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Fresno State vs. Louisiana Tech Football Game PreviewFresno State Quarterbacks Jeff Grady will make his fourth start of the season in place of sophomore Paul Pinegar. Pinegar hasn’t played yet this year because of a torn pectoral muscle. Grady struggled in the first half at Oklahoma last week despite great blocking. The Louisiana Tech defense, though, is nowhere near Oklahoma’s in ability. Running Backs Starter Rodney Davis missed most of the Oklahoma game with a concussion after being kneed in the head. Sophomore Dwayne Wright flourished with 83 yards on eight carries for a touchdown. Having two very capable backs is not a problem, especially when the Bulldogs have run for more than 250 yards in each of their past two games against Louisiana Tech. Receivers Fresno State tried to connect with Bernard Berrian and Marque Davis time and again last week on screen passes. Problem is, they weren’t working. The Bulldogs have been much more successful this season throwing medium-range passes. More of this should be seen Saturday. Offensive Line Is this unit finally coming together? It sure looked like it last week when Grady was given the most time in the pocket he’s had all year. And the amazing thing was, the offensive line was doing it against the nation’s top defense. Defensive Line Junior Donyell Booker had his best game of the season, making five tackles. He was one of the only players not missing tackles early in the Oklahoma game. If last week was a sign of things to come, Booker is due for an even bigger breakout—especially going into the softer part of the team’s schedule. Linebackers Redshirt freshman Dwayne Andrews looks nothing like a newcomer. Since replacing injured Marc Dailey in the starting lineup against Oregon State, Andrews has been one of the top tacklers on the team. He had seven tackles last week. The Bulldogs’ depth at linebacker should start to show more during Western Athletic Conference play. Defensive Backs The secondary played its worst game of the season last week against an Oklahoma offense that was questionable before the game. The unit will be the focus again Saturday, against Luke McCown and Louisiana Tech’s passing offense. Special Teams The Bulldogs have been nothing less than awe-inspiring here. Three blocked kicks against Oklahoma—two punts and an extra point—should have Tech scared. Oh, and Berrian showed signs of breaking off a long kick return last week. Coaching The offensive play-calling was suspect in the first half. The plays weren’t gaining much of anything, but the Bulldogs stuck with them. When the offense was opened up in the second half, the Bulldogs scored four touchdowns. Go figure. Louisiana Tech Quarterbacks Luke McCown threw a last-second touchdown pass to beat Michigan State last week. He attempted 61 passes, throwing for 435 yards and three touchdowns. The senior is the nation’s active leader in career passing yards. Edge:Louisiana Tech Intangibles The Bulldogs are 2-0 against Louisiana Tech since Tech joined the WAC two years ago. Bulldog Stadium is always a huge factor for Fresno State, but will the game finally be a sellout?Quarterbacks Luke McCown threw a last-second touchdown pass to beat Michigan State last week. He attempted 61 passes, throwing for 435 yards and three touchdowns. The senior is the nation’s active leader in career passing yards. Edge:Louisiana Tech Running Backs The “other” Bulldogs aren’t exactly what you would call a rushing team. Starter Ralph Davis has only 103 yards this season on 25 carries. What will be seen is Tech throwing to its backs—they do it better than any other WAC team. Davis is fourth on the team with seven receptions this season. Edge:Fresno State Receivers Fresno State defensive backs will have a full agenda Saturday. Tech’s Shawn Piper burst onto the WAC radar with nine catches for 163 yards and a touchdown against Michigan State. Senior D.J. Curry caught the game-winning pass from McCown and is second on the team with 84 yards receiving. Edge:Fresno State Offensive Line Tech has a line full of underclassmen—like the Bulldogs do. The problem with Tech’s line is that not one starter is more than 300 pounds. Center Michael Stewart (6-foot-2, 298 pounds) is the largest up front. Edge:Even Defensive Line Junior Chris Van Hoy is supposed to be the main man on this unit, but so far this season it has been senior Jemelle Cage. Cage has 15 tackles, 4.5 for losses and a sack this season. If Tech can pressure Grady and finally stop the Fresno State running attack, it has a shot to pull off the upset. Edge:Even Linebackers One thing is for sure—these Tech linebackers can tackle. Well, either that or the defensive line isn’t doing its job. Senior Antonio Crow leads the team with 25 tackles and sophomore Jeremy Hamilton is right behind him with 24. These two will need their share of tackles Saturday to slow the nemesis that has been the Fresno State running game the past two years. Edge:Even Defensive Backs Tech has only two interceptions in three games this season and only one of them from a defensive back. Against Fresno State’s receivers, Tech will have to step up big or it’ll be a long day. Grady’s not throwing against All-American defenders this week. Edge:Fresno State Special Teams The kicking game features one of the WAC’s best kickers in senior Josh Scobee. But a game full of field goals is unlikely Saturday with all the offensive weapons on the field for both sides. Edge:Fresno State Coaching Jack Bicknell is 24-26 in four years leading Tech. He led the team to a WAC championship in 2001—Tech’s first year in the WAC—but the team disappointed last season at 3-8. Edge:Fresno State Intangibles Tech is coming in with a whole lot of momentum after a thrilling victory over Michigan State, but the fact that the Bulldogs dominated a very similar Tech team last season in Ruston, La. has to be in the back of the players’ minds. Edge:Fresno State |