FOURTH QUARTER
BREAKDOWN: With the score well in hand, the ‘Dogs stuck mostly with the run game in the final quarter of the play in an effort to grind out the clock. San Jose State did make things a little interesting by tacking on a 46-yard touchdown pass with 10:19 left to play. A two-point conversion later, and the Bulldogs’ lead was cut to 27-11. But the Fresno State ground game kept the clock turning, and Kevin Goessling’s third field goal of the game, a 37-yarder, essentially put the game out of reach at 30-11. The Spartans managed to pad some stats with a 63-yard touchdown pass inside five minutes. Quarterback Ryan Colburn finished the game 10-for-18 passing with 125 yards. Robbie Rouse lead all rushers with 116 yards on 27 carries.
BIG PLAY: San Jose State scored its first touchdown in 10 quarters dating back to an Oct. 9 road loss at Nevada. Jordan La Secla connected with Kyle Nunn on a middle screen. Nunn sliced through the middle of the Bulldog defense for his first touchdown of the season and the lone big play of the final quarter. For the ‘Dogs, Phillip Thomas picked off a pass with just over a minute remaining and returned it 51 yards.
INTERESTING STAT: It has been a couple weeks since fans have seen quarterback Ryan Colburn throw in the fourth quarter. In the past two games, the senior has attempted just four passes in the final 15 minutes of play. Honorable Mention: Running back Robbie Rouse recorded his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game, and the second of his career.
THIRD QUARTER
BREAKDOWN: In a quarter the ‘Dogs more than doubled their halftime lead via some exciting plays on offense. Kicker Kevin Goessling once again showed his reliability after booting in 44-yard field goal, his second kick of longer than 40 yards on the night. Freshman wide receiver Isaiah Burse featured his versatility as well, taking a double reverse and throwing a 43-yard touchdown to Rashad Evans to. San Jose State finally got onto the scoreboard late in the quarter with a 41-yard field goal. Robbie Rouse added another touchdown run to extend Fresno State’s lead. Through three quarters of play, Fresno State lead 27-3. The Bulldogs had 294 total yards of offense, and the Spartans had 180 yards. San Jose State had -8 yards rushing on the night.
BIG PLAY: After Isaiah Burse took a double reverse for a touchdown run last week, many wondered when the former high school quarterback would throw his first pass. Fans got a taste of just that as Burse took a double reverse and hooked up with Rashad Evans for a 43-yard score.
INTERESTING STAT: Isn’t a football game supposed to be played with two quarterbacks, three at the most? Well, through three quarters five players attempted passes in the contest, with Burse, a wide receiver, completing the longest pass of 43 yards.
SECOND QUARTER
BREAKDOWN: The offensive struggles in the first quarter carried over to the second as a defensive chess match ensued for both squads. At halftime, Fresno State had 165 yards of total offense and San Jose State just 73 yards as the slick conditions took a toll on any production. Running back Robbie Rouse plunged in from four yards out in the Bulldogs’ “Hound” formation to give Fresno State a 10-0 lead with 6:11 left in the half.
BIG PLAY: Neither team provided many big plays in the first half. Fresno State strung together a nine-play, 80-yard drive to extend the lead to 10-0 in favor of the Bulldogs. The next longest drive for either team was 36 yards.
INTERESTING STAT: The ever-reliable kicker Kevin Goessling booted in his 114th straight extra point after Robbie Rouse’s touchdown run.
FIRST QUARTER
BREAKDOWN: Through one quarter both teams are having a tough time adjusting to the unfavorable wet weather conditions. Neither team has managed much of anything offensively with Fresno State’s 69 total yards and San Jose State’s 46 total yards. Kevin Goessling squeezed in a field goal off the left upright to give the ‘Dogs a 3-0 lead midway through the quarter.
BIG PLAY: Jalen Saunders’ 36-yard fly sweep set the ‘Dogs up deep in Spartan territory. Although Fresno State’s drive stalled from there, kicker Kevin Goessling booted in a 43-yard field goal to give the ‘Dogs a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes of play.
INTERESTING STAT: Former Fresno State quarterback Matt Faulkner checked into the game late in the quarter and immediately provided a spark for San Jose State. Faulkner has more passing yards than Fresno State quarterback Ryan Colburn, completing his first two throws for 24 yards. Colburn is three-for-five passing with just 23 yards.
