Fresno State at Nevada

By Eddie Hughes

Bulldogs

Quarterbacks

Fresno State has gotten away without much of a passing offense this year. But now it’s crunch time. The postseason is near and the Bulldogs can’t afford to lose. Paul Pinegar was 13 of 33 for 86 yards last week against lowly Southern Methodist. That kind of offense just won’t get the job done against a Nevada team that can put up some points. Pinegar has to come out and show that the SMU game wasn’t the norm.

Running Backs

Matt Rivera led the team with 53 rushing yards against SMU. Sophomore starter Dwayne Wright had 45 yards on just three yards per carry and sophomore Bryson Sumlin had just 2.3 yards per carry. The Bulldogs will need their running game in top form Saturday to eat up the clock and keep the Nevada offense off the field.

Receivers

There are only four games left in the regular season and still no breakout by the heralded Fresno State receiving corps. Redshirt freshman Joe Fernandez had five catches for 32 yards against SMU. Reigning All-WAC wideout Marque Davis didn’t have a catch.

Offensive Line

This group has come together pretty nicely, especially considering the setbacks. The unit expected the presence of standout Logan Mankins but lost him for the year. Matt Stevenson was also lost for the year and Dartangon Shack was slowed by early-season injuries. Now the Bulldogs are making due with a line full of two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior.

Defensive Line

Someone made this unit angry. Just look at the sack totals from the SMU game. Brian Morris had three, Claude Sanders and Garrett McIntyre had two apiece and Donyell Booker had one. Nevada needs to get that game tape and do everything SMU didn’t.

Linebackers

Bryce McGill leads the squad with 58 tackles this season. He can be expected to have a big game, but the Bulldogs need someone else to step up too. Junior David Adamo is out with an injured knee.

Defensive Backs

The Bulldogs sure haven’t been getting interceptions like they were early in the season. But the team can expect plenty of opportunities Saturday. Losing Raymond Washington to a season-ending hand injury hurts, but there is a lot of young talent.

Special Teams

After making two of three field goal tries last week, Brett Visintainer is 12 of 17 on the season. The junior kicker has converted five of his past six attempts. Redshirt freshman punter Mike Lingua averages 38.2 yards per punt.

Coaching

It’s not easy to find a non-California player on the Bulldogs’ roster, but one in particular sticks out. Highly-touted freshman kicker Clint Stitser went to high school in Reno, but will be wearing Bulldog red Saturday.

Intangibles

This game has postseason implications. That’s all there is to it. If Fresno State wins, Nevada can likely kiss a bowl berth goodbye. If Nevada wins, Fresno State likely won’t be able to afford another loss to still make a bowl game.Wolf Pack

Wolf Pack

Quarterbacks

Junior Andy Heiser is the permanent starter now that Jeff Rowe is out for the season with a separated shoulder. Heiser averages 191 yards per game and has 12 touchdown passes on the season. Heiser has completed just 51.5 percent of his passes on the year. But he stepped up in Nevada’s big win at Washington, throwing for 299 yards and three touchdowns.

Edge: Even

Running Backs

The Bulldogs aren’t the best at stopping the run, but they’ll need to step up Saturday against Nevada’s Chance Kretschmer. Fresno State gives up 214.9 yards per game on the ground. Kretschmer, who led the nation in rushing his freshman season, has 974 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

Edge: Even

Receivers

The Wolf Pack boasts two Valley products at receiver—Willie Johnson from Edison High and Fresno City College and Nichiren Flowers from Tulare Union High. Flowers, a sophomore, leads the team with 28 receptions. Maurice Mann leads the team with 383 receiving yards. Flowers and Mann each have two touchdowns.

Edge: Even

Offensive Line

Unlike the Fresno State line, all five Nevada starters had starting experience before this season. This unit is going to make it even tougher for Fresno State to slow Kretschmer.

Edge: Wolf Pack

Defensive Line

End Jorge Cordova leads the team with 84 tackles and 11.5 sacks. Junior tackle Derek Kennard has 10 sacks of his own. Both have 15.5 tackles for losses. These two can be a nightmare if the Bulldogs’ offensive line isn’t up to speed.

Edge: Wolf Pack

Linebackers

Senior Daryl Towns and junior Logan Carter are the standouts of this unit. Carter is third on the team with 65 tackles and Towns is fourth with 63. Carter also is tied for the team lead with three interceptions.

Edge: Even

Defensive Backs

Like the Bulldogs, Nevada has 12 interceptions this season. Redshirt freshman rover Nick Hawthorne is second on the team with 66 tackles and tied for the team lead with three interceptions.

Edge: Even

Special Teams

Junior kicker Damon Fine is seven of 10 on field goal attempts this season with a long of 53 yards. Punter Derek Jones averages 39.5 yards per punt. But the Wolf Pack doesn’t block kicks like the Bulldogs do.

Edge: Bulldogs

Coaching

Chris Tormey has the Wolf Pack positioned to compete for a bowl berth, but is 0-3 against Fresno State in his career.

Edge: Bulldogs

Intangibles

It’s not often the Wolf Pack has a legitimate shot to go to a bowl game, but it does this season. A loss might end that opportunity. But the Bulldogs can’t afford to lose either.

Edge: Even