Brandon Ocegueda / The Collegian
Robbie Rouse has heard it all.
Fresno State fans have questioned the sophomore running back’s toughness while critics have been quick to point out that Rouse’s 5-foot-7, 185 pound frame cannot be withstand the weekly grinding and pounding of a featured back.
But on Saturday, Rouse silenced both parties, for now, after running wild for a career-high 150 yards and two touchdowns, as Fresno State celebrated its centennial birthday during homecoming with a convincing 33-10 win over Western Athletic Conference foe New Mexico State.
“I thought Robbie looked for the first time this season like I think he can run””very explosive and quick to the hole,” head coach Pat Hill said. “I thought he ran strong tonight. Robbie ran the ball very well.”
With the running game in full-attack mode, the Fresno State offense exploded with a season-high 30 first-half points.
“I thought the first half we played excellent football in all three phases: did a good job of establishing the run, defensively, did a good job of shutting down their offense … and our special teams once again really played well,” Hill said. “We functioned really well as a football team in the first half.”
Rouse started the scoring surge early by taking a handoff on the second offensive snap and racing downfield for a 57-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead that it would never relinquish.
Both teams would trade a pair of three-and-outs on the next two possessions before defensive end Chris Carter took over. Carter blew past potential blockers on second down to force a quarterback sack and a fumble in the end zone for a safety. Carter exploded against the Aggies, tallying nine tackles, three sacks and two force fumbles.
With a 9-0 lead the ‘Dogs relied heavily on the ground game to exploit New Mexico State’s weak run defense. True freshman receiver Isaiah Burse added to the rushing efforts with a 30-yard touchdown run on a double reverse.
But New Mexico State responded as former Fresno State quarterback Matt Christian marched the Aggies offense 71 yards for a field goal to cut the lead to 16-3 to end the first quarter.
Then Rouse’s momentum rushing the ball carried over into the second quarter. Rouse would continue his success on the ground with a spectacular 38-yard touchdown scamper to extend Fresno State’s lead to 23-3.
Mike Howells/ The Collegian
“Coach [Joe] Wade stressed all week what we got to do is break tackles and if you break tackles you make plays,” Rouse said. “That’s what I was able to do.”
After nursing early-season injuries, Rouse has slowly progressed back into the player that many felt he would become after rushing for 479 yards and four touchdowns as a reserve last season.
For the first time this year, Rouse said that his body finally feels 100 percent healthy.
“I came into the season hurt [and] knicked-up,” Rouse said. “I just wanted to get healthy and get started and do whatever I can to help the team.”
With an effective running game quarterback, Ryan Colburn was able to generate most of his yards off of play-action pass. Colburn hit Tapa Tamaoepeau for a touchdown from three-yards out to cushion Fresno State’s lead to 30-3 just before halftime.
And then the wheels fell off for Hill and the ‘Dogs. Nursing a 27-point lead, the offense managed to score only once in the second half on a Kevin Goessling field goal in the fourth quarter.
“Overall, I was happy with our performance,” Hill said. “We’re still a work in progress, I still think there’s a lot of room to grow.”
Colburn threw for a season-low 132 yards on 12-of-20 passing.
Fresno State improved its overall record to 4-2 and 2-1 in WAC play. The ‘Dogs hit the road this week when it faces in-state rival San Jose State on Saturday.
“We have to finish the month of October here strong,” Hill said. “We have a bye week and then we have five very tough games in the month of November. If we can keep improving as a football team, that puts us in a good situation to compete in November like we have to [for a WAC Championship.]”