Brandon Ocegueda / The Collegian
FOURTH QUARTER Fresno State 23, Idaho 20
BREAKDOWN: The Vandals used a 10-play drive to open the final quarter to narrow the Fresno State lead to 13-6 off a 26-yard field goal by Idaho kicker Trey Farquhar. Fresno State kicker Kevin Goessling answered back with a 35-yard field goal of his own to push the score to 16-6. On the ensuing kickoff, however, Idaho kick returner Justin Veltung burst through the middle of the field for an 84-yard touchdown, giving Fresno State just a three-point lead 16-13. Then, after holding Fresno State to a three-and-out, Idaho took its first lead of the game 20-16 off a four-yard touchdown run. That set up quarterback Ryan Colburn with his chance to mount a game-winning drive with 2:01 left. The senior did just that, completing three passes and rushing for 25 yards on the final drive capped off by A.J. Ellis’ one-yard touchdown with 14 seconds on the clock.
BIG PLAY: Veltung’s kick return was the first touchdown return Fresno State had given up in 2010 and set the Vandals up with a quick score with over six minutes remaining in the game.
INTERESTING STAT: Fresno State’s three-point win is the lowest margin of victory over Idaho since the Vandals joined the WAC in 2005.
THIRD QUARTER Fresno State 13, Idaho 3
BREAKDOWN: The Bulldogs finally got into the end zone after a seven-quarter hiatus off a 30-yard interception return. Brown’s score gave Fresno State a 13-0 lead. After recording just one first down and negative-five yards in the first half, the Idaho offense finally found some life in the third quarter. The Vandals mounted a 16-play, 60-yard drive that resulted in a field goal from 25 yards out to cut into the Fresno State lead 13-3. On the ensuing drive, the ‘Dogs committed their fourth turnover of the game on an attempted reverse to Isaiah Burse, but once again the Idaho offense sputtered and was forced to punt. Through three quarters, quarterback Ryan Colburn completed 15 passes for 161 yards, while Robbie Rouse had 83 yards on the ground. The ‘Dogs held a commanding lead in yards gained, 259 to Idaho’s 44. Robbie Rouse did not play at all in the third quarter, and came out of the locker room in street clothes.
BIG PLAY: On Idaho’s second play of the third quarter, Idaho quarterback Nate Enderle tried to squeeze a jailbreak screen pass into Maurice Shaw, but was intercepted by Bulldog linebacker Travis Brown. Brown broke a tackle, ducked through a second and raced into the end zone for Fresno State’s first touchdown in nearly two full games.
INTERESTING STAT: Although Travis Brown’s interception ended Fresno State’s touchdown drought, the Bulldog offense had still yet to score in two full games (eight quarters).
SECOND QUARTER Fresno State 6, Idaho 0
BREAKDOWN: Despite imposing its will yardage wise, Fresno State could only muster a pair of Kevin Goessling field goals to take a 6-0 halftime lead. The Bulldogs offense racked up 227 yards of total offense, while the Vandals were held in check with negative-five yards of offense. Just before the half, Fresno State marched 64 yards and chewed up over six minutes of game clock and doubled its lead off Goessling’s 30-yard field goal.
BIG PLAY: On first-and-ten from the Fresno State 42-yard line, Fresno State linebacker Kyle Knox made a spectacular play. Knox came with the blitz, leaped Idaho running back Kama Bailey and blasted Nate Enderle for the sack and a loss of eight yards.
INTERESTING STAT: Kevin Goessling is the only Fresno State player to have scored since the 6:27 mark in the fourth quarter against Nevada. Robbie Rouse was the last Bulldog to put points on the board other than Goessling in over seven quarters.
FIRST QUARTER Fresno State 3, Idaho 0
BREAKDOWN: Idaho came into the contest ranked fourth in the Western Athletic Conference in total offense with 400 yards per game, but stalled on its first two offensive possessions. Fresno State forced the Vandals into consecutive three-and-outs on their opening two possessions, but the ‘Dogs did little of anything to counter. On Fresno State’s second possession, Robbie Rouse rumbled for 55 yards to set up Kevin Goessling’s 47-yard field goal to give the Bulldogs the lead. But on Fresno State’s final possession of the quarter, quarterback Ryan Colburn was sacked on a first-and-goal situation and fumbled, handing the ball back over to Idaho.
BIG PLAY: Faced with a first-and-goal situation on the Idaho six-yard line, the Vandals’ defense came up huge. Ryan Colburm was sacked by Shiloh Keo, fumbled and handed the Vandals the ball.
INTERESTING STAT: In last week’s demoralizing loss to Boise State, Robbie Rouse rushed for just 70 yards on 17 carries. The sophomore came into the contest riding two straight games of at least 200 yards, but was held in check by the Broncos. In the first quarter against Idaho, Rouse nearly surpassed his performance in Boise with 65 yards on five carries.