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Fresno State vs. Colorado State Football Game PreviewFRESNO STATE Quarterbacks Sophomore Paul Pinegar is questionable for Saturday’s game with a torn pectoral muscle but might see his first game-action of the season. Jeff Grady remains the starter. Grady averages 174 yards per game and has thrown four touchdown passes and six interceptions this season. Running Backs Dwayne Wright continued his success last week with a 113-yard showing against Portland State. Wright remains the starter, averaging 80 yards a game. Sophomore Bryson Sumlin had three touchdowns last week and is the Bulldogs’ second-leading rusher at 58 yards per game. Rodney Davis is gaining just 23 yards per game and has not scored a touchdown this season. Receivers The Bulldogs haven’t seen production from the receivers on a regular basis this season. But that might change with the return of Pinegar. The passing game was vicious in 2002, even with Bernard Berrian’s absence. Berrian has just 219 receiving yards in five games this season. Offensive Line The offensive line should be up to strength this week with the return of junior guard Noa Pouono. The starting left guard missed the second half of the Louisiana Tech game with a concussion and didn’t start against Portland State. He’s expected to return to the starting lineup Saturday. Defensive Line Brian Morris has emerged as the defensive line’s top performer with 21 tackles and four sacks this season. Morris had a season-ending injuries in 2000 and 2002, but has earned a starting spot this season. Linebackers Injured senior Marc Dailey played in two series last week and is expected to see more time Saturday. But freshman Dwayne Andrews burst into a starting role and is second on the team with 28 tackles. Senior Bryce McGill is first with 30 tackles. Sophomore Manuel Sanchez got his third interception against Portland State. Defensive Backs Portland State passed for 229 yards against the Bulldogs last week, completing 18 of 32 passes. Sophomore cornerback Raymond Washington had an interception. Against Colorado State, the secondary will have to step up to slow versatile Rams quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt. Special Teams Junior safety Nate Ray recovered Berrian’s fumble on the opening kickoff last week and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown, earning WAC special teams player of the week. Kicker Brett Visintainer missed his only field goal attempt, a 37-yarder, against Portland State. Coaching The Pat Hill-led Bulldogs have beaten Colorado State three straight years. But the team’s highly touted offense hasn’t lived up to expectations. The offense needs to produce more for the Bulldogs to stay in the WAC race. Intangibles Three straight wins over Colorado State, including the 2001 overtime victory at Hughes Stadium, has to give the Bulldogs confidence. If the Bulldogs are going to enter the top 25 this season, they’ll have to start by winning these next two games.
COLORADO Quarterbacks Van Pelt was picked as the preseason Mountain West Conference offensive player of the year by several publications, but the Rams’ 2-3 record has drowned any Heisman hype. The mobile quarterback who has hurt Fresno State with his scrambling in the past is averaging 265 yards per game this season with nine passing touchdowns and three rushing. Van Pelt has thrown six interceptions. Edge: Rams Running Backs Marcus Houston, a transfer from Colorado, is averaging 3.9 yards per carry and 68 yards per game. Houston is a talented back and should have a chance for a big game if the Bulldogs defense keys on containing Van Pelt. Standout H-back Joel Dreessen is out indefinitely with a lower abdominal strain. Edge: Bulldogs Receivers Sophomore David Anderson is the team’s leading receiver with 117 yards per game and 587 on the season. The big-play receiver averages 21 yards per catch. His first career touchdown came last season, a 70-yarder against the Bulldogs. Edge: Bulldogs Offensive Line The Rams are young on the line—and lack size as well. Tackle Erik Pears is the exception at 6-foot-8, 307 pounds. Center Mark Dreyer returned last week against Utah after missing two games because of an injury to his right ring finger that required surgery. Edge: Even Defensive Line The veteran defensive line is led by junior Patrick Goodpaster, who has 28 tackles, seven tackles for losses and three sacks this season. Saturday, Goodpaster draws a tough match-up with Fresno State sophomore Dartangon Shack. Edge: Even Linebackers This group took a big hit with the loss of star Eric Pauly for the season. Pauly still leads the team with 46 tackles, but is out for the rest of the year with an injury to his right knee. Senior Drew Wood is healthy on the other hand, meaning the Rams linebackers remain a concern for opponents. Edge: Rams Defensive Backs Cornerback Dexter Wynn is one of the nation’s most feared kick and punt returners, but the same doesn’t hold true for Wynn as a cover man. He doesn’t have an interception this season and has just 14 tackles. Edge: Bulldogs Special Teams Junior Jeff Babcock handles both the kicking and punting duties. He’s 4 of 7 on field goal attempts and averages 43.1 yards per punt. Edge: Rams Coaching Sonny Lubick, in his 11th season with the Rams, is 86-41. The field at Hughes Stadium is named after him. Lubick has led the Rams to four seasons with 10 or more wins. No other Colorado State coach has ever had a 10-win season. Edge: Even Intangibles The Rams will surely be out to end a three-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. Colorado State was in the top 25 early in the season, but consecutive losses to Miami (Ohio) and Utah ended that. The Bulldogs will likely see the Rams in top form Saturday. Edge: Rams |