Brianna Campbell / The Collegian

The 2009 Fresno State football season originally wasn’t scripted to be the “Ryan Mathews Variety Show.”

With Mathews’ 60-plus yard touchdown runs, wildcat formation draw plays and catches out of the backfield, he has provided Bulldog fans with more than they had hoped for this season.

However, when Ryan Mathews became the featured tailback this season it was almost like the first time I saw “The Dark Knight.”

Heath Ledger was so brilliant as The Joker I had to double take as the credits rolled by because I almost forgot Academy-Award winners Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine were in the movie.

Don’t get me wrong, they are both outstanding actors, but Ledger gave a performance for the ages.

Hence, we have the current situation for the Bulldogs. Do the names Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding ring a bell?

You know, the guys who were supposed to be in that “three-back” system with Mathews. Yeah, that didn’t last long.

But when you have the nation’s leading rusher ahead of you on the depth chart, it’s kind of hard to get your share of carries.

Mathews has more than three times the amount of carries of Harding and Miller combined this season.

In their senior seasons, Mathews’ backups have spent most of their time giving him a breather, but that is all going to change quickly – as in this Saturday.

Mathews is sidelined after suffering a mild concussion last weekend in Reno, which means the old horses are being brought out of the stable for their last hurrah at Bulldog Stadium.

Hollywood couldn’t of scripted any better – The four-year lettermen, waiting on the sidelines all season for their shot, the town’s hero has fallen, now they must carry the hopes of Bulldog fans everywhere! Well, at least for one game.

Mathews has been injured every year with the Bulldogs so it’s not like Harding and Miller don’t know how to carry the load.

Harding led the team in rushing last season, while Miller topped the Bulldogs in yards per carry, rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns in 2008.

Although his 14 carries this season aren’t exactly up to the 147 from a year ago, Harding will give the Bulldogs a solid presence between the tackles, while Miller is know more for his speed in the open field and outside of the tackles.

For both tailbacks this has been their lowest rushing total, even dating back to their freshmen seasons in 2006.

But their ability to establish the running game against Louisiana Tech will be vital if the Bulldogs hope to finish 6-2 in conference play.

After Mathews was removed from the Nevada game, Miller and Harding carried the ball a combined 10 times and gained 61 yards, but didn’t receive any carries inside of the compete zone (inside the opponent’s 25-yard line).

Fresno State’s coaching staff will need to show a little more faith in its seniors if they hope to keep Louisiana Tech’s defense honest.

Miller and Harding haven’t complained once this season about the lack of carries or playing time because the group of Fresno State running backs is like a tight-knit family, always pulling for each other, Mathews says.

But no competitive athlete enjoys sitting on the sidelines for too long, especially athletes with this kind of talent.

As of Friday, Harding has 1,442 career rushing yards and Miller needs 16 more yards to reach the 2,000-yard plateau for his Bulldog career.

Bulldog fans may never get to see the human highlight reel again in person, but the “A ‘n’ Yae Team” are a more than capable substitution for your 2 p.m. weekend timeslot.

After all, it’s Senior Day at Bulldog Stadium and instead of just getting hugs and a rose, this duo wants to leave Fresno fans something to remember them by.