Hill gives Wright starting opportunity

By Zack Walton

Fresh from a 16-6 win over Louisiana Tech, Fresno State coach Pat Hill said during Monday’s press conference he will shuffle his offense for this week’s game.

Sophomore running back Dwayne Wright most likely moves into the starting role over senior Rodney Davis on Saturday against visiting Portland State.

“ Right now, Wright’s production has warranted him the starting position,” Hill said. “If he has a great week of practice he will probably start the football game [on Saturday].”

Wright earned a chance at the starting position after carrying the ball 25 times for 177 yards Saturday against Louisiana Tech, and scored the only touchdown of the game.

Hill said he felt really comfortable with his running backs and squashed any possibility of a controversy beginning.

“ We don’t have a controversy at running back,” Hill said. “We have a great situation. We have three running backs who are pretty darn good.”

That “darn good” Bulldog backfield—consisting of Wright, Davis and sophomore Bryson Sumlin—ran for nearly 300 yards on Saturday, taking advantage of a much-improved offensive line that opened several holes in the Louisiana Tech defense.

Wanting more production from his wide receivers, Hill said sophomore Adam Jennings and freshman Joe Fernandez are expected to see more playing time on Saturday.

Hill said redshirt freshman fullback Roshon Vercher might be moving into the starting line-up ahead of junior Jamal Jones.

NOTES

• Junior left guard Noa Pouono left Saturday’s game against Louisiana Tech at halftime after suffering a concussion. He will resume full practice on Wednesday. Pouono’s replacement, junior Kawika Edwards, played a productive second half.

• Sophomore quarterback Paul Pinegar, 2002 Western Athletic Conference freshman of the year, will sit out Saturday’s game with a lingering pectoral injury. Hill said Pinegar could be back on the field when the Bulldogs travel to Colorado State (October 4) or Hawaii (October 11).

• Jeff Grady will start at quarterback on Saturday after Hill expressed his support for the senior.

• When asked about whether or not he would pull Grady for a poor performance, Hill said, “I have a lot of confidence in Grady’s abilities. I’m not ready to make that change right now.”

• According to Hill, Wendell Mathis, a transfer from UCLA, looked impressive in his first scrimmage with the Bulldogs on Sunday night. “He looked real good running the ball,” Hill said about the redshirt sophomore running back.