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<td width="343" valign="bottom"><p class="date"><!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="date" --><a href="default.html">10/31/03 • Vol.
127, No. 29</a><!-- InstanceEndEditable --></p></td>
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<p><a href="football.jsp">Fresno State at Southern Methodist</a></p>
<p><a href="intramural.jsp">Intramural Bowl</a></p>
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<h1>Fresno State at Southern Methodist</h1>
<p class="byline">By Eddie Hughes</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="heading3">
<strong>Bulldogs</strong></p>
<p> <strong>Quarterbacks</strong></p>
<p> Paul Pinegar has shown at least one positive in the passing game since
returning from a torn pectoral injury. In four games, the sophomore has
completed 63.4 percent of his passes. He’s thrown four touchdowns
and three interceptions. But Pinegar averages just nine more passing
yards per game than backup Jeff Grady did.</p>
<p> <strong>Running Backs</strong></p>
<p> Sophomore Bryson Sumlin had two touchdowns in last week’s win over
Rice, bringing his season total to seven. Sumlin, a sophomore, has been
the Bulldogs’ go-to back in short yardage situations. Sophomore
starter Dwayne Wright leads the team in rushing with 596 yards and averages
74.5 yards per game.</p>
<p> <strong>Receivers</strong></p>
<p> The Fresno State passing game hasn’t lived up to its preseason
hype. A variety of talented wide receivers, featuring Bernard Berrian
and Marque Davis, have produced just three touchdowns to this point in
the season—all by Berrian. But Berrian averages just 42 yards a
game to go with Davis’ 29.9 yards.</p>
<p> <strong>Offensive Line</strong></p>
<p> Redshirt freshman Kyle Young is living up to expectations. He was the
Bulldogs’ nominee for WAC player of the week after his performance
against Rice. The Bulldogs allowed only one sack with a line that is
without star Logan Mankins and experienced tackle Matt Stevenson.</p>
<p> <strong>Defensive Line</strong></p>
<p> Donyell Booker (6-foot-2, 305 pounds) made his presence felt against
the Rice option with eight tackles. But the Bulldogs’ front seven
was torn apart by the Owls. End Claude Sanders made a pivotal fourth-down
stop that led to the Bulldogs’ victory.</p>
<p> <strong>Linebackers</strong></p>
<p> The most experienced defensive position for the Bulldogs didn’t
look experienced last week. Several Rice runs gained more yards than
they should have. Senior Bryce McGill had six tackles. McGill also recovered
a Rice fumble to end an Owls drive late in the game. Junior David Adamo
is out at least two weeks with a knee sprain.</p>
<p> <strong>Defensive Backs</strong></p>
<p> The secondary took a hard hit with news that top cornerback Raymond
Washington is out for the season with a torn finger tendon. Washington
is being
replaced in the starting lineup by converted running back Therrian Fontenot. </p>
<p> <strong>Special Teams</strong></p>
<p> Junior kicker Brett Visintainer came through in the clutch again. For
the second time this season, Visintainer won a game on a last-second
field goal. He did the same against Oregon State earlier this season.
The Bulldogs shouldn’t need such late-game heroics against SMU,
but who knows?</p>
<p> <strong>Coaching</strong></p>
<p> The Bulldogs’ win over Rice marked Pat Hill’s 50th career
victory as Fresno State’s head coach. Hill led the Bulldogs to
a 30-7 win over SMU last season at Bulldog Stadium.</p>
<p> <strong>Intangibles</strong></p>
<p> The 0-8 Mustangs might not seem like much of a challenge to Fresno
State, but Hill knows otherwise. A winless SMU squad beat the Bulldogs
in Dallas
in 1999.Owls</p>
<p class="heading3"><strong>Mustangs</strong></p>
<p> <strong>Quarterbacks</strong></p>
<p> Sophomore starter Richard Bartel quit the team to transfer, coach Phil
Bennett announced Oct. 20. Now, freshman Chris Phillips is listed
as the starter, with sophomore Tate Wallis backing him up. Wallis for
4 of 12 for 33 yards last week against Tulsa. Phillips was 2 of
4
for 18
yards.</p>
<p> Edge: Bulldogs</p>
<p> <strong>Running Backs</strong></p>
<p> Keylon Kincade might just hit the 1,000-yard plateau Saturday against
the Bulldogs. He has 908 yards on the year, including 185 last week against
Tulsa. With the passing game in trouble, Kincade—one of the WAC’s
top backs—will have to carry the offense for SMU to have a shot
at winning.</p>
<p> Edge: Even</p>
<p> <strong>Receivers</strong></p>
<p> Chris Cunningham has just 15 catches for 140 yards this season. Cunningham
had 45 catches and seven touchdowns in 2001 before missing all of 2002
with a broken left foot. Junior Matt Rushbrook leads the team with
359 yards, three touchdowns and 44.9 yards per game.</p>
<p> Edge: Bulldogs</p>
<p> <strong>Offensive Line</strong></p>
<p> Senior center Steve Reindl (6-3, 285) was an All-WAC selection in 2002
and is a preseason choice this year. He anchors a line that includes
only one other senior—Sterling Harris, a 6-6, 315-pound tackle.</p>
<p> Edge: Even</p>
<p> <strong>Defensive Line</strong></p>
<p> There is a significant gap in production between junior nose guard
Allan Adami and the rest of the defensive front. Adami has 44 tackles
and 10
quarterback hurries. Redshirt freshman end Justin Rogers is second
with 28 tackles.</p>
<p> Edge: Bulldogs</p>
<p> <strong>Linebackers</strong></p>
<p> The strength of this struggling SMU squad is at linebacker. Seniors
D.D. Johnson and Brian Bischoff have 64 and 51 tackles, respectively.
If this
group can put some pressure on Pinegar while limiting the Bulldogs’ short-yardage
passing game, SMU will be in good shape.</p>
<p> Edge: Mustangs</p>
<p> <strong>Defensive Backs</strong></p>
<p> Senior cornerback Jonas Rutledge will likely draw the Berrian assignment.
Rutledge is one of the better corners in the WAC, making for an interesting
matchup. His two interceptions this season lead the Mustangs.</p>
<p> Edge: Even</p>
<p> <strong>Special Teams</strong></p>
<p> Sophomore kicker Chris McMurtray is 5 of 7 on field goal attempts this
season with a long of 42 yards. Sophomore punter Ryan Mentzel averages
35.5 yards per attempt.</p>
<p> Edge: Bulldogs</p>
<p> <strong>Coaching</strong></p>
<p> Phil Bennett is considered one of the conference’s top recruiters.
Ten of the team’s 23 signees were rated at least three-star prospects
by Rivals100.com. But the recruiting success hasn’t translated
to the team’s performance yet. The Mustangs are winless this season. </p>
<p> Edge: Bulldogs</p>
<p> <strong>Intangibles</strong></p>
<p> The Bulldogs haven’t won on the road this season. The Mustangs
haven’t won period. One of these streaks is about to end.</p>
<p><strong> Edge: Even</strong></p>
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