The Fresno State football team (3-3, 2-0 Mountain West) will seek to win its fourth-straight game when it goes on the road to take on UNLV (1-5, 0-2 MW) Friday in a West Division battle.
The Rebels come into the game seeking to snap their four-game losing streak and get their season back on track.
The Bulldogs stand in first place in the West Division, while UNLV now is stuck in last place after losing its last four contests. Its only win of the year came in the Week 2 one-point victory over Northern Colorado, a Football Championship Subdivision opponent.
“We’re playing a team that has struggled a little bit, but it’s a team that is well-coached,” Fresno State head coach Tim DeRuyter said. “I have a ton of respect for Bobby Hauck and his staff. We know that they’re going to be coming out fighting for their lives this week.
“We’re going to have to do what we’ve done the last few weeks and that is improve in order for us to go on the road and get another conference win. We’re excited about the opportunity to get better this week.”
UNLV’s quarterback situation is similar to what Fresno State’s was earlier this season with both quarterbacks splitting reps. Blake Decker and Nick Sherry have been behind center. Decker has received a majority of the reps, passing for 1,300 yards and five touchdowns on the year. Sherry’s stats include 9-of-29 for 78 yards.
Wide receiver Devante Davis headlines the Rebels’ offense and is their most explosive target. The senior is capable of stretching the field and making things tough for secondaries. Injuries have limited the 6-foot-3, 215-pound wideout’s season statistics to 17 catches for 286 yards and two touchdowns. Even though his status is questionable, he is one of the best skill players in the conference and one who must be accounted for.
The Rebels’ run game features backs Keith Whitely and George Naufahu.. They have racked up 299 and 210 yards, respectively and a touchdown apiece.
“We’re going to have our hands full with their offense,” Bulldogs defensive coordinator Nick Toth said. “They can go up and get the deep ball. They’re committed to throwing the ball and they have a decent running game.
“Their running backs run hard, and schematically they spread you out. We have to make sure that the ball doesn’t go over our heads, and that we have multiple guys around those big receivers when they’re going up for the ball.”
UNLV’s defense likes to pay man-to-man to try to impose its physicality on receivers. Fresno State senior wideout and captain Josh Harper said that in order to put up big numbers like last year, they must beat man coverage and block well against it when running the ball.
In last season’s 38-14 victory, the Bulldogs’ offense chalked up over 600 yards of total offense against UNLV and feels it has the firepower to do it again this year.
“We’re still running the same scheme,” Harper said. “It all comes down to execution. So if we’re able to execute, I feel like we can put up the same numbers [as last year].”
After dropping the first three contests this year to Power Five opponents, the Bulldogs have bounced back and won their most recent three against Southern Utah and Mountain West rivals New Mexico and San Diego State to get back to .500.
“The spirit in the locker room is up a little bit more,” Harper said. “We’re now in the conference part of our schedule, and we’re undefeated in conference play. Our goals are still ahead of us.
“Everybody knows that, and everybody sees that, and we’re just taking it one game at a time.”
Kickoff for the West Division matchup is set for 7 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.