in the WAC) on the season and are now fifth place in conference.

The Bulldogs knew they would need to stop Nevada̢۪s high-powered running attack to beat the Pack, and thought they had the right plan to do so.

“We felt that we had a good plan for their offense, but obviously we didn’t,â€Â coach Pat Hill said. “We got beat on the run game inside and we got beat on the perimeter.â€Â

The Bulldogs surrendered 472 yards on the ground and 600 total yards of offense. Nevada tailback Vai Taua ran for 263 yards and averaged 9.4 yards per carry against a Bulldog defense ranked No. 106 in the country coming into the contest.

Coming off a short practice week and suffering a significant amount of injuries in previous games this season, the Bulldog defense had difficulty keeping up with Nevada̢۪s pistol offense.

But Hill said that no matter the circumstances, he expects his team to win.

“The name of this game is winning. I have been in it for 36 years and I know that’s the name of the game,â€Â Hill said. “We did not do enough to win this football game. That’s the bottom line.â€Â

Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick frustrated the Bulldog defense with zone read and quarterback option plays that left the Bulldogs guessing all night.

Kaepernick rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns and threw 128 yards and a score.

The Pack controlled the clock, holding on to the football for 38 minutes of the game, including 13 minutes in the fourth quarter. The Nevada offense did not turn the football over while Fresno State had four turnovers on the night.

“We cannot win against a good football team if we turn it over four times, period,â€Â Hill said.

Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions.

Tight end Bear Pascoe had an uncharacteristic fumble in the third quarter for the Bulldogs. Fresno State was driving in Nevada territory down 17-14 and the fumble killed momentum and the comeback.

Nevada took advantage with a Kaepernick touchdown.

“I fumbled it. It’s all on me. I’ll take full blame for that, it’s my fault,â€Â Pascoe said.

Following the fumble, Nevada scored 14 unanswered points and Fresno State never got closer than 10 points for the rest of the game.

The Bulldogs did have a few bright spots on the night. Tailback Lonyae Miller led the Bulldogs with 60 yards rushing on the night and scored on a 34-yard misdirection counter in the third quarter.

2007 All-American kick returner A.J. Jefferson scored his first touchdown of the year on a 92-yard return to bring the Bulldogs within 10 points in the fourth quarter.

But the mistakes and defensive struggles were too much for the Bulldogs to overcome.

“If you look back on it, it’s a lot of mistakes made by us and that’s what happens when you make mistakes when you play good football teams,â€Â Brandstater said.

Brandstater, a sixth-year senior, expressed a need to keep his team together and avoid a meltdown like 2006 that ended in a 4-8 record for the ̢۪Dogs.

“As the [senior] leaders of this team, we have to keep everyone together and make sure people aren’t straggling away,â€Â Brandstater said.

The Bulldogs will again play at Bulldog Stadium this Saturday hosting New Mexico State. Fresno State is 1-3 this season at home, but sophomore linebacker Chris Carter is very confident his team will rebound next Saturday on Senior Day.

The Aggies have only one win in conference play this season.

“I can promise you that next weekend, and I can guarantee this, everybody is going to be playing their heart out next weekend. We are going to get a win next weekend against New Mexico State,â€Â Carter said.

Collegian Players of the Game

The Collegian hands out its game balls following every Fresno State football game:

̢ۢ Offense: Tailback Lonyae Miller РThe junior had a bum ankle, but was still able to gain 60 yards on six carries and had a 34-yard score.

̢ۢ Defense: Linebacker Chris Carter РCarter led the defensive unit with six solo tackles and had 11 total. He played the linebacker spot, but also split time at defensive end.

̢ۢ Special Teams: Kick returner A.J. Jefferson РJefferson picked up his first touchdown of the season on a 92-yard kick return and totaled 241 yards on kick returns.

Coming up next…

Fresno State̢۪s final home game is this Saturday against New Mexico State. The Bulldogs need one win to become bowl eligible, but will likely need seven wins to secure a bowl birth. The Aggies have only one win in conference play this season.