Defense wins championships.
Every sports fan has heard this phrase at least once in their life. Is it a tad cliché? Yes, but it’s also true. In order to win games, you have to be able to prevent your opponent from scoring.
Luckily for the Fresno State football team, the Bulldogs have one of the best defense in the country.
The No. 24 ranked Bulldogs are 5-0 this season while allowing just 19 points per game, including a week three shutout on the road over Arizona State.
The Bulldogs have also forced 12 turnovers, which is tied for third in the Football Subdivision (FBS), and is allowing just 282 yards per game (14th in FBS).
The defense was on full display Saturday night in the 27-9 victory over Nevada in the Mountain West Conference opener.
Team captain Levelle Bailey led the team with nine tackles. The senior linebacker has a team leading 32 tackles on the season to go along with two forced fumbles and a game-saving interception in week two versus Eastern Washington.
“He epitomizes what Bulldog football is about. He’s our vocal leader for the whole team, not just the defense,” Head Coach Jeff Tedford said in the postgame press conference on Saturday.
Bailey was not the only standout on Saturday. Carlton Johnson had his fourth interception of the season (tied for first in FBS) and Morice Norris Jr. grabbed his first career pick.
#⃣7⃣ just makes plays. @morice4_norris | 📺FS1 pic.twitter.com/kRClEvWLWz
— Fresno State Football (@FresnoStateFB) October 1, 2023
Norris Jr. was happy that he was able to make an impact with some of his teammates including starting cornerback Cam Lockridge who was out due to injury.
“{Cam} always gets his hands on the ball. I knew I had to step up and get my hands on the ball a little more,” Norris Jr. said.
The senior safety also had 1.5 sacks and a pass deflection on the night. Tedford lauded his versatility as an “effective blitzer” and his efforts in the run game.
Lockridge’s injury allowed sophomore cornerback Al’zillion Hamilton to start. Hamilton led the team with 57 snaps on defense and did not allow a single completion on three targets in addition to defending two passes.
Yet, the real story on defense this past Saturday was Camryn Bracha.
The Clovis native made his first career start in place of starting safety Dean Clark, finishing with six tackles, a pass deflection and 1.5 sacks.
𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐑𝐘𝐍. 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐀.
Have yourself a game 🗣️@BrachaCamryn | 📺FS1 pic.twitter.com/Px9vBy4sxz
— Fresno State Football (@FresnoStateFB) October 1, 2023
Not sure if Clark was good to go until game time, Bracha made sure he was ready.
“I was gonna have his back and hopefully play as good as he can. {Clark} is a heck of a player and someone we need on our defense,” Bracha said. “They have prepared me since day one. The call was short notice but that whole safety room guided me throughout the night.”
The Buchanan High and Fresno City College alum was thrilled to get his first start at home.
“It’s an absolute blast. There’s nothing like that crowd,” Bracha said.
That next man up mentality has been key all season for the Bulldogs who have a big test ahead of them.
Fresno State will be traveling to Laramie, Wyoming, this week and take on the Cowboys, who are expected to be one of Fresno State’s biggest threats to taking the conference this season.
“We’ve been looking forward to that game before we got into conference. Those boys are going to be physical,” Norris Jr. said.
While the offense, which replaced more than half of its starters this season, is still looking to get things going consistently, the defense is quite the opposite.
The veteran leadership has made a huge impact in getting everyone on board and playing their absolute best.
“It’s a brotherhood,” Bracha said.
Norris Jr. concurred with him and noted the defense’s discipline.
“We know our opposition and where we want to be. We have to take that hunger and drive to the field,” Norris Jr. said.
Wyoming’s offense will not be an easy task to stop, especially on the ground, as the Cowboys are averaging 168.2 rushing yards per game.
Fresno State Defensive Coordinator Kevin Coyle put things in perspective in the press conference on monday morning.
“”You look at their runs, and they’re not 20-yard runs. They’re 50-yard runs. They’re 60-yard runs. That’s really scary…There’s not a lot of 3rd and longs with this team,” Coyle said.
If Fresno State is going to win on the road this week, leaning on Bailey and the veteran defense will be crucial.
