Brianna Campbell / The Collegian
Fresno State Bulldogs (4-3, 3-1 WAC) vs. Utah State Aggies (2-5, 1-2 WAC)
Breakdown: Bulldogs
Fresno State comes into this game on a three-game winning streak, its first three-game winning streak since October 2007. The ’Dogs started the season with a lowly 1-3 record, but showed resilience and recovered, saving the season.
The difference in 2009 compared to years in the past – health. At the end of an injury-plagued 2008 season, head coach Pat Hill said that he and his staff would reevaluate its offseason strength and conditioning regiments in an effort to keep playmakers on the field for an entire season.
Whatever changes were made, they have seemed to help the ’Dogs achieve their goal of keeping their best players healthy, including tailback Ryan Mathews. The nation’s leading rusher hasn’t finished a complete season in his time at Fresno State (knock on wood), but will make his eighth start tomorrow.
Mathews, as he has in every game this year, will be the key to offensive success for Fresno State. He is averaging 161 yards per game, and could again go for his average. Utah State’ rush defense gives up 197.4 yards per game, No. 109 in Football Bowl Subdivision.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs will need to play sound team defense and rally to the ball every single play. Fresno State’s rush defense has traditionally struggled against dual-threat quarterbacks and will need to play fast on the edge.
If not, fans may be looking at an old-fashioned WAC shootout, which would only help tailback Ryan Mathew’s stats.
Breakdown: Aggies
Last time the Aggies and the Bulldogs met, it took a 58-yard field goal as time expired to settle the game. Fresno State’s Kevin Goessling booted a kick of redemption, giving the ’Dogs a 30-28 victory and breaking the Aggies’ hearts in the process.
Utah State hasn’t forgotten what happened in 2008 and will be ready for retribution this time around. The Aggies come to town as 17-point underdogs, but they should still give the Bulldogs’ defense fits.
According to Fresno State coach Pat Hill, the Bulldogs will have their hands full trying to slow down quarterback Diondre Borel in the Aggies’ spread offense.
“I think their quarterback is really a dynamic guy,” Hill said. “His first game was against us last year.”
Borel had 267 total yards against the Bulldogs last season in his first start for the Aggies, but most importantly, he had two touchdowns and no turnovers.
In 2009, Borel is second in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in passing yards per game, averaging 240 per outing. He is fifth in the WAC in passer efficiency with a 135.5 passer rating through five games.
Standing by his side in their spread formations is tailback Robert Turbin, the WAC’s second leading rusher behind Ryan Mathews, with 104.9 rushing yards per game.
If the Bulldogs are going to deny Utah State revenge in 2009, the defense must be able to stop Borel and Turbin when the Aggies run the read-option play.
Easier said than done.